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The State Board of Regents today announced new regulations that permit pharmacists and pharmacies to receive, process and store records electronically, removing the requirements for hard-copies of these records. The regulations take effect today.

It is anticipated that the new rules, which were recommended by the State Pharmacy Board, will encourage greater acceptance of electronic prescribing – a practice that has been shown to reduce medical errors. The new rules are also expected to have a positive environmental impact, by promoting the use of electronic records instead of paper ones.

Associate Commissioner for the Office of the Professions, Frank Muñoz, said, "With these new rules, the Regents have taken an important step towards a system of fully integrated electronic medical records in New York. The move will significantly reduce the incidence of medication errors, thereby helping our licensed professionals in their critical role of promoting the health, safety and welfare of all New Yorkers."