E-Prescribing in Ireland: What Pharmacists Need to Know
Pharmacists in Ireland need to be aware of the ongoing
development and implementation of ePrescribing, which aims to digitize the
entire process of prescribing and dispensing medications to improve patient
safety, efficiency, and access to medicines.
What is ePrescribing in Ireland?
- ePrescribing
involves the electronic generation of a prescription by a prescriber,
secure transmission of this prescription to a pharmacy, and electronic
dispensing by the pharmacist, all integrated into the patient's health
record.
- Currently,
prescriptions in Ireland are mostly paper-based, but a transition is
underway to allow electronic prescriptions to replace paper ones,
facilitated by a national digital platform.
- The
vision is to establish a single source of truth for prescribing and
dispensing information for every patient, improving medication safety and
reducing errors such as mistaken identity, incorrect dosage, or adverse
drug interactions.
Benefits for Pharmacists
- ePrescribing
reduces medication errors and associated healthcare costs.
- It
speeds up patient access to medication by streamlining prescription
retrieval and dispensing.
- It
reduces the number of pharmacist interventions needed due to clearer, more
accurate prescriptions.
- Electronic
transmission of prescriptions enhances traceability, security, and
integration with patient health records.
Current Status and Systems
- Emergency
legislative changes in 2020 allowed electronic transfer of prescriptions
via secure systems like Healthmail and the High Tech Hub, enabling
electronic prescription transfer between GPs and pharmacies.
- The
National ePrescribing Project, led by eHealth Ireland, is progressing
through phased implementation to build the necessary infrastructure and
standards for full ePrescribing in primary care.
- Pharmacists
should prepare for integration with national ePrescribing systems and
participate in training and education initiatives as these systems are
rolled out.
What Pharmacists Need to Do
- Familiarize
themselves with the national ePrescribing standards and systems as they
develop.
- Ensure
their dispensing software systems are compatible with ePrescribing
platforms and capable of securely receiving and processing electronic
prescriptions.
- Engage
in training and education provided by the National ePrescribing Project
and professional bodies to understand workflow changes and legal
requirements.
- Be
aware of legislative changes that allow electronic prescriptions to
replace paper prescriptions and the requirements for secure handling and
storage of electronic prescription data.
In summary, pharmacists in Ireland should prepare for a shift
from paper to electronic prescriptions through national initiatives aimed at
improving medication safety, efficiency, and patient care. They will play a
crucial role in the successful adoption of ePrescribing by adapting their
practices, systems, and workflows accordingly
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