ePrescribing FAQ (AU)

Prescribing using electronic prescriptions in Bp VIP.net is very similar to creating a paper-based prescription. Once you have completed the prescription, select a token method for sending the electronic prescription and click Send My eScripts from the Prescriptions (F9) screen. See Set up ePrescribing (AU) for more information.

Yes, you can provide your patient with a paper version of the token, or a normal paper script.

You can only successfully send one electronic prescription token per prescription per patient in one day. You can reattempt to send a failed or timed-out attempt any number of times.

When SMS is selected as the Access Token Option for the eScript, the SMS token will be sent via eRx. No Bp SMS credit is used when sending SMS eScript tokens.

It’s free to print a paper token. At this time, it does not cost to send electronic prescriptions via email.

The prescriber can resend an electronic prescription token, using the same or a different method or phone number if necessary.

As with a printed script, when adding an Rx you can select to send the record of the prescription to My Health Record. The actual electronic prescription token itself is not sent to My Health Record.

When the prescription has been sent via eRx, it will display with eScript in the Prt column in the Medications History section of the Medications (F9) screen. The Status column indicates if the prescription is active, amended or ceased.

Yes. You will be prompted to re-enter your Bp VIP.net password when sending the electronic prescription token.

Yes. Controlled substance checks and alerts will apply as normal when adding a new prescription.

No, you do not need to have email set up in Bp VIP.net to send electronic prescriptions via email.

Information entered into the Provider Details (Setup > Providers > This Clinic) can be used on documents produced by the software (such as invoices and electronic prescriptions), and therefore users should refrain from entering personal contact information in their Provider Details. Contact details should always be specific where possible to the provider’s practice location.

While this has always been how the software has functioned, this is now particularly important for Practices using electronic prescribing. If the Mobile Number field is populated, a prescriber's personal mobile number could potentially be seen by a third party that has obtained access to the electronic prescription token.

There are several tasks your practice will need to complete before you are ready to use electronic prescriptions.

1. Register your practice with the Healthcare Identifier Service.

2. Ensure your practice has eRx installed and register all of your Practitioners.

3. Configure your Best Practice database:

   • Record your Health Identifier numbers for your practice, and for all practitioners, as well prescriber and AHPRA registration numbers.
   • Update your patients’ Health Identifier numbers and contact details.
   • The NASH certificate for the practice must be installed and the HI Location Service certificate configured in Facility Preferences. See Install a NASH certificate and Configure Bp VIP.net with the NASH Certificate for further instructions.

4. Consider your practice’s communication strategy with both staff and patients so everyone stays informed.

5. Regularly check the Australian Digital Health Agency website for electronic prescribing updates.

See Set up ePrescribing (AU) for more information on setting up your clinic to send eScripts.

An electronic prescription is a prescription that is electronically generated and sent to your mobile phone or computer. You can use an electronic prescription, in the same way as a paper prescription, to get medicines from your pharmacy.

Yes, paper prescriptions are still available. You can choose to have either a paper or an electronic prescription. When your provider writes your electronic prescription they will send you a 'Token' which is an electronic message sent to your mobile phone or computer.

This may change depending on electronic prescription exchange development, but the message should look similar to the following, with a hyperlink to click on and download the token.

• <Tap the link to view <patients initials, capitalized> eScript for <Medication + Formulation> <URL/practice Site ID> >

It will be an SMS or email message with a QR code and some information about your medicine.

A patient should receive their electronic prescription token very shortly after the provider has sent it in Bp VIP.net. If practical, you may prefer to wait until the patient receives confirmation before they leave the practice. If the exchange service is processing high volumes of requests and for any reason a delay occurs, you still have the option to resend as a paper token, which prints immediately.

Electronic prescriptions will give people convenient access to their medicines and will improve patient safety by reducing the risk of transcription errors.

They can also lessen the risk of infection being spread in general practice waiting rooms and at community pharmacies as they are sent directly to the patient and can be forwarded to the pharmacy.

