The COVID-19 pandemic prompted the introduction of additional funding to improve access to telehealth services via general practice and other health services, to reduce transmission of the virus.
Two years on, many GPs are now also using electronic prescribing to complement their telehealth services.
In the past, a patient had to visit a GP to receive a paper prescription which was handed over at the pharmacy so medications could be dispensed.
With telehealth, a patient consults with their GP via telephone or video, but until recently, still had to visit the practice to pick up their prescription.
This is where electronic prescribing is useful.
With electronic prescribing, a GP can send a 2D barcode via an SMS or an email. The 2D barcode contains the prescription details. The patient can either visit a pharmacy to have the barcode scanned and have the medications dispensed, or forward the barcode to a pharmacy and have their medications delivered.
Electronic prescribing makes telehealth appointments with a GP and accessing medications more convenient. It also eliminates cross infections between patients in waiting rooms and between GPs and patients.
The 2D barcode is specific to a patient so medications cannot be dispensed to another person. If the barcode isn’t received or is lost, the patient can inform the medical practice and have the barcode re-sent.
The widespread use of telehealth and electronic prescribing are still relatively new, but with time, will become the norm in general practice.