Preparing your stakeholders for Electronic Prescribing

Kate Ellis and Vandana Chandnani7 April 2020

Acknowledgement

We would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of country throughout Australia, and their

continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their

cultures, and to Elders both past and present.

Purpose

1. What is the Agency’s role

2. Provide an overview of the roadmap for electronic prescribing;

3. Explain electronic prescribing;

4. Outline what options are available in the short-term (pre 30 May);

5. Detail the solution underway (for progressive rollout from 30 May);

6. Discuss core features and its benefits for patients and healthcare providers;

7. Highlight how healthcare providers can use the electronic prescribing in routine practice;

National Digital Health Strategy – roadmap for delivery

High-quality data

with a commonly

understood

meaning that can

be used with

confidence

Health information

that can be

exchanged

securely

Digitally enabled

models of care

that improve

accessibility,

quality, safety

and efficiency

A thriving digital

health industry

delivering

world-class

innovation

A workforce

confidently using

digital health

technologies to

deliver health

and care

Health

information that

is available

whenever and

wherever it is

needed

INTEROPERABILITYAND DATA QUALITY

3

SECUREMESSAGING

2

MYHEALTH RECORD

1 4

ENHANCEDMODELS OF CARE

5

WORKFORCE AND EDUCATION

6

DRIVINGINNOVATION

7

Better availability

and access to

prescriptions

and medicines

information

MEDICINESSAFETY

Co-designed with all states and territories and agreed by COAG Health Council

Electronic Prescribing will assist with the aim to have “digitally enabled paper-free option for medication management in Australia by 2020”. This will allow people to manage prescriptions electronically which will increase convenience and improve medication safety.

3

INTEROPERABILITYAND DATA QUALITY

1

MYHEALTH RECORD

4

MEDICINESSAFETY

5

ENHANCEDMODELS OF CARE

6

WORKFORCE AND EDUCATION

7

DRIVINGINNOVATION

2

SECUREMESSAGING

4

MEDICINESSAFETY

The Agency’s role in developing Electronic Prescribing

The Department of Health and the Agency have collaborated to develop the technical components of electronic prescribing, the conformance framework and national change and adoption activities.

The National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Amendment (Electronic Prescriptions) Regulations 2019identify the Agency as the organisation to which a conformant software product’s conformance identifier is provided to in relation to software used to prepare an electronic prescription.

2018 - 2020 Activities

Solution Architecture

Conformance Framework

Vendor Support Plan

Change and Adoption

Implement Conformance

Process

Implement Vendor Support

Quality Assurance Activities

Roadmap

Now

• Interim arrangements for prescriptions process to support telehealth services

•Paper prescriptions

From 30 May

•Electronic prescribing –token model

•Paper prescriptions

From late 2020

•Electronic prescribing –token and active script list

•Paper prescriptions

Interim arrangements for prescriptions process to support telehealth services

As a prescriber, you will still create a paper prescription, during a telehealth consultation. This prescription will need to be signed as normal.

You can then create a clear copy of the entire prescription (a digital image such as a photo or pdf including the barcode where applicable) to send on to the patient’s pharmacy of choice via email, text message or fax.

This can be sent via fax, email, or text directly to the patient’s pharmacy of choice.

What is Electronic Prescribing?

o Electronic prescribing is an option for prescribers and their patients to have an electronic prescription as an alternative to a paper prescription.

o Electronic prescribing will not be mandatory. Patients and prescribers will be able to choose between paper prescription and electronic prescription.

o Paper prescriptions and electronic prescriptions will meet the relevant Commonwealth and State and Territory legislation.

What is the difference between a paperand an electronic prescription?

oPreviously, only a paper prescription signed by a prescriber has been the legal form by which medicines can be supplied.

oChanges to Commonwealth legislation commenced on 31 October 2019 recognising an electronic prescription as an alternative legal form by which medicines can be supplied under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Who can participate in Electronic Prescribing?

Prescribers Dispensers Software Providers Consumers

• Any authorised prescriber, excluding veterinarians, may utilise electronic prescribing functionality provided by their software provider.

• Refer to jurisdictional legislation for more information on authorised prescribers.

• Any authorised dispenser may utilise electronic prescribing functionality provided by their software provider.

• Refer to jurisdictional legislation for more information on authorised dispensers.

• Dispensing software

• Prescribing software

• Prescription Delivery Service software

• Mobile applications

• Mobile intermediaries

• Any consumer or someone acting on their behalf (agent) may choose to have a new prescription in electronic prescription form.

• Must have an Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI) to participate.

