Australia's first fully electronic prescription service that delivers a new-age in prescribing was launched in Darwin today.
The Cavenagh Medical Centre and Stuart Park and Darwin Mall Discount Pharmacies are the first GP and pharmacy providers in the country to trial the new electronic prescription service.
The new system delivers a printed prescription with a digitally encrypted signature and barcode that a participating pharmacy can automatically download directly into the pharmacy's dispensing system - a significant advancement by removing the need to both decipher a doctor's scribble and re-type data, leaving little room for dispensing errors.
Consumer member on the national Consumer Health Forum, and chairperson of the Top End Division of the General Practice Board of Directors, Diane Walsh, said patients will notice a significant difference.
"Patients will recognise a change with the new service - their GP will give them a fully electronic prescription where the hand signature is replaced by an electronic version and secure barcode," said Diane Walsh.
The Electronic Transfer of Prescriptions is a key project under the ehealthNT program of the NT Department of Health and Community Services and is being delivered in partnership with the Top End Division of General Practice.
Department of Health and Community Services CEO, Dr David Ashbridge said the NT is proud to be the national leader in developing innovative eHealth solutions that advance health care delivery and link our health services.
"This is a significant advancement that sees the first full electronic transfer of prescription data from the GP's system to the Pharmacist's dispensing system across the internet, bringing a range of benefits to doctors, pharmacists and patients."
"The Territory's experience in implementing a 12 month trial of the electronic prescription service in a live environment will inform future national developments in this area, " Dr Ashbridge said.
Dr Leonie Katekar, CEO of the Top End Division of General Practice said this service uses leading-edge technologies to deliver a secure and easy to use service for GPs and Pharmacists.
"This represents a significant step forward in modernising prescribing in Australia,"
"GPs welcome this advancement that delivers improvements in quality and safety in prescribing and medication management.
"This new and exciting way of prescribing will ensure that the right medication as prescribed by the doctor is given by the pharmacist every time", said Dr Katekar.
The service delivers a range of new and significant technological developments, including
- the first to use advanced security and authentication technologies to protect again fraud and unauthorised access, and includes participating pharmacists using newly patented security tool to read and verify electronic prescriptions
- the first full digitally encrypted signature system for GPs - completely replacing handwritten and signed prescriptions
- the first automated download of prescribing information at the Pharmacy over the internet.
Benefits for patients, doctors and pharmacists include delivering significant efficiency and safety improvements through reduced errors due to misinterpretations or data entry mistakes and improved productivity through reduced follow-up queries with doctors.
A number of other providers are expected to join the new electronic prescription service in the near future.
Patients accessing participating GPs and receiving electronic prescriptions are still able to choose to present these prescriptions at other pharmacies where they can be dispensed manually.
Acknowledgements:
eHealthNT wishes to acknowledge the contribution of IT software industry partners whose work and commitment made the development of this new technology possible:
- ArgusConnect
- Genie Solutions
- Symbion Pharmacy Services
- Hatrix.
The eHealthNT Program is jointly funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing and the Northern Territory Department of Health and Community Services. The Top End Division of General Practice is a core partner in the delivery of the eHealthNT Electronic Transfer of Prescriptions Service.
Media contact: Sonia Peters 0401 119 550
Dr Leonie Katekar 0438 324 003
Release date: 14 May 2008
