Electronic Prescribing Integration

Introduction

This document outlines the requirements for an interface between TMS Insights Prescription Tracking System (PTS) and an Electronic Prescribing (ePrescribing) module.

The reason for the interface between the two systems is to save pharmacy staff time re-entering information into PTS that has already been entered into the other system.

Whereas ePrescribing systems tend to focus on the ordering and dispensing of individual drugs and the management of stock, the focus for PTS is in managing the workflow of ‘prescriptions’ for individual patients through the whole dispensing process – from when an order is placed through to completion, collection and delivery back to the Ward.

A ‘prescription’ in PTS is defined as a group of medicines that will be processed as one unit of work for an individual patient.

There are two circumstances where PTS & ePrescribing systems need to interface:

1) When a prescription is manually entered in PTS and the user enters a patient identifier (Hospital number or NHS number). An interface is required here to return demographic information to save the user having to type these details into PTS. This interface is provided as part of the system, while it’s not required many Trusts implement this to assist booking in prescriptions.

2) When an ‘order’ is created in the ePrescribing system this information is sent to PTS so that it can be tracked. In addition to the patient demographics more information is required about the order so that PTS can group medicines into ‘prescriptions’ for each patient, assign prescription types and allocate each prescription to a Ward and Dispensary.

Automatic ePrescribing links (option 2) are chargeable and you should obtain a quotation if required.