The key functions in the ePrescription module are:

• Online lookup in the NZ Formulary for medicines, including their monographs.

• Issuing the prescription to the NZePS hub and pharmacy.

• Providing the patient with a digital summary and token of their prescription.

• Retrieving and actioning notifications from a dispensing pharmacy or the NZePS hub.

• Importing pharmacy details from Healthpoint directory.

The traditional workflow of issuing a paper prescription to the patient, who can then take it to a pharmacy of their choice, is being superseded. The NZePS process is for a digital prescription data to be uploaded to the NZePS hub (broker) and also, optionally, directly to a pharmacy. The patient can be provided with a prescription Summary and also a Token (barcode or ID). The token can be presented at their nominated (or any) pharmacy to allow the medicines to be dispensed. Production of a paper prescription is still possible, in some circumstances.

The NZ Formulary is used, as the NZULM is, in very simple terms, the medicines cataloguing of a product, whereas the NZF is the clinical information and application surrounding the medicine. The NZF takes the medicine listed in the NZULM and applies information on how to use and when to prescribe that medicine in line with current and best practice advice in New Zealand. The NZF contains information such as indications, contra-indications, dosing information, adverse effects, interactions, pregnancy and breast-feeding information. The NZF also includes patient information leaflets that can help guide a patient on the best way to take their medicine and common things to look out for when taking that medicine.

Because the ‘Sending’ of the ePrescription can be restricted to an authorised Prescriber, it does not need a physical signature and is deemed ‘Signature Exempt’.

Additional Resources:

• Login to Electronic 'Special Authority'

• https://www.pinkbook.org.nz/index.htm?toc.htm?132290.htm

• https://healthify.nz/medicines-a-z/

Glossary:

Author = person who constructs the medication list for a patient but may not be able to issue the prescription (nurse, admin staff)
Broker = NZePS digital hub that holds the ePrescription and also makes it available to the Pharmacy. It also issues notifications to the Prescriber
HIE = Health Information Exchange
HPI-CPN = Health Provider Index - Common Person Number
HPI-FAC = Health Provider Index - Facility Number
Image = image (pdf) of a traditionally laid-out prescription, which can be displayed or printed. These become the legal document once they have a status of ‘Valid’
Notification = message issued by the NZePS hub (broker) informing the prescriber of the status of the prescription.
NZF = NZ Formulary
NZULM = NZ Univeral List of Medicines
Parked = saved list of medications, assembled for a patient, but cannot be issued as a prescription because the Author is not a Prescriber.
Prescriber = person legally able to issue a prescription for a patient (doctor, nurse practitioner etc.)
Summary = lists the medicines on the prescription and is issued to the patient. This is not a legal document.
Token = The ePrescriptionID number or barcodephysical piece of paper or a digital message (SMS/email) with an ePrescriptionID number, issued by the NZePS hub, that is used by the pharmacy to dispense medicines.