Release ensures patients get exactly what the doctor ordered
February 9, 2009. The National E-Health Transition Authority (NEHTA) has released documentation and reference sets for dosage terminology which will underpin a future electronic prescribing service.
Electronic prescribing will ensure patients receive a prescribed medicine in the right dose, at the right time, on each occasion they fill a prescription.
“Handwritten prescriptions can be misinterpreted and patients’ safety can be put at risk if abbreviations or dosage instructions are not clearly understood by a nurse or pharmacist. Dosage Terminology will ensure consistency in understanding the dosage term,” said Peter Fleming, NEHTA Chief Executive.
In the future, prescriptions will be sent electronically, removing the need for the pharmacist to interpret difficult to read handwriting or confusing abbreviations. The prescription data will also be incorporated with SNOMED CT, the internationally pre-eminent clinical terminology that has been identified by NEHTA as the preferred terminology for Australia.
The document for release details NEHTA’s approach to dosage terminology. The Dosage Approach document also describes the Dosage Terminology reference sets and the guiding principles used in the creation and development of the Dosage Reference Sets.
NEHTA is consulting with relevant stakeholders and asking for their feedback on the Dosage Approach document. Anyone interested in providing feedback can log on to NEHTA’s website and download a copy of the document. All feedback and recommendations are due by Monday 9 March 2009.
To view the Dosage Release documents go to www.nehta.gov.au/dosage-terminology
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