Future of Australia’s ETP: Script exchange, script vault or secure mobile alternative

Electronic transfer of prescriptions is an essential element of electronic medications management. Unfortunately, current manual and preliminary electronic transfer of prescription methods are not patient focussed, leading to a suboptimal solution for the patient. This is increasingly relevant in the push for more patient engagement in their own healthcare. The area is highly controlled by legislation and regulation. Through research and an analysis of the possible methods to improve and personalise electronic transfer of prescriptions, this paper provides an overview of these conclusions, and presents an alternative technical solution. The solution has been derived from a number of experiments in data transfer techniques using a mobile phone. The paper explains how this meets the current regulations and legislation, as well as providing a patient centred approach to the problem. Ultimately, healthcare outcomes will improve where patients are given the opportunity and the tools to better engage in their own healthcare management, and secure electronic transfer of prescriptions with patient access to their own medication lists may improve compliance and reduce healthcare costs