It is important to note that other forms of prescription transmission via electronic equipment are not e-prescribing. Emailed and auto-faxed prescriptions are generated by the clinician from within an Electronic Medical Record (EMR)* and sent off by the EMR without a paper prescription being generated. Many providers and patients/families assume that the electronic nature of this process means e-prescribing is happening.

*Electronic medical record (EMR): A computer-based client record used in a single clinical practice that details client demographics, medical and drug history, and diagnostic information (Canada Health Infoway [Infoway], 2018a).