The implementation of the nation's first fully electronic prescription service in Darwin is delivering improvements in aged care.
Doctors at Terrace Gardens Aged Care are using wireless enabled IT equipment at patient bedsides to transfer prescriptions to pharmacies participating in the new Electronic Transfer of Prescriptions service.
Terrace Gardens Aged Care is the first Aged Care facility in the Australia to fully implement Advanced Medication Management and the Electronic Transfer of Prescriptions.
Chief Information Officer of the Department of Health and Community Services, Stephen Moo, said the new e-health solutions are transforming complex medication management.
"Patients in the aged care setting often require multiple medications due to complex health needs and this new service will allow pharmacists to receive multiple prescriptions electronically into their dispensing system and greatly reduce potential transcription errors."
"The new Electronic Transfer of Prescriptions Service combined with the leading-edge Medchart Advanced Medication Management System have the potential to significantly improve quality and safety in delivering health care services to aged care residents," Stephen Moo said.
Dr Leonie Katekar, CEO of Top End Division of General Practice said health organisations nationally will be keenly observing this eHealthNT initiative for it's potential to transform the whole medication process in the Aged Care Sector.
"These projects represent a significant step forward in modernising prescribing in Australia," Dr Katekar said.
The Medchart System enables prescribing by doctors, drug administration by nursing staff, pharmacy review and dispensing, and integrated clinical decision support for medication management, all done electronically at the bedside using mobile wireless technology.
Medchart has been implemented in NT hospitals and went live last week at Terrace Gardens Aged Care.
The electronic prescription service delivers the first 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.
eHealthNT wishes to acknowledge the significant contribution of its core program partner, the Top End Division of General Practice, who has primary responsibility for delivering this highly innovative e-health service. eHealthNT also wishes to acknowledge the tremendous support of staff and management at Terrace Gardens Aged Care, Dr Liz Moore and staff at Stuart Park Pharmacy to the implementation of this new service. Our major IT industry partners Hatrix, Argus Connect and Symbion Pharmacy Services are to be commended for their efforts in developing advanced e health software solutions.
The eHealthNT Program is jointly funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing and the NT Department of Health and Community Services.
Media contact: Sonia Peters 0401 119 550 / Dr Leonie Katekar 0438 324 003
Release date: 14 May 2008
