Broadband Finishes on a High Note 31 March 2006
In December 2005, Healthcare Software received more than $90,000 to develop and pilot PharmCare, a clinical pharmacy software package, in Launceston pharmacies and medical service providers, with the aim of improving communication between pharmacists and doctors as well as health outcomes for the industry.
CEO John Elkerton said that, "Current (medication) processes are piecemeal, relying on verbal communications, faxing of handwritten notes and sometimes nothing, the scope for human error has been reduced enormously and the process is more efficient; a bonus for strained health budgets."
The project had the effect of reducing common and potentially dangerous mistakes as well as providing better information to support patients in their use of medicines. Records were uploaded to a web site which was accessible by the patient, the community pharmacist, the GP and any other authorised medical professionals.
The pilot was implemented in two hospitals and seven community pharmacies in the Launceston region, all of which continued to use the program after the initial pilot period was completed. This provided further proof of the effectiveness of PharmCare within a pressured, professional environment. The previous version of PharmCare has now been in operation at the Royal Hobart Hospital for 7 years, conducting over 100 000 clinical pharmacy activities for 35 000 patients.
This project has been supported by the Tasmanian Electronic Commerce Centre Pty. Ltd. under the Business Development Fund, an element of the Launceston Broadband Project once funded by the Australian Government.