View this 15-minute ScriptCheckSA presentation for more information about ScriptCheckSA.
If you prescribe or dispense monitored drugs, register for ScriptCheckSA.
This short 1 minute video explains how to register and log in for the first time. More information can be found in the Registering for ScriptCheckSA (PDF 274KB) and Logging into ScriptCheckSA Fact Sheets (PDF 415KB).
Free online training can be accessed at the ScriptCheckSA website.
These five short videos highlight key features:
Clinical software that is connected to ScriptCheckSA allows you to receive pop-up notifications on your desktop, warning you when a potentially high-risk scenario is detected and your patient may be at risk of harm.
There are several steps practice managers, IT support teams or health practitioners must take to connect their clinical software to ScriptCheckSA:
Fully integrated software (i.e. connected to a Prescription Exchange Service (PES) (eRx or MediSecure) and ScriptCheckSA ):
For support contact your software provider directly.
Clinical software that is fully integrated with ScriptCheckSA (PDF 172KB).
Partially integrated software (i.e. connected to a PES but not ScriptCheckSA (e.g. Genie, Communicare)):
Real-time pop-up notifications will be available immediately after you finalise a monitored drug prescription.
For more information about the Notification App, visit the ScriptCheckSA Help Topics.
If you do NOT use integrated (or any) clinical software OR work in a SA Public Hospital:
It is recommended to create a bookmark or shortcut to hp.scriptcheck.sa.gov.au/ for easy access.
You must take all reasonable steps to check relevant information in ScriptCheckSA before prescribing or dispensing a monitored drug to a patient, unless an exemption applies.
Each time a patient’s record is accessed a log is created. The Drugs of Dependence Unit monitors these logs and failure to check ScriptCheckSA without a reasonable excuse when prescribing or dispensing a monitored drug may result in a maximum penalty of $5,000.
| Notification colour | Notification description | Alert triggered | Am I required to check ScriptCheckSA? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | High-risk clinical scenario identified. | Yes | Yes |
| Amber | Medium-risk clinical scenario identified. | Yes | Yes |
| Green | No records for the patient within the last 6 months OR no alert triggered. | No | No – but you can to assist with your clinical decision making if you choose to. |
Alerts and notifications fact sheet (PDF 236KB).
You must access your patient’s record in ScriptCheckSA from the secure online portal before prescribing or dispensing a monitored drug.
or
Contact the Drugs of Dependence Unit (Monday to Friday from 9:30am – 4:30pm) on 1300 652 584 or HealthDrugsofDependenceUnit@sa.gov.au to obtain information about your patient’s monitored drug history before prescribing or dispensing a monitored drug.
You are NOT obliged to access information in ScriptCheckSA when prescribing or dispensing a monitored drug to:
unless the drug is Dextromoramide or Pethidine, or
Even if an exemption exists, you are encouraged to access your patient’s history in ScriptCheckSA to inform your clinical decision making.
When a patient’s prescription history meets certain criteria for high or medium-risk circumstances there is information that must be reviewed before prescribing or dispensing a monitored drug. An alert does not mean you are ‘not allowed’ to prescribe or dispense a monitored drug, but indicates that a clinical risk has been identified.
Each health practitioner is responsible for determining the clinical appropriateness of prescribing or dispensing a monitored drug. If you decide a drug is no longer the safest treatment, it’s important to ensure that appropriate continuity of care is provided for the patient.
Abruptly discharging (abandoning) a patient or suddenly stopping treatment for patients who have been taking monitored drugs over a long period of time is contrary to their safety.
If you identify a patient is at risk of harm from monitored drugs, resources (including triage referral pathways and information on where to access support services) can be found in the online training.
You must register and connect your clinical software to a Prescription Exchange Service (PES) (eRx or MediSecure), if it can be connected.
This ensures that monitored drug data is sent automatically and in real-time to ScriptCheckSA . If your clinical software is already connected to a PES, no further action is required.
To confirm if your clinical software is connected or compatible with a PES, contact your software provider or a PES provider:
You must extract monitored drug data from your clinical software and send to the Drugs of Dependence Unit fortnightly.
There is no change to the requirements for handwritten prescriptions. A fortnightly report or hardcopies of handwritten prescriptions do NOT need to be submitted to the Drugs of Dependence Unit.
For information on how to set-up and use ScriptCheckSA, visit Help Topics.
Email: Health.RTPM@sa.gov.au
