BENDIGO health carers are excited to adopt a new system of prescription management, which they say will be faster, safer and easier than paper.
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General practitioners and pharmacists are starting to use electronic prescriptions as the system rolls out across regional Victoria.
At some clinics patients can choose to receive an electronic prescription instead of paper, by text message or email.
They can then send or take this to a chemist, where the pharmacist will scan it to unlock a secure token with their prescription.
Amcal White Hills pharmacist Sanjay Jhaveri said the electronic system was easier for patients, general practitioners and pharmacists.
The pharmacy has been using electronic prescriptions for about a month.
Mr Jhaveri said e-scripts were faster, harder to lose, and meant doctors could leave notes for pharmacist.
He said not many patients at were using the technology yet, but he expected that number to grow. Those who had tried the system loved it, he said.
"When they were offered it initially at the GP they may have been not sure what to expect. Once they saw they bring the phone in, they scan it, and that's literally it," he said.
"If people are worried in terms of how hard it might be and so on, I say jump in, because the pharmacists who are doing it will help them anyway."
Lucan Street Medical general practitioner Manjula Kodippiliarachchi said the electronic prescription system had advantages during the COVID-19 crisis, but would also allow distancing during the cold and flu season.
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He said the new system would also save patients visiting their doctor just for a prescription repeat, when combined with telehealth.
Dr Kodippiliarachchi said patients who used it loved the easy electronic prescription system, but many were unaware of it.
A Bendigo Community Health Services spokesperson said the system was already reducing frustration among staff and clients, after just weeks running.
The spokesperson said patients found it easier to access scripts when they did not need to visit a clinic to collect their prescription, or wait for the post.
They said it was encouraging to see how proactive Bendigo pharmacies had been introducing the e-script system.
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