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Given
that an increasing number of prescriptions are now being printed
by computer, consider the following processes.
Prescriber generates prescription information, asks patient when
dispensing is required, transmits information to the appropriate
pharmacy, and transfers information to patient's "Smart Card".
If request for dispensing is ASAP, potential dispensing pharmacy's
schedule advises when prescription will be ready.
This advice is issued by the computer having checked stock availability,
whether this is first time of dispensing and considering complexity
of total dispensing factors for patient.
The anticipated time for dispensing may be unacceptable to the
patient and where an alternate pharmacy's computer can be interrogated
for a better time.
Dispensing pharmacy information is added to Smart Card (this information
could then be integrated with patient's car navigation system
to locate pharmacy for people not familiar with town in which
dispensing is taking place).
Meanwhile, the dispensing pharmacy is processing the patient's
prescriptions, checking compliance, dose, previous medications,
and appropriateness of medication against diagnosis transmitted
by prescriber. Medication is labeled; CMI's are edited for patient
and deposited on patient's email server.
Patient presents at pharmacy with Smart Card that contains biometric
data, in addition to prescription information.
Pharmacy verifies correctness of prescription details.
Patient uses biometric information to acknowledge receipt of medication,
patient's bank account is debited, or charge made to credit card,
amount due from HIC is added to total for day for transmission
to HIC processing at end of trading, or some other mutually appropriate
time.
This process would eliminate the need for:
· Paper prescriptions,
· Re-keying of data already created by prescriber,
· The need to shuffle paper in pharmacies, and at HIC.
It
would improve:
· The work flow in dispensaries,
· The ability to advise patients on compliance, frequency
and time of dosage, potential interactions with food and OTC products.
The
process outlined above does not require the application of technology
that does not already exist. Smart Cards exist for Credit Cards,
public transport fares, public telephone access, and many other
applications.
Communications between computers is even easier now with Internet,
especially where broad band facilities are available.
All that is required is a will to implement the technology to
make peoples' lives easier, and the service pharmacists render
more effective.
Hopefully, there will be a number of comments on this article,
and a number of naysayers who will tell us why the system will
not work.
We know that people resist change, and are familiar with the people
who told the Wright Brothers man could not fly in a heavier than
air machine, as well as all the other people who have achieved
that which had hitherto been considered impossible.
Perhaps the biometric identification systems are unfamiliar to
some readers; the methods include finger scan devices, identification
and verification of voice patterns, and retinal scans. More information
is on the "net", Indentix.com is one site that it interesting.
There are others.
One objection that may be raised is the collection of prescriptions
on behalf of others, this could be authorised by the collector
having their Smart Card electronically endorsed to show they have
the patient's permission, or in the case of children the parent's
Smart Card would show the children in their care.
It is envisaged that the Smart Card will include concession entitlement,
Medicare numbers, other Health Insurance information, and hopefully
replace the myriad of cards carried by members of society at present
that entitle them to drive vehicles, accumulate frequent flyer
points, get discounts at various stores, show they are registered
professionals or tradespersons.
If the Smart Card is lost a new card could easily be issued because
of the biometric identifiers stored centrally.
Use of a Smart Card would eliminate Doctor Shopping.
If all new arrivals to Australia are issued with a Smart Card
it would identify their eligibility to subsidised medicines and
by incorporating other essential information and mandating use
in certain situations such as renting (or buying) accommodation
would allow Immigration to more easily locate them if they overstayed
their Visa.
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