Lethbridge is the First Community in Province to use PrescribeIT(TM)

Canada's National e-Prescription Service Launches in Alberta

TORONTO, Feb. 12, 2018 /CNW/ - Albertans are well on their way to facilitating better health outcomes with the recent launch of PrescribeIT(TM), Canada's national e-prescribing service, in Lethbridge, Alberta.

Pharmasave and Family Medical Centre were the first in the community to begin using the service, followed by Woods Dispensary, Legacy Medical Centre and London Drugs.

Over the course of the next several weeks, the service will also be available at:

    --  Pharmachoice cooperative member locations: Skelton Pharmacy, Stokes
        Pharmacy and Chinook Rx
    --  Save-On-Foods Pharmacies

"The PrescribeIT(TM) launch in Lethbridge is an important step in helping health care providers deliver better care for patients," said Michael Green, President and CEO, Canada Health Infoway. "We look forward to seeing PrescribeIT(TM) continue its momentum as it rolls out to additional communities across the country."

The value and benefits of e-prescribing have also been recognized by a number of important Alberta organizations:

"PrescribeIT(TM) will be the accepted method for electronic prescribing in Alberta. As per previous communication, electronic signatures outside of PrescribeIT(TM) are not acceptable." Alberta College of Pharmacists

"Once fully rolled out, PrescribeIT(TM) will be the only accepted method for electronic prescribing in Alberta - no other electronic signatures will be acceptable. Use of PrescribeIT(TM) complies with the College's Prescribing: Administration standard of practice." College of Physicians and Surgeons Alberta

PrescribeIT(TM) is working with six provinces (Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador) and is working with 27 community pharmacy companies representing more than 3,400 pharmacies in the six provinces. The service launched in August 2017 in Huntsville, Ontario and has expanded to Kingston and the Niagara region in that province. Plans call for the continued roll-out of PrescribeIT(TM) to additional communities in Ontario and Alberta, as well as other provinces and territories in 2018.

Prescribers and pharmacists interested in implementing PrescribeIT(TM) and in helping plan its deployment can complete a brief survey. To learn more about the service, please visit our website at www.PrescribeIT.ca.

About PrescribeIT(TM)
Canada Health Infoway is working with Health Canada, the provinces and territories, and industry stakeholders to develop, operate and maintain the national e-prescribing service known as PrescribeIT(TM). PrescribeIT(TM) will serve all Canadians, pharmacies and prescribers and provide safer and more effective medication management by enabling prescribers to transmit a prescription electronically between a prescriber's electronic medical record (EMR) and the pharmacy management system (PMS) of a patient's pharmacy of choice. PrescribeIT(TM) will also help improve patient safety, reducing harm and costs associated with opioid misuse, while also protecting Canadians' personal health information from being sold or used for commercial activities.

About Canada Health Infoway
Infoway helps to improve the health of Canadians by working with partners to accelerate the development, adoption and effective use of digital health across Canada. Through our investments, we help deliver better quality and access to care and more efficient delivery of health services for patients and clinicians. Infoway is an independent, not-for-profit organization funded by the federal government.

Media
Akilah Child
Senior Communications Advisor, Canada Health Infoway
Tel: (416) 595-3435
achild@infoway-inforoute.ca

For all inquiries about PrescribeIT(TM)
Tania Ensor
Group Director, PrescribeIT(TM) Marketing Strategy & Stakeholder Relations, Canada Health Infoway
Tel: (416) 595-3411
tensor@infoway-inforoute.ca

SOURCE Canada Health Infoway