The following steps will assist software developers who wish to build products that support electronic prescribing.
The Agency offers a range of support services including consultative support and scheduled information sessions. If you require any support to understand the Agency’s conformance requirements or other technical specifications please contact [email protected].
Step 1: Gain HI Service conformance
Conformance to the Healthcare Identifier Service (HI) is a prerequisite for prescribing and dispensing systems to participate in electronic prescribing. If your product is not conformant with the HI Service, please develop this capability first. For instructions please go to the following page:
If your product is already HI Service conformant please proceed to step 2.
Step 2: Learn how Electronic Prescribing works
To gain an understanding of how electronic prescribing works, read the Electronic Prescribing Technical Framework documents located here:
- Electronic Prescribing - Technical Framework Documents v3.4 - these documents include a Solution Architecture, Conformance Assessment Scheme and Conformance Profile.
The Conformance Test Specification is located here:
Once you have read these documents, proceed to step 3.
Step 3: Identify your product type
Determine the functions your product will perform in the electronic prescribing process and if your product will need to connect to the National Prescription Delivery Service (NPDS) to enable end-to-end electronic prescription transactions.
To access capabilities provided in an Active Script List you will need to connect to the National PDS, this functionality is not available in a direct PDS model.
Most prescribing and dispensing CIS products will connect to the NPDS.
Hospital CIS solutions may provide their own direct PDS solution.
Step 4: Complete the conformance process
You will need to complete the conformance process with the National Prescription Delivery Service (NPDS) and the Agency. The process will vary depending on the type of product you are developing. The average time required to complete the process with the Agency is currently 20 business days. This is in addition to the time required to develop your product, conduct your testing and self-assessment, and complete the observed testing session with the NPDS. An overview of the process steps, who performs each step, and the average time taken to complete is shown in the diagram.
Conformance process timeline
For detailed information on the conformance process for your product type, please select the relevant option:
For CIS Prescribing or Dispensing systems that will connect to the National Prescription Delivery Service
For the National Prescription Delivery Service provider and Active Script List Registry provider
For CIS systems using their own Prescription Delivery Service - typically hospital based systems
For a software product that a mobile application uses to connect
For a mobile application or web-based application
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Developer guides
Electronic Prescribing - CIS to NPDS or ASLR
The following steps will assist prescribing and dispensing Clinical Information System (CIS) software developers connect to the National Prescription Delivery Service (NPDS) and declare software conformance with the Agency’s Electronic Prescribing technical framework.
Electronic Prescribing - NPDS and ASLR
The following steps will assist software developers who provide National Prescription Delivery Service (NPDS) and/or Active Script List Registry capabilities to declare software conformance with the Agency’s Electronic Prescribing technical framework.
Electronic Prescribing - CIS with a Direct PDS
The following steps will assist Clinical Information System (CIS) software developers with a direct Prescription Delivery Service (PDS), declare software conformance with the Agency’s Electronic Prescribing technical framework.
Electronic Prescribing - Mobile Intermediary System - Conformance Process
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Electronic Prescribing - Mobile Applications - Conformance Process
A mobile application or web-based application is used by a subject of care or carer to manage prescriptions and to present an electronic prescription token to a pharmacy.
Electronic Prescribing – Frequently Asked Questions
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HI Service - Additional requirements for Electronic Prescribing
This guide will discuss potential changes which are required in your software.
Software Developer Impact Roadmap
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NASH SHA-2 Certificates - Developer Guide
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Electronic Prescribing Sunset Dates for Conformance Profiles
The Australian Digital Health Agency (the Agency) has published a series of Electronic Prescribing (EP) Conformance Profiles (CP) with incremental increases in functionality.
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The Pharmacist Shared Medicines List (PSML) is a clinical document type supported by the My Health Record system.