Electronic Prescribing: Who Qualifies and What You Get
Learn how doctors can transition to paperless prescriptions using digital tokens sent via SMS or email.
Electronic Prescribing is a digital system that allows doctors to send prescriptions directly to patients via electronic messages instead of using physical paper slips.
Who it's for
This scheme is designed for all doctors. It is a digital tool intended to integrate into clinical workflows to modernize how medication is ordered and received.
What you get
When using this system, you can provide paperless prescription delivery to your patients. Instead of handing a patient a physical piece of paper that can be lost or damaged, you send a digital version. This is delivered through an SMS or an email. This digital version functions as an eScript, which contains a secure token that the patient can present to a pharmacy to fulfill their medication requirements.
What it costs you
There is no direct fee mentioned for the service itself, but there is a requirement regarding your existing technology. To use this system, you must use clinical software that is compatible with electronic prescribing. You will need to ensure your practice's digital setup meets the necessary technical requirements to support this type of digital communication.
The catch to know
The most common issue encountered with this system involves the patient and their digital token. Because the prescription is sent via SMS or email, patients often lose the SMS token or cannot find the message in their inbox. When this happens, you will need to take the time to resend the digital prescription to them to ensure they can access their medication.
How to apply
- Verify that your current clinical software is compatible with electronic prescribing requirements.
- Ensure your practice setup allows for sending digital messages via SMS or email.
- Use your software to issue an eScript containing the necessary token.
- Send the digital prescription directly to the patient's preferred contact method.