You don’t need any technology to participate as a patient, because you can receive a paper version of the token. To receive an email or SMS token, you will need a mobile phone or a computer. The phone does not have to be a smart phone, but pharmacies will be unable to scan a QR code from an older type of phone.

You do not need My Health Record to use electronic prescriptions. However, the patient will require an IHI number.

Electronic prescriptions must meet a high level of privacy and security. Your prescription is protected until it is retrieved at your pharmacy when you give them your token.

There are currently no restrictions as to which medicines can be prescribed using an electronic prescription.

You will get a separate token for each medicine you are prescribed.

If you have repeats on your prescription, your pharmacy will send you a new token for your next repeat. You will need to give the new token to the pharmacist when it is time to get your medicine.

Your pharmacy can verify which token has been used. Once you have your medicine you should delete the token that was used to get that medicine.

If you lose your token, you will need to ask your provider to cancel the electronic prescription and issue a new one. The provider will send you a new token.

You can go to the pharmacy and they will use your token to unlock the electronic prescription and supply your medicines.

As is currently the case with paper prescriptions, a family member or agent may collect your medicines for you. You will need to send them the token with the QR code so they can give it to the pharmacy to unlock the electronic prescription.

Check with your pharmacy to see if they do home delivery and if you can forward your token to them. If so, there is no need to go into the pharmacy.

Eventually, most pharmacies will be able to give you your medicine from an electronic prescription. If you want to make sure you should check with your pharmacy directly.

Prescribers and pharmacists will need to upgrade their computer software to be able to write and receive electronic prescriptions.

You can check that you have received your token before you leave the provider’s office or finish your telehealth consultation, so you know it is from your provider.

Your GP practice will usually check with you that they have your correct details when you arrive for your provider’s appointment.

You can also check with your provider when they issue your electronic prescription that all your details are correct.

It would need to be cancelled and sent to the correct mobile phone number.

You should check that your provider has sent you the token before you leave the GP practice.

No, the choice of whether you get an electronic or a paper prescription is always yours.

Yes, all repeats issued with the initial electronic prescription will also be electronic. Any repeats will have new tokens issued once the prescription is dispensed. You will need to keep the new token for the next time you need the medicine.

The Australian Government Department of Health has made the following fact sheets available:

• Prescriptions by telehealth - a guide for prescribers
• Prescriptions by telehealth - a guide for pharmacists

The Australian Digital Health Agency has an electronic prescriptions toolkit for prescribers and dispensers:

• Toolkit for prescribers
• Toolkit for dispensers

The Australian Digital Health Agency have also created eLearning courses for prescribers and dispensers:

• Electronic prescribing eLearning courses

Other resources you might find useful:

• eRx - An introduction to electronic prescriptions
• Australian Digital Health Agency - Electronic scripts

Electronic prescriptions meet a high level of privacy and security. They are fully encrypted with dual key encryption and use a public key infrastructure to ensure it cannot be intercepted.

While the token itself does not contain identifiable information, the QR Code holds an identifier which is a key used by the Prescription Delivery Service (PDS) to pull the prescription details from the database. The identifiers are meaningless unless scanned using a PDS with the required connectivity and authorising processes to check for a legitimate and legal request to the information.

At the initial release of electronic prescriptions, the token model allows for only one token to be issued per medication. When a patient is prescribed multiple medications, one token must be issued for each medication on the prescription. Alternatively, the prescriber is still able to issue paper prescriptions if preferred; the choice is up to the patient.

In the short-term, hospitals will not be able to generate electronic prescriptions because hospital based EMRs are still developing this functionality. Once this has been completed, electronic prescriptions will be progressively rolled out across systems used in hospitals for the management of inpatients.

For patients who don’t have a smart phone or are immobile, they can elect to send the electronic prescription token directly to their carer/agent, who can collect the medication on the patient’s behalf. Alternatively, the patient also has the choice of receiving a paper token or prescription if they are unable to receive an electronic token.

An electronic prescription is recognised as a new legal form of prescription that authorises supply of prescribed medicines. There is no ‘opt-in or opt-out’; the patient will choose the type of prescription with their provider (paper or electronic) at the time of prescribing.