Microsoft is one of a number of companies today announcing support for the National ePrescribing Patient Safety Initiative.  NEPSI is a group of companies and organizations who are joining together to provide a "free access to simple, safe, and electronic prescribing" for every physician.  The site for physicians is here.  It's interesting that this comes on the heels of a Time Magazine article regarding a leading cause of death: sloppy handwriting.  The article quotes a National Academy of Science Institute of Medicine report that 7000 people annually die because of sloppy handwriting by physicians, and preventable medication mistakes injure over 1.5 million annually.

The system uses a hosted, web-based system developed by AllScripts.  The upside of this is that it doesn't require software to be installed and maintained by the physicians, important because the solo and small practices that are the major targets for this system often don't have the technical support to operate yet another system.  Also good is that the system can be accessed via a desktop/laptop, tablet, or smartphone, allowing physicians to be able to prescribe via nearly any smart device.  The hosted system validates dosages and interactions, as well as other factors.

Why do you care: more certainty that you are getting the right medication in the right dosage, and better tracking by your doctor, pharmacy and payor.