e-Prescribing
Electronic prescribing and dispensing of medicine is a key initiative of the Australian government aimed at improving the delivery and quality of health care and achieving better health outcomes.
Electronic prescribing and dispensing enables all stages of the prescribing, supply of medicine, and claiming process to be completed electronically. It will provide an alternative to the current paper based prescription system. Prescriptions will be created and signed electronically by prescribers.
The new, streamlined process will allow for a prescription to be entered electronically by a medical practitioner, authenticated via an electronic signature, and transmitted securely for dispensing by a pharmacy. The pharmacy can then make claims electronically to Medicare Australia.
As electronic signatures are not yet acknowledged by law, current legislation in all states (except Northern Territory) still require a script to be printed, signed by the GP and presented to the Pharmacist by the patient.
What are the benefits?
Electronic prescribing and dispensing has the potential to deliver a range of real benefits including:
- Improved confidentiality and security of health information
- Better clarity and communication of prescription information
- Rapid information exchange
- More time with health professionals due to less paperwork
- Reduction in medication error
- Decline in adverse drug events, and
- Mitigate against fraud risks present in the paper-based process.
e-Prescribing Vendors
More Information
Department of Health and Ageing
Pulse IT Magazine - Page 14 & 15
Vendor Presentations from e-Health Face-to-Face on 19 June, 2009
Roger Boot, Vendor Relationship Manager - ERX Script Exchange Presentation
Phillip Sheppard, CEO – Medisecure Presentation