When using the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS), it's advisable to avoid post-dating prescriptions. This practice can introduce complexities into the prescription management process and cause potential processing issues.
Challenges with Post-Dating EPS Prescriptions
Post-dated prescriptions are not submitted to the NHS Spine until the specified future date. This delay can be problematic if there are any changes or updates in the system within this period. For instance, if your clinical system is being updated or if you are migrating from one system to another, the post-dated prescriptions may not be processed correctly and could fail to reach the Spine altogether.
Furthermore, should you need to cancel a prescription before the due date, it will be rejected since it hasn't yet been processed through the Spine. The cancellation request will only be actioned on or after the prescribed date. This requires careful tracking and review of the tracker on due dates to manually confirm cancellations in the Workflow Manager.
"Avoid scheduling issues with EPS by monitoring progress in the tracker and minimizing reliance on future-dated prescriptions."
Avoiding Common Pitfalls
To ensure smooth handling of prescriptions in the EPS environment, consider these steps:
- Immediate Issuance: Whenever possible, issue prescriptions for immediate use rather than scheduling them for future dates.
- Track Prescriptions: Regularly monitor prescription statuses using the tracker to confirm they are processed as expected.
- Personalization Options: Clarify patient preferences for receiving prescriptions to support timely and accurate dispensing.
