The hidden admin cost of paper prescriptions (and how to eliminate it)

Paper prescriptions cost the healthcare system millions per year - not only because of the physical cost of paper processing but also due to their inefficiency.

When the NHS introduced the Electronic Prescription Service - a way of doing prescriptions electronically rather than physically - they saved £130 million during a three-year period.

E-prescriptions have proven to be more cost-effective, far more efficient and even safer.

If you’re a private clinic and want to save significant costs, why not consider switching to e-prescriptions?

From saving clinic staff over 10 hours a week of admin to safer, quicker issuing of prescriptions, electronic prescriptions with Healistic are the future for private clinics in the UK.

How Much do Paper Prescriptions Cost?

Paper prescriptions lead to increased costs for clinics, pharmacies and patients - from the direct cost of paper processing to the indirect costs incurred by a more inefficient system.

In England, over a billion NHS prescription items are issued annually - costing over £9 billion when these prescriptions were in paper format (data from a study carried out by Bristol University). Inefficient processes such as repeat prescriptions were making these costs even higher.

By making the switch from paper to electronic prescriptions, the NHS saved £130 million in the first three years, according to government data. They then went on to save a further £300 million in savings. These savings were felt across all parties - GP practices, patients and pharmacies.

Who do E-Prescriptions Save Money For?

E-prescriptions save money for everyone. Thanks to the introduction of the Electronic Prescription System, the NHS saved over £130 million, just in the first three years.

During that same time period, NHS data shows that GP practices reported £327 million in savings, over £60 million in savings for pharmacies and around £75 million in savings for patients.

These savings come from faster dispensing, reduced correspondence and clarifications between parties, quicker prescription fulfilment and better stock optimisation.

How Do Paperless Prescriptions Work?

E-prescriptions are completely paperless and work using a digital prescription platform - a type of software that facilitates prescriptions in seconds and integrates with wider medical databases to access patient history instantly.

Using a digital process eliminates the need for physical paper copies and minimises the various errors that come with manual processes.

First, they generate the prescription within the e-prescription software rather than manually writing it out and thus avoiding any misinterpretations of handwriting.

Then, the e-prescription is securely transmitted directly to the patient’s chosen pharmacy or to a network of pharmacists. Some systems rely on a QR code instead.

Finally, the patient can go to their chosen pharmacy to pick up their medication. Or, if delivery is chosen, have the medication arrive straight to their door.

How Much are E-Prescriptions?

E-prescriptions are the same price as paper prescriptions for the patient. For NHS medication, there is a fixed rate per medication item and for electronic private prescriptions, the price will vary by pharmacy - the same as with paper prescriptions.

For private clinics looking to adopt e-prescription software, platforms like Healistic are not only free to use but do not incur any additional fees such as for the initial set-up.

How Can Clinics Transition from Paper Prescriptions to E-Prescriptions?

For clinics looking to switch from paper prescriptions to e-prescriptions, they will need to adopt an electronic health record (EHR) system that supports the integration of e-prescription software. As part of this, they may need to compare and contrast different software options and train relevant staff to use the system.

Current inefficiency and errors within your clinic can give you a good starting point of knowing what you need from the new system and where you could potentially become more efficient.

If you have trusted pharmacies that you usually work with, you might also want to make sure that they support electronic prescriptions if you wish to continue working together.

If you decide to choose an e-prescription software that involves the patient (i.e. patient receives a QR code for medication pick-up), make sure that your patients have access to the relevant technology. Or, for minimum effort on the patient’s part, choose an e-prescription programme that delivers medication right to their door.

Any staff needing to issue prescriptions will need to learn how to use the software so it’s best to choose one that is easy, quick and straightforward to use.

Finally, you will need to think about price. Some software is totally free for private clinics to use whereas others come with fees so it is worth comparing before choosing one.

By transitioning from paper prescriptions to e-prescriptions, private clinics can benefit from better efficiency, fewer errors and enhanced patient care.

What Other Savings Come From Moving to Paperless Prescriptions?

As well as saving money, clinics can benefit from other savings including:

Reduced paper consumption

Through switching from paper prescriptions to e-prescriptions, a case study from the NHS Supply Chain showed a reduction over 200,000 A4 sheets of paper annually.

Time

Saving time is one of the biggest incentives of switching to e-prescriptions, with clinics able to save over 10 hours per week. It also saves time for patients as they don’t need to collect the prescription from the GP to take it to the pharmacy.

Errors

Electronic prescriptions significantly reduce errors when it comes to the initial prescription and dispensing the medication, reducing admin and enhancing safety for patients.

Eliminate Paper Prescriptions and go Digital with Healistic

Healistic e-prescription software for private clinics lets medical professionals issue e-prescriptions in seconds via a secure digital platform.

Through a totally paperless process, doctors save valuable time, clinics save admin time and money and patients the medication they need as soon as possible - right to their door within mere hours.

Get in touch today so see how our solutions can help you save money.