Minnesota achieved the highest rate of e-prescribing use in the nation during 2011 to capture the No. 1 ranking in Surescripts' 7th annual Safe-Rx Awards.

The rankings are determined by an analysis of data that measures electronic prescribing use by physicians, pharmacies and payers in each state, according to Surescipts officials. Adoption and use statistics for all states and an online discussion of the Safe-Rx rankings are available at surescripts.com/saferx.

[See also: National report shows surge in e-prescribing among health practitioners.]

“Minnesota has made impressive gains in the adoption and use of all three components of e-prescribing,” said Harry Totonis, president and CEO of Surescripts. “This is helping healthcare providers improve workflows and patient care, and sets the stage for expanding the use of electronic data for additional improvements in healthcare quality and delivery. Congratulations to all Safe-Rx Award winners and to the health care providers and policy makers in the states for taking action to improve one of the most important parts of our nation's health care system.”

Growth in the adoption and use of e-prescribing – which includes prescription routing, utilization of benefit information and utilization of medication history – created the greatest number of changes in the rankings over its seven-year history. This e-prescribing growth correlates with trends first identified in Surescripts 2011 National Progress Report released May 17, 2012. 

[See also: Study: e-prescribing not immune from common mistakes.]

The data indicates that state and federal initiatives to increase the adoption and use of e-prescribing by healthcare providers as a means to improve quality, efficiency and help lower costs are significant drivers in e-prescribing’s growth.

Highlights from the 7th Annual Safe-Rx Awards and state progress reports:

• Prescribers in Minnesota routed 61 percent of prescriptions electronically.
• Massachusetts and New Hampshire have the highest rate of physician adoption at 86 percent.
• Nine states have more than 70 percent of physicians electronically routing prescriptions.
• North Dakota made the largest gains year over year, boosting its ranking from No. 47 to No, 18.
• New Hampshire, Nebraska and Minnesota all made double-digit gains in the ranking based on increased use of e-prescribing which includes: routing, medication history and benefit information.
• Nationally, 91 percent of retail pharmacies are able to receive e-prescriptions.

A list of the top 10 e-prescribing states is on the next page.