What is electronic prescribing?
Electronic prescribing allows for the prescribing and dispensing of medicines without the need for a paper prescription, which can improve efficiency and medicines safety. The patient can choose to receive their prescription by SMS, email or via an app containing a link to a unique QR code or ‘token’ or can be added to an Active Script List (ASL).
How do electronic prescriptions work?
Tokens
The token is scanned by the pharmacy to unlock the electronic form of the prescription from an encrypted and secure electronic prescription delivery service. If the patient has a repeat for a prescription, they will receive a new token from the pharmacy that replaces the original token.
Active Script List (ASL)
An Active Script List is a digital list of a patient’s electronic prescriptions. Once registered, patients no longer need to keep track of each electronic prescription token. The ASL allows patients to attend any participating pharmacy, provide consent for the pharmacy to access their list, and have that pharmacy dispense their medicines.
Once patients register at a pharmacy for an ASL, any electronic prescriptions they are issued are automatically added to their ASL. Patients can choose for their medicines not to be added to the ASL at the point of prescribing and GPs can manage these requests via their clinical information systems.
Apps to manage electronic prescriptions
There are a number of mobile apps available to help consumers manage their electronic prescriptions and some pharmacies have their own apps. The my health app (containing key health information uploaded to a patient’s My Health Record) now provides access for consumers to view electronic prescriptions and access their Active Script List.
Error occurring for some patients accessing electronic prescriptions via SMS
The Australian Digital Health Agency has been made aware that some patients are experiencing errors when trying to access electronic prescriptions via SMS.
Errors have been occurring when patients click on the electronic prescription link in the SMS message and may automatically open using a preferred app.
Instructions for how to assist patients when they encounter an error are available on the Agency’s website for both IOS and Andriod to ensure pharmacists have up to date information when consumers ask questions in store.
More information is available on the Australian Digital Health Agency’s website.
How do I get started?
Electronic prescribing is available to most general practices in Australia and is encouraged where appropriate. It is important to take into consideration your patients preferred prescription choice.
Before commencing:
- ensure your clinical information system has the capability to generate an electronic prescription. View the Australian Digital Health Agency’s conformance register here
- ensure your practice has a Healthcare Provider Identifier-Organisation (HPI-O) and is connected to the Health Identifiers Service
- ensure your practice is connected to the national Prescription Delivery Service (PDS)
- ensure patient phone and email addresses are current so they can receive tokens
- ensure your practice team are up-to-date with electronic prescribing
- ensure your practice has implemented relevant policies in relation to the use of electronic prescriptions
- discuss the option of receiving a prescription electronically with your patients.
Is electronic prescribing mandatory?
Electronic prescriptions are not mandatory, and paper prescriptions will continue to be an option for you and your patients.
Once the form of a prescription (paper or electronic) is chosen, the prescription will stay in that form for its entirety (eg a paper prescription cannot have its repeats delivered as an electronic prescription).
SMS subsidy funding extended indefinitely
The cost of electronic prescribing SMS notifications are free for general practices connected to the eRx Script Exchange gate, which is funded through the national PDS.
Electronic prescribing eLearning and professional development
The Australian Digital Health Agency offers free continuing professional development (CPD) accredited online training. The eLearning modules can assist with providing an introduction to what an electronic prescription is, how it is prescribed and dispensed, the benefit of the ASL, and the policy requirements and legislation that underpin the process.
For training and resources, visit the Australian Digital Health Agency's electronic prescribing page for prescribers.
You can also direct patients to the Australian Digital Health Agency's Electronic prescription information for patients webpage for further information.