Prescription: Electronic | Transcripts | Healthcare Delivery | Patient Safety

Doctor: "Hello Sara."

Patient: "Hello."

Doctor: "Come and have a seat."

Doctor: "So, Sara, I'm providing you with a repeat prescription for your inhaler. You will need to reorder the prescription in about two months to ensure you don't run out."

Doctor: "I see you haven't nominated a pharmacy yet. Would you like to use the electronic prescription service?"

Patient: "Oh, yes! I noticed the poster advertising EPS in the waiting area. Can I use it for my prescription? How does it work?"

Doctor: "Yes, with EPS, all you need to do is nominate a pharmacy that's convenient for you to collect your inhaler from. Order it a few days before you need it, and I will authorize and send it electronically to the pharmacy you’ve chosen. It could be near your home, work, or even where you shop – the choice is yours."

Patient: "That’s really handy! I could nominate the village pharmacy, which is right around the corner from my workplace. I think I saw a poster about it, but I wasn’t sure what it meant."

Patient: "So, I can order my prescription from you, then just pick it up during my lunch break or after work? That would be perfect."

Doctor: "Yes, just ask a staff member at the pharmacy to set the nomination for you. I can also set it here – should I add your nomination now so you can use it?"

Patient: "Yes, definitely! That will make my life so much easier, and I won’t need to leave work early or send my husband to pick up my prescriptions. Plus, I won’t misplace it since it's electronic, right?"

Doctor: "Exactly. The village pharmacy will receive the prescription electronically, and they will have time to prepare the medicine before you arrive. It should be ready by the time you get there."

Doctor: "And if you ever want to change pharmacies or go back to paper prescriptions, just let us know, and we can adjust the nomination or issue a paper prescription."

Patient: "Brilliant! Can anyone use this service? My dad has multiple repeat prescriptions and colostomy bags. He takes the bus to the surgery every time, so this could save him a lot of trouble!"

Doctor: "Yes, it can be useful for your dad too, as long as he nominates the same pharmacy for his prescriptions and medical appliances. Most patients can use the service. It's best for him to check with his GP or pharmacist."

Doctor: "All done! I’ve sent your prescription, and it should be ready in an hour or two."

Patient: "Great, thanks a lot! Bye."