Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) enhances the efficiency of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) through seamless integration between healthcare providers and pharmacies. Instead of requiring a patient to request a new prescription each time they run out of medication, eRD allows a batch of prescriptions to be sent electronically to the pharmacy, covering multiple dispensing intervals.
Key Benefits:
- Time Efficiency: Healthcare providers can issue a year's worth of prescriptions in one go, thus reducing the frequency of appointments for prescription renewal. This frees up precious time for both GPs and patients.
- Improved Patient Experience: Patients can collect their medicines more conveniently, either by picking up each issue at set intervals or by having their pharmacy manage these intervals. This lessens the likelihood of running out of medication, enhances convenience, and supports continuity of care.
- Seamless Integration with EPS: Repeat dispensing works harmoniously with the EPS, removing the need for paper prescriptions and ensuring that pharmacies receive prescriptions electronically and in a timely manner.
Implementation Steps:
To transition a patient to eRD:
- Identify eligible patients, such as those with stable long-term conditions.
- Secure explicit patient consent, recorded either in writing or verbally.
- Amend prescription types for eligible medications and issue the prescription as repeat dispensing using EMIS Web’s tools.
- Manage and track the number of dispenses from the Medication screen in EMIS Web.
“The eRD system reduces repeated prescription processing, giving time back to GPs and enhancing service delivery.”
By integrating eRD with the EPS through EMIS Web, healthcare providers can minimise administrative tasks and allocate more time to direct patient care, making the system not only efficient but also conducive to improved patient outcomes.
Did you know? Hero Health offers features that complement EMIS Web. Through Hero Health’s platform, practices can optimise their services, such as achieving efficient medication management with batch messaging to proactively engage relevant patient cohorts. For further information, [explore Hero's solutions here](https://www.herohealthsoftware.net/nhs-features/batch-messaging).
