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ScriptSwitch has signed the 100th primary care organisation to use its unique prescribing decision support tool. This means that GP surgeries in 58% of Primary Care Trusts and Local Health Boards in England and Wales are now able to take advantage of the quality improvements, patient safety features and cost benefits that ScriptSwitch brings to primary care.
South West Essex Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT) is the 100th primary care organisation to join ScriptSwitch and has chosen the system with the objectives of promoting the prescribing of “first choice” drugs, re-enforcing local policies on Shared Care drugs and helping control costs without compromising patient safety and clinical care. The PCT is also keen to ensure that the latest National Prescribing Safety Agency (NPSA) and other alerts are included in the system to support patient safety standards.
ScriptSwitch works by providing real-time advice at the point of prescribing, displayed in a simple, one click dialog. This advice may be a clear, concise safety or information message, or can suggest an alternative product that is a better or more cost effective switch to the original prescription. Where a product switch is suggested, the prescriber retains the clinical freedom to accept or reject the alternative offered.
Because the messages and recommended switches are authored by the local Medicines Management team, South West Essex PCT can ensure that the advice the GPs receive is relevant to the local population and in line with its own prescribing incentive objectives.
Bill Sandhu, Associate Director of Medicines Management at South West Essex Teaching PCT says “We are very much looking forward to the deployment of ScriptSwitch in our GP practices. A large volume of information about new drugs and prescribing issues is directed at prescribers through a variety of sources, so that it can be difficult to keep up to date. ScriptSwitch is an excellent method for ensuring that key messages for safe prescribing are delivered at the exact time that they are required – when the prescription is written. Patient safety is paramount and ScriptSwitch is an efficient, effective way to support our initiatives.”
05 February 2009 |
