Prescription Assistant Guide

A new tool has been added to Prescriptions in Alternaleaf, replacing the manual medication selection menu.

The Prescription Assistant has been designed to reduce re-scripting by helping you prescribe the optimal medication(s) for your patients. It considers several factors including, but not limited to, patient reviews, clinical feedback, supply chain risk, current and forecast availability, allowing you to more easily filter and select the medications that will maintain continuity of care. This tool has been rigorously tested by a number of doctors prior to launch and will continue to develop as we gather more data and feedback over time.

Contents

How does it work?

The tool filters products according to your selections (formulation, type, strength). It then displays suggested products, utilising real time data to ensure that prescribed medications remain accessible to patients for consistent ongoing treatment.

You will still be able to browse the Alternaleaf product catalogue and add any available medication(s) to a prescription. In these instances, you will be prompted to answer a quick multiple choice question that asks why the products presented weren’t suitable for your patient. This information will be used to improve the algorithm and prioritise features for future updates.

What are the benefits?

• The streamlined process will make it quicker and easier to find the right medicine(s).
• Factoring in several data points ensures greater continuity of care and fewer re-scripts, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
• You will still be able to browse all formulations, and the new tool will not restrict your choices in any way.

How do I use it?

1. The tool will prompt you to select from up to three criteria – formulation, type and strength. Note: the options presented under type and strength will vary depending on your selection in the previous field.

2. The first medication that appears is optimal for your patient at that point in time based on your selection criteria.

3. To view additional medications, click on the displayed medication to open a drop-down menu. This will display the top three products, ranked according to the algorithm. Note: To see more information about a product, click the eye icon within the drop down menu.

4. If the medication you are looking for is not displayed, you can click on “View other products”. If you select another medication, you will be asked a quick multiple choice question that will help us refine the selection algorithm over time.

5. Once you have selected medication, simply click “Add Additional Medications” to include other products on the script.

6. Once you have selected all medications, click “Submit Script”. You will then be shown a summary of the script you are creating. Double check the details before selecting “Submit Script” once more to finalise the prescription. Alternatively, you can click “Return to script details” to make changes before finalising.

Here is a short video for a more detailed look at how to navigate the tool and it's functionality.

Please note: As of 18 December, the "Add device" feature has been removed. Doctors no longer need to prescribe devices. Patients can still browse and purchase ARTG-approved devices directly through the patient portal without a prescription.

How do I find a specific medication?

You will still be able to find and prescribe any products in the formulary that are in stock. To do this, you will need to know the filters for the specific product.

Finding Filters

Select “Product Catalogue” on the left-hand side of the screen. Below each medication, you can see the filters the tool uses to categorise that particular medication. Find the one you’re looking for, take note of the filters, then return to the prescription tool and select the corresponding inputs. If you don’t see your desired medication right away, you will find it in the “View other products” list.

Here is a short video on how to do this:

How do I view medications in detail?

For each prescribed medication, you are able to manage and monitor patient prescriptions.

As you review a patient's medication profile, you can easily access the history of each product's prescriptions by clicking the "View Script" button . This will display information on prescriptions for the past six months related to that specific medication.

Prescription Status Categories

After selecting the "View Script" action, a list will appear showing ACTIVE, CANCELLED, and EXPIRED prescriptions. These categories help to quickly determine the current status of each prescription:

• ACTIVE: Prescriptions that are currently valid.
• CANCELLED: Prescriptions that have been stopped before their expiration date.
• EXPIRED: Prescriptions that have passed their expiration date and are no longer valid.

Understanding the "Ordered" Column

The newly added "Ordered" column is intended to inform you about the progress of an order through the dispensing process. This column shows the progression of dispensing in a simple format:

• Displayed as: 'Progress/Total allowed'
• Progress: Amount of the medication that has already been ordered.
• Total allowed: Total amount of the medication authorized for administration throughout the duration of the prescription.

For instance, an "Ordered" entry of 5/12 indicates that 5 units of the medication have been ordered out of a total of 12 units authorized.

Important Note for Discussing with Patients

While discussing prescription details with patients, please refrain from providing specific numbers from the "Ordered" column. Instead, focus on discussing the general status of their prescription and medication availability. This approach helps manage patient expectations and ensures clarity in communication.

We trust that this feature will make it easier for you to manage your patients' medications more effectively. Should you require any further information or assistance, please feel free to contact our support team.

FAQs

Why does the system select certain medications?

The prescription assistant uses an algorithm to select optimal medications based on a number of data points including patient reviews, clinical feedback, supply chain risk, current and forecast availability and much more.

Can I still browse all formulations using the new tool?

Yes. Once your selections are made and the suggested medications are shown, click on “View other products” from the “Medication” drop down menu. If you opt to prescribe a medication from here, you will be asked one quick multiple choice question to help us refine the algorithm over time. You can also browse all formulations from the catalogue view under the main menu on the left-hand side of the screen.

Can I issue repeat scripts for patients continuing on the same medications?

Yes. To do this you will need to:

• Select “View other products” from within the “Medications” drop down menu (this will appear once you have made your initial selections),
• Select “Patient was already on the product”.
• Select the desired medication from the complete list.

How do I view product information, such as price or terpene profile?

To view product information, click the eye icon beside the medication from within the “Medication” drop down menu.

Can I search for concession products?

Yes. If the patient’s profile indicates they are eligible for concession medications, the system will prioritise accordingly. In these instances, concession medications will be ranked higher in the recommendations.