I want to respond that health care is a little behind in utilizing technology, but there are efforts under way to implement computerized order entry systems, recognizing that there are problems with handwritten notes. There are also initiatives under way with manufacturers to look at voluntary bar coding standards, so that bar coding technology can be utilized in health care where appropriate. This is also an opportunity to look at the labelling of products, as there are a lot of products that do not have bar codes on them. This is an opportunity for improvement.
The other thing we have done, and which is being adopted, or being considered for adoption, in the accrediting standards for hospitals, is...the use of dangerous abbreviations. We recognize that there are abbreviations that are dangerous if used in the handwritten form, and in the electronic form. Those can be avoided.
Also, I do believe that when a prescription is handwritten, the patient should be able to read that prescription; it should be legible and not be in Latin. That is a safety thing, as well, for the pharmacist. As a pharmacist, I would like to be able to read the prescription.
I just wanted to comment on that.