XS SM MD LG XL XXL
Guide
DG-3045
Status
Active
Version
1.0
Created
Updated

Quick Intro

The following steps will assist prescribing and dispensing Clinical Information System (CIS) software developers connect to the national Prescription Delivery Service (PDS) and declare software conformance with the Agency’s Electronic Prescribing technical framework.

If your product will support Electronic Prescribing, please be familiar with the conformance process:

Step 1: Connect to an Open Prescription Delivery Service (PDS)

To connect your product to the Open PDS, please contact the Open PDS provider listed below. Your provider will make available specifications and test environment access to enable you to develop and test your product.

Delivery Services  
Open PDSeRX Script ExchangeE: [email protected]
Active Script List RegisterMedication KnowledgeE: [email protected]

Step 2: Develop Your Product

Review the Electronic Prescribing Conformance Profile here:

Identify the applicable requirements/conformance points that apply to your product. Each requirement identifies if it is applicable to an Open PDS model. Applicable requirements have a “yes” in the “open PDS” column. Where “No” appears in the “Open PDS” column, it means the requirement is not applicable.

If your product is connecting to an open medication chart PDS, the applicable conformance requirements are marked with “yes” in the “Med charts Open PDS” column.

Conformance Test Specifications and test data are available to assist your development and testing here: 

Using the specifications and test environment access provided by your PDS provider commence developing your product.

Step 3: Conduct Internal Testing

Conduct a self assessment against the applicable requirements/conformance points and your own internal testing.

Step 4: Complete the Conformance Test Specification

Complete the Electronic Prescribing Conformance Test Specification (CTS) and submit to the Open PDS Provider unless your product is owned (fully or partially) by the Open PDS (or vice versa) listed, in that case submit to the Australian Digital Health Agency.

Please ensure the CTS for your product, completed in full, with:

  • the relevant test outcomes (pass, fail, N/A) recorded against each test case
  • a corresponding reason documented for any test marked as N/A
  • completed Test Summary Report (TSR) worksheet
  • relevant evidence for each test outcome including screenshots, recordings, documentation or other.

Step 5: Conduct Conformance Assessment

The Open PDS Provider will conduct your Conformance Assessment observation session unless your product is owned (fully or partially) by the Open PDS (or vice versa) listed, in that case the Australian Digital Health Agency will conduct your observed tests.

The purpose of the observed Conformance Assessment is to verify and confirm the results recorded in your submitted Conformance Test Specification (CTS) and validate any further information requested by the Open PDS provider. 

The PDS provider will inform you if you are ready to undergo observation and will schedule the session at a mutually agreeable time. 

During and following your observed Conformance Assessment, the PDS provider may request further evidence for specific test cases to ensure the record of the test is full and accurate.

Step 6: Declare Conformance

Complete the Electronic Prescribing – Conformance Vendor Declaration form after the observed conformance assessment is successfully completed. Email your form to [email protected]. Please ensure that:

  • you have completed all relevant information, such as inclusion of companion software details in section 1.3. Companion software may include PDS adaptor(s), workflow engine(s), mobile gateway(s), etc.
  • you include the name of the Open PDS your software product is integrated with in the ‘Connection name’ field (e.g. eRx). 
  • you include the name of the ASLR your software product is integrated with in the ‘Connection name’ field, if applicable (e.g. Medication Knowledge).
  • the information in the form matches the information in the Test Summary Report tab in the final CTS.

Step 7: Deploy Updated Product

Once you have received a notification that your product has been included on the list of conformant products you may commence deploying electronic prescribing functionality into production and conduct associated training to your end users.

Conclusion

You should now be able to gain product conformance with the Agency’s Electronic Prescribing Technical Framework for your CIS product/s connecting to the Open PDS. If you need any further assistance please contact [email protected].

Back to: Electronic Prescribing Conformance Process