Australian first for HSS and Digital Health Agency team

Paper scripts are so ‘yesterday’.

In a first for Australian Public Health, the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) Program team and the HSS Applications team has developed an electronic prescribing system which is being trialled by Royal Perth Hospital.

Eligible outpatients can now receive their medications via an electronic prescription in the form of a QR code which will be sent via SMS or email for them to present to their local community pharmacy.

Alternatively, a patient can choose to register for an Active Script List which means that they can simply show up to their pharmacy and their prescription will be on file in the system.

According to Faranak Lillo, HSS ADHA Program Manager, a key benefit of an electronic prescription is that a physical signature is not required from a doctor.

“The Program team has achieved a major undertaking,” said Faranak.

“The support and collaboration from HSS ICT, with specific emphasis on the Applications Delivery teams has been instrumental.”

“The technical expertise from Craig Patterson, Jeff Ewen, Gustavo Zirbes, and Jonathan Knispel and the business smarts from Caroline Moran, Jennifer Lee-Baw, Stace Nicholls, Matthew Stephenson and Fiona Custance have really contributed to a fantastic, long-awaited product and a strong working relationship with RPH.”

The HSS teams have been collaborating closely with RPH since the start of the year to ensure the success of the trial.

Ros Jones, Royal Perth Hospital Bentley Group Outpatient Project Lead said “RPH are very excited to partner with HSS to develop this fantastic option for our patients and our clinicians who care for them.”

“RPH has really felt part of the team in developing the platform. The HSS team has given us the opportunity to provide input throughout the testing period and collaboration has ensured the platform provides what we need for our clinical flows.

“We provide some pretty complex medication prescriptions at RPH outpatients, and we believe the eMedication platform will improve how clinicians, pharmacists and patients manage their medications,” she added.

Recommendations will be made about how electronic prescribing can be enabled more broadly across the WA health system following a thorough evaluation once the trial at RPH has concluded.