ARE YOU RECORDING THE CORRECT INFORMATION?

When entering a prescription into the dispense system, it has been found that many pharmacists are not entering all the correct and required information.

Two important pieces of information not recorded correctly which have repeatedly come to our attention are:

  1. The prescriber’s name and details
  2. The name of the dispensing/responsible pharmacist (the name of a pharmacy technician cannot be used here)

It is extremely important that pharmacists pay attention to all details on a prescription and comply with the legal requirements. When these items are recorded incorrectly it also means that data forwarded to My Health Record and Medicare is incorrect. This can have a follow on adverse effect if a person is hospitalised and an error has been made in the recording of their medication information.

A reminder of the relevant law:

Below are excerpts from the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008 as a reminder to all pharmacists of what you must record for every prescription:

Clause 55 - Supply on prescription to be recorded

(1)        A pharmacist who supplies a restricted substance on prescription must record the following details in a manner approved by the Director-General:

(a)  the details required by clause 35 (1) to be included in the prescription,

(b)  a unique reference number for the prescription,

(c)  the date on which the substance was supplied,

(d)  the name of the person by whom the substance was supplied.

Clause 35   - Form of prescription

(1)         prescription for a restricted substance must include the following details:

(a)  the date on which it is issued,

(b)  if the treatment is for:

(i)  a patient—the name and address of the patient, or

(ii)  an animal—the species of animal and the name and address of the  animal’s owner, or

(iii)  a patient’s partner and the prescription is for azithromycin for the treatment of chlamydia—the name and email address or mobile phone number of the partner,

(c)   the name, strength (if not readily apparent) and quantity of the substance to be supplied,

(c1)  the route of administration (if not readily apparent) of the substance to be supplied,

(d)   adequate directions for use,

(e)   the maximum number of times the substance may be supplied on the prescription,

(f)   in the case of a prescription for a special restricted substance, the intervals at which the substance may be supplied on the prescription,

(g)   if the prescription is issued at a hospital, the name and designation of the person by whom it is issued and the name, address and telephone number of the hospital,

(h)  if the prescription is issued elsewhere than at a hospital, the name and designation of the person by whom it is issued and the address and telephone number of the premises at which it is issued.