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