• Existing paper prescriptions cannot be converted into an electronic prescription.

Electronic Prescribing

Token and Active Script List

Active Script List: Dispensers can alternatively access an electronicprescription for a person by retrieving it from an Active Script List followingpresentation of adequate identification. This overcomes the issue of losttokens and assists medication management and adherence, especially forpatients who are taking multiple medicines. *This model will not be availablefor EP Fast Track*

Token Model: Subjects of Care may elect to manage their tokens on theirmobile devices. The mobile device will display the token in a manner suitablefor scanning using existing pharmacy equipment.

Fast-track (by 30 May)

OR

Implementation of Electronic Prescribing

o The Australian Government is fast-tracking the implementation of electronic prescribing (EP) given the pandemic.

o Implementation of EP will be fast-tracked for up to 80 per cent of general practices and community pharmacies and is expected to progressively roll out from the end of May.

o Agency is working with software providers who have demonstrated progression towards electronic prescribing capability by end of May;

o Modified selected conformance requirements – this document outlines fast-track requirements for electronic prescribing; and

o This initiative is designed to further support the new telehealth measure (introduction of Bulk Billed MBS item numbers for Telehealth Services for COVID-19).

Vulnerable community member self-isolating due to COVID-19

James

o 72 years old

o Hypertension, Type 2 Diabetes

o Not physically active following knee surgery several years ago.

o Lives alone, does not own a car.

o James requires a supply of his regular medication

Doctor

o Telehealth consult with James

o GP discusses prescription options

o GP issues an electronic prescription via the Token Model

Pharmacist

o Receives Token from James

o Dispenses his electronic prescription

o Takes remote payment

o Pharmacy delivers James’s medication to his house

Token Model

Doctor prescribes

medication via

conformant software (incl. HPI-O, IHI,

eRx/Medisecure)

Patient advises

the prescriber of

their preferred

pharmacy

Patient receives

token

Patient sends it electronically via

SMS/Email. Once receipt is

confirmed by pharmacy, medication

is dispensed via existing method.(incl. HPI-O, IHI, eRx/Medisecure)

Prescription tokens can be managed on mobile devices. The mobile device will display the token in a manner suitable for scanning using existing pharmacy equipment.

Electronic Prescriptions – Token Model Demo

The electronic prescribing method is selected within the prescribers clinical software

Electronic Prescriptions – Token Model Demo

Token delivery method is selected within the prescribers clinical software

Electronic Prescriptions – Token Model Demo

Electronic Prescriptions – Token Model DemoPharmacy Script-In Counter

EP Readiness Checklist for Providers

✓ Ensure your practice/pharmacy is registered as a Healthcare Provider Identifier-Organisation (HPI-O) and connected to the HI service. This is a core requirement for electronic prescribing. Information about how to register your organisation for a HPI-O is available here.

✓ Ensure your practice/pharmacy has a Prescription Delivery Service (e.g. eRx/MediSecure).

✓Update your patients’ and their carers’ contact details on file (mobile phone number / email).

✓ Subscribe to your software provider newsletters and correspondence

✓ Stay up-to-date with communication from your peak body

✓ Keep your staff informed about electronic prescribing and how they may respond to patient’s questions

✓ Check the Australian Digital Health Agency Website for Electronic Prescribing information and updates

Channels 2020

Electronic Prescribing

Marketin

g/Co

mm

s

En

ga

ge

me

nt

Sta

ke

ho

lde

rs

Events/C

on

ferences

Social/D

igital

Edu

cation

Mar

Ap

ril

May

Jun

e

Consumer Communications

Advertising Campaign – radio partnership, catch up TV, digital, social, web, pharmacy screens

Web landing page – EP specific and home page updates for campaign

PR – Spokesperson Dr Andrew Rochford, radio and TV interviews

Internal Communications -campaign launch, eDMs, etc

Production

Planning and Production

Production

Production

Consumer Communications

Resources

o ADHA EP Webpage (coming soon)

o FAQs

o Generic Fact Sheet (pictured)

o Prescriber Fact Sheet incl. readiness checklist

o Dispenser Fact Sheet incl. readiness checklist

o Upcoming dedicated webinars

o eLearning modules

o Department of Health Fact Sheet: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-national-health-plan-primary-care-fast-track-electronic-prescribing

o https://www.erx.com.au/eprescribing/

o http://www.medisecure.com.au/

Contact us

1300 901 001

help@digitalhealth.gov.au

digitalhealth.gov.au

twitter.com/AuDigitalHealth

Help Centre

Website

Twitter

Email

OFFICIAL