ePrescriptions on the move
Thurs 9 Sept: Australia’s first national electronic prescription system has moved a step closer following the release of updated draft specifications. The suite of documents, known as the Electronic Transfer of Prescription (ETP) Release 1.1 defines plans for a national framework and will be available for public comment until 15 October 2010.
The latest release expands on previous versions in three key areas, extending the transfer of prescriptions to a wider range of care settings including hospitals and residential care facilities, and addressing instances where the medications are supplied based on informal instruction from a prescriber before a formal prescription (owing script) is provided. It also introduces the transfer of fully electronic prescriptions signed with a prescriber’s digital signature.
Version 1.1 follows signing of the Fifth Community Pharmacy Agreement, between the Federal Government and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, which incorporates a subsidy of 15 cents for each prescription dispensed. This will help pharmacists offset the cost of changing to electronic prescriptions and includes a requirement for prescription exchange vendors to comply with NEHTA specifications within two years of the final specifications being released.
The latest updates are being incorporated into NEHTA’s Reference Platform which provides a technical support environment to assist software developers. Final specifications are expected to be published in December 2010 for early adopter implementation.
NEHTA is working closely with Standards Australia to progress development of the specifications. It is also collaborating with other agencies, and States and Territories health jurisdictions, to ensure enabling policies and legislation are in place.
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