18 July 2011
The Welsh Assembly Government has granted pharmacy and software services company Rx Systems rollout approval for the 2DRx service, which will streamline dispensing for pharmacists by allowing them to scan 2D bar-coded prescriptions.
The accreditation of the company's ProScript® software means that Rx Systems customers in Wales can now benefit from a development that early adopters say delivers quicker, more efficient and safer services for patients.
The 2DRx system enables pharmacists to automatically input patient and drug information from a paper prescription rather than doing it manually. It is the second stage of the Welsh Assembly Government's IT programme for pharmacy.
Pharmacist Stephen Howorth, of the Llandaff Pharmacy in Cardiff, has been piloting the new system on ProScript®. He said: "The new system makes it easy to check for anomalies in repeat prescriptions and we are able to produce clearer, more consistent labeling on dispensed drugs.
"My pharmacy is near to the university, and each year we get a huge influx of new patients. With 2DRx, we can set up a new patient record automatically, using information from the scan. I would say it is 50 per cent faster than the old manual system."
Ian Taylor, Managing Director of Rx Systems, said: "This is another important development for Rx Systems in the new era of electronic prescribing and I would urge our Welsh customers to upgrade as soon as they are able to, so they can enjoy the benefits of the new service.
"Customers should also be aware that they may forfeit* additional payments they are entitled to if they don't complete their upgrade by the 30 September deadline."
He added: "Implementing 2DRx is a quick and easy process for the pharmacy. All that's required is a software upgrade, installation of the required barcode scanner(s) and a short training session."
* See latest Drug Tariff 2011 Part VIA Section 6
