Title: Electronic transmission of prescriptions: towards realising the dream

Authors: Darren Mundy, David W. Chadwick

Addresses: Centre for Internet Computing, Hull University, Scarborough Campus, Filey Road, Scarborough, YO11 3AZ, UK. ' Information Systems Institute, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT, UK

Abstract: The UK National Health Service (NHS) is about to commence upon major computerisation of its processes as part of a government plan of modernisation. One of these is the Electronic Transmission of Prescription (ETP). To achieve success it is important to know what benefits are expected from the new system and what barriers to adoption the systems will face. This paper reviews substantial ETP published material, and identifies 17 issues that need to be addressed. These issues are categorised under four major headings of stakeholders, cost, technology, and current process and practice, and are then further classified as positive or negative influences on the project|s success. Many of these influences will be common to most of the computerisation projects to be undertaken by the NHS, and therefore this paper has wider applicability than ETP.

Keywords: digital signatures; electronic transfer of prescriptions; ETP; prescribing practices; socio-technical issues; stakeholder influences; NHS; National Health Service; e-healthcare.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEH.2004.004659

International Journal of Electronic Healthcare, 2004 Vol.1 No.1, pp.112 - 125

Published online: 26 May 2004 *

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