System Parameters - Prescription Forms

Use the Prescription Forms tab to enable custom prescriptions, medication requests and consolidated orders and set the templates used by these features.

Custom prescriptions

Custom prescription forms print to blank paper using the template you select. By default, Communicare prints to PBS Script preprinted forms.

To enable custom prescription forms:
  1. Select File > System Parameters > Prescription Forms tab.
  2. In the Custom Prescription Options section, set Use Custom Prescription Forms.
  3. From the Standard Template list, select the prescription template appropriate to your health service.
  4. If required, from the S8 Template list, select a template for S8 prescriptions.
  5. Click Save iconSave.
Tip: Do a test print of a prescription to ensure that it is printing correctly.

Medication requests

Medication requests combine multiple medications on one prescription. Medication requests print to blank paper using the template you select. By default, medication requests are not enabled.

Tip: Before enabling medication requests, ensure that you have imported a medication request template. If you are using rural prescribing, import an appropriate Health Centre Prescription template. For more information, see Communicare Templates.
To enable medication requests:
  1. Select File > System Parameters > Prescription Forms tab.
  2. In the Medication Request Options section, set Enable Medication Request.
  3. For those health services that want to customise the name Medication Request in Communicare, enter alternative details in the following fields:
    • Name - enter a name up to 30 characters long
    • Plural Name - enter a name up to 33 characters long
    • Information Text - enter text of up to 140 characters long
    • Selection Information Text - enter text of up to 140 characters long
    Note: Medication Request will be updated in the Medication Summary, in medication requests, when finalising requests and in progress notes. It will not be updated in System Modules, System Parameters or the product documentation. In progress notes, historical entries will not be updated to the new name.
  4. From the Medication Request Template list, select the appropriate medication request template that you have previously imported.
  5. If your health service wants to create medication requests by default when a provider finalises new medications in a patient's clinical record, set Create medication request by default.
  6. If you want to show or hide medications included in a request for which there is no inventory, set Show Out of Stock Inventory. If you don't enable this option, all active medication requests are displayed whether there is any inventory in stock or not.
  7. If you want to print S8 prescriptions on a separate page to any other medications included in a medication request, set Print S8 prescriptions on a separate page.
    Note: Ensure you set this option for Health Centre Prescriptions.
  8. Click Save iconSave.
  9. Contact Communicare Support for today's security code. In the Enter Authority Code window, enter the code and click OK.
Communicare closes for the changes to take effect. When you next start Communicare, medication requests are enabled for your health service:
  • The Medication Requests button is visible on the Medication Summary
  • Medication requests are included in the Finalise window
  • If you enabled Create medication request by default, medication requests are created when a provider finalises medications if a pickup location is set in the clinical record.
  • If you enabled Show Out of Stock Inventory, an Options buttonOptions button is added to the Administer and Supply Medication window in the Requested Medications section.
  • When you print a medication request, it will use the Communicare default printer
Tip: If patients will be able to collect their medications from a pickup location separate to their encounter place, ensure you set Medication Pickup Location for the pickup encounter place. For more information, see Editing Encounter Places.

Consolidated orders

Consolidated orders are groups of medication requests that can be requested from an external pharmacy for your patient-specific inventory. If medication requests are enabled for your health service, you can also enable consolidated orders.

Tip: Before enabling consolidated orders, ensure that you have imported a consolidated order template. For more information, see Communicare Templates.
To enable consolidated orders:
  1. Select File > System Parameters > Prescription Forms tab.
  2. In the Consolidated Order Options section, set Enable Consolidated Order.
  3. From the Consolidated Order Template list, select the appropriate consolidated order template that you have previously imported.
  4. Click Save iconSave.
  5. Contact Communicare Support for today's security code. In the Enter Authority Code window, enter the code and click OK.

Communicare closes for the changes to take effect. When you next start Communicare, consolidated orders are enabled for your health service.

Next, set the Consolidated Order - Manage system right for the user groups that need to access consolidated ordering. For more information, see User Groups.

Pregnancy interactions

You can change the level of interaction warnings displayed when you add a new medication to the clinical record of a pregnant patient or start a pregnancy in the patient's clinical record.

  • To include interaction warnings for medications that belong to an ADEC category but do not have specific ADEC or general text recorded in MIMS, in the Interactions section, set Include non-specific category interactions.
  • To exclude interaction warnings for medications that belong to ADEC category A, B1 and B2 and do not have any specific text, in the Interactions section, set Exclude minor non-specific pregnancy interactions.

    If both options are set, interaction warnings for medications that do not have specific ADEC or general text recorded in MIMS, and that are not in ADEC category A, B1 or B2 are displayed.