Three pharmacies pilot repeat-script data-sharing software
Practice Pharmacy software manufacturer Rx Systems has developed medicines-management software that allows pharmacists to use EPS to view patients’ repeat medication that is held on the GP’s system.
Three pharmacies in England are piloting software from Rx Systems that uses the elecctronic prescription service (EPS) to allow pharmacists and GPs to exchange information about repeat prescriptions.
Pharmacists could make a note of health issues, such as asthma scores, and create a "full audit trail" of the patient's medicine history for the GP to read before issuing the repeat prescription, said pharmacist Jignesh Patel, owner of Rohpharm pharmacy, Plaistow, which was the first pharmacy to pilot the software in April.
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"With the appropriate consent, access to patient records to assist the pharmacist in managing patient care is a potential quick win" Ian Taylor, RX Systems |
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GPs could also use the software to alert pharmacists if the prescription had been rejected because the patient had been hospitalised or needed a blood test, he told C+D. Mr Patel argued that the software saved time for staff at the GP surgery because they no longer had to process requests for repeat prescriptions. Instead, the pharmacist ticks a box for the items the patient needs and the GP can then authorise the prescription with their EPS smartcard. |
Analysis: Working in the darkThe software was also time-saving for pharmacists because they no longer had to use telephone, fax or email to communicate with the GP, Mr Patel added.
Rx Systems managing director Ian Taylor said that the pilot was a "very exciting first step" in the exchange of information between the two healthcare professionals. GPs involved in the pilot were keen to engage with pharmacists through the software, he added.
Mr Taylor planned to continue the pilot throughout the year and install the software in 30 pharmacies by mid-summer. He also wanted to enhance the service to allow pharmacists access to patient care records, he told C+D.
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"With the appropriate consent, access to patient records to assist the pharmacist in managing patient care is a potential quick win," he said. The cost of the software for pharmacists and GPs is under review while Rx Systems receives feedback from the pilot sites. In February, Numark warned independent contractors that they should start preparing for GPs in their area to upgrade to the second phase of EPS. GP surgeries would need to give just eight weeks' notice on the national EPS tracking database before making the switch, it said. Read C+D's analysis on whether pharmacists can expect to be granted access to patient care records in the near future. |
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EPS timelineApril 2011 PMR system ProScript LINK is given approval to roll out release two of the electronic prescription service (EPS2), which allows for paperless prescriptions March 2012 Deployment data reveals that almost a third of pharmacies are ready to use EPS2 Oct 2012 NHS data reveals that less than four per cent of GP practices are using EPS2 Feb 2013 Numark warns pharmacists not to leave it too late to prepare for EPS April 2013 NHS England takes over responsibility for the EPS allowance, as well as the distribution of tokens and smartcards, from PCTs. |
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