Editorial
Welcome to the first homepage edition of i2P for 2012.
In many ways it has been a slow start to the New Year because of having to deal with the “leftovers” from 2011.
One of those items for i2P was that a third-party provider to the site did not advise of a code change to the security section in our subscribe panel, creating a range of frustrated subscribers not able to get on board.
We apologise to all those potential subscribers who were unable to register with us in the second half of 2011, but if you try once more you should have no problem.
Columns
Rollo Manning: Pharma-Goss
Linda Bryant: Inside NZ
Loretta Marron BSc: Health Watch
Barry Urquhart: Marketing Focus
Mark Neuenschwander: I`ve been thinking about...Recent Comments
Past Editions
Volume 1 Number 1
Volume 1 Number 2
Volume 1 Number 3
Volume 1 Number 4
Volume 1 Number 5
Volume 1 Number 6
Volume 1 Number 7
Volume 2 Number 1
Volume 2 Number 2
Volume 2 Number 3
Volume 2 Number 4
Volume 2 Number 5
Volume 2 Number 6
Volume 2 Number 7
Volume 2 Number 8
Volume 2 Number 9
Volume 2 Number 10
Volume 2 Number 11
Volume 3 Number 1
Volume 3 Number 2
Volume 3 Number 3
Volume 3 Number 4
Volume 3 Number 5
Volume 3 Number 6
Volume 3 Number 7
Volume 3 Number 8
Volume 3 Number 9
Volume 3 Number 10
Volume 3 Number 11
Volume 2012 Number 1
Health Politics
Neil Johnston: Friends of Science in Medicine
James Ellerson: $75.5 million in 5CPA lying idle. Why is it so?EPublications
E-Fuel Pump Technology - A Lesson for Pharmacy
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PDF version | Peter Sayers |
Peter Sayers is vitally concerned about pharmacy professional practice - its innovation, its research and development, and its delivery to create an ongoing revenue stream. Delivery of healthcare is increasingly involved with Information Technology systems. All perspectives in IT must be considered for the impact on pharmacy practice and its viability. | |
Whatever your thoughts on Woolworths, you have to admire them for being the leaders in retail information technology systems. The latest advance is one involving a contactless payment system at their petrol pumps. Using a smart card that is waved in front of an embedded reader in the petrol pump, Woolworths virtually eliminates the need for any further employee contact while simultaneously dealing with potential theft through drivers absconding without payment. Pharmacy could well take a lesson from this technology. With e-scripts just around the corner it may be possible for an e-card system to store prescriptions in electronic format and have them read into a pharmacy-designed reader. Cards can then be swiped or read, with the resultant information being funnelled into dispensing systems (wirelessly). By empowering patients to dispense part of their own prescriptions, costs could be reduced dramatically in the area of dispensary technicians and pharmacists, with more time becoming available for patient education or the development of new clinical services.
"Woolworths controversial pay-at-the-pump petrol system ("epump") has been installed at almost 80 per cent of the total 520 company-owned sites, with the remaining company owned and co-branded (Caltex-Woolworths) sites rolled out over the coming months.
epump offers a contactless payment solution, where eligible cards can be waved in front of a reader providing customers the ability to pay for petrol at the pump. The service is currently accessible only to users of the Woolworth's Everyday Money credit card, however through ACCC ruling, the facility will be available to other contactless cards from August 2010.
A Woolworths spokesperson said the retailer was attracting thousands of contactless transactions per day, however was unable to provide an estimate in relation to the number of customers shifting away from the traditional payment avenue, as the system was still in its early stages."
Source: The Australian Financial Review
Footnote: Pharmacists are advised not to rush into any specific e-prescription service solution. It is known that government favours a portable card system for patients to store their health profiles. This is simple,cheap and the patient is responsible for their own privacy issues.
Given all the money that has already been wasted in developing major online systems that charge per prescription, a smartcard patient solution might just tick all the boxes.
Research Reports
Dr Andrew Byrne & Associates: Tranquillizer use rife amongst OTP subjects world-wide, most legally prescribedPractice Development
Neil Retallick: Are the discounters impacting community pharmacy beyond margin erosion? | open full screen
Kay Dunkley - BPharm, Grad Dip Hosp Pharm, Grad Dip Health Admin, MPS, MSHPA: Support services for pharmacists and doctors in the United Kingdom – Part 3 Royal Medical Benevolent Fund | open full screen
Staff Writer: Catch the early wave in 2012 and secure your valuable CPD Credits at the Guild Pharmacy Academy – NSW Convention | open full screen
Information Technology
Dr David More: Australian Health Information Technology LinksIndigenous Health
Preventive Medicine
Gerald Quigley: It’s Time!If any difficulty is found in subscribing, please use the "Contact Us" panel found in the navigation bar with the message "subscribe" and your email address.
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