Electronic Prescription Service Services offered by HSCIC to support EPS
NHS England through its Area Teams (ATs) is responsible for the planning and implementation of EPS. The purpose of this document is to ensure that end users, CCG s, Area Teams and Clinical System Suppliers are aware of what services HSCIC can offer to support EPS Release 2. Service Management Benefit Realisation Standard Deployment Model System Assurance Comms and Engagement Training and Guidance If you have any comments please contact the EPS team at eps@hscic.gov.uk Reporting Click on one of the services above to find out more
System Assurance National specification for prescribing & dispensing systems Accreditation of release 2 systems and publication of system status Advice on system design Feedback to system suppliers Back to all services
National specification for prescribing & dispensing systems System Assurance Provides suppliers of clinical systems with the information they will need to develop and successfully implement an EPS Release 2 compliant system for the NHS. This includes technical specifications and clinical requirements as well as guidance around implementation, communication and training. AVAILABLILITY This information is currently available on the HSCIC website under compliance. www.hscic.gov.uk/epslibrary
Accreditation of Release 2 systems and publication of system status System Assurance When a clinical system supplier chooses to become compliant with EPS Release 2, HSCIC will accredit the system through the Common Assurance Process (CAP). Suppliers must complete this process to be able to send and receive electronic prescriptions. The EPS team will provide a main point of contact for the supplier while they progress through CAP and will provide support and guidance as well as coordination of activities across HSCIC. Once a supplier has successfully achieved accreditation it is published on the website under system supplier status www.hscic.gov.uk/epsstats. AVAILABLILITY To progress through CAP, suppliers need to be accepted into the process. Please contact epsrelease@hscic.gov.uk for further information.
Advice on system design System Assurance The EPS team can provide advice and lessons learnt on EPS system design to clinical system suppliers progressing through the Common Assurance Process (CAP) or those who have been previously accredited, to ensure that the system meets EPS requirements and improved system usability. AVAILABLILITY Please contact the EPS team at epsrelease@hscic.gov.uk for further information.
Feedback to system suppliers System Assurance Feedback from end users is collated on a regular basis and fed back to suppliers with the intention that the suppliers can use this information to make improvements to their EPS systems. If you are a user of EPS Release 2 and would like to provide feedback or if you are a system supplier who would like to receive this information please it send to epsrelease@hscic.gov.uk.
Standard deployment model The Standard Deployment Model is an end to end deployment approach which ensures maximum benefit is realised for all individuals. It incorporates all activities to be undertaken to ensure a smooth and successful deployment. It includes the following (the tasks in bold can be facilitated by the EPS team): 1. Recruit practices and pharmacies that want to enable EPS Release 2 2. Conduct kick off meeting with GP practice 3. Visit pharmacies associated with the practice for their kick off session 4. Order upgrade of GP system and inform wider NHS 5. Provide communications materials 6. Benefits discussion 7. Supplier technical changes for EPS 8. Business Change workshop 9. GP systems training 10. Go live day support 11. Post go live reviews 12. Handover to ongoing support Back to all services
Kick off meeting facilitation Standard Deployment Model Facilitate a session with a GP practice to: Give an overview of EPS Release 2 and its benefits Talk through the implementation steps (based on standard deployment model) Discuss if an EPS Release 2 go-live is appropriate and put plan in place to go-live. A 1-2 hour session led by an EPS subject matter expert. Requires a decision maker from the practice to be present. Please contact epsimplementation@hscic.gov.uk for further details.
Business change workshop facilitation Standard Deployment Model Facilitate a session with a GP practice and their key pharmacies to: Examine and document the prescribing and dispensing processes currently in use at the practice and pharmacies. Give an overview of EPS Release 2 and its benefits. Re-draw prescribing and dispensing processes based on the impact of EPS Release 2. Agree key contact points within the practice and pharmacies for EPS Release 2. Agree action plans for key business continuity situations for the practice and pharmacy to follow. AVAILABLILITY A four hour (or 2x2 hour) session led by an EPS subject matter expert. Will require key end users from GP practice and local pharmacies to be present. Please contact epsimplementation@hscic.gov.uk for further details.
Go live day support Standard Deployment Model On the day support for the practice and pharmacies. Floor walking, support and checking that scripts are flowing end to end from the prescriber to the dispenser. Advice can be provided on business process change, ways to increase usage of EPS Release 2 and support for system issues. Resource will be allocated based on the staff size of the practice, number of branch sites and number of pharmacies requiring support. Please contact epsimplementation@hscic.gov.uk for further details.
Post go live reviews Standard Deployment Model Visit to the practice shortly after go live to assist the practice with using EPS. Pharmacies can be invited to make the most of the meeting. The below will be discussed: Current usage. Suggestions on how to increase usage / make the most of EPS. Discussion around issues in using EPS. Two hour meeting facilitated by EPS subject matter expert. Report fed back to local NHS based on discussion. Please contact epsimplementation@hscic.gov.uk for further details.
Communications and engagement News, guidance and product alerts by subscription Media and PR advice Advice on patient engagement Review of communication material EPS and NHS branding advice Dissemination of best practice Clinical engagement Presentations to LPCs/LMCs/CCGs/other stakeholders Back to all services
Communications and engagement News, guidance and product alerts by subscription The EPS team can provide information in a number of ways, with regular updates on new products, guidance documents, news, and any other information which will help you in switching on or using EPS. Please subscribe to the EPS bulletin using the following link www.hscic.gov.uk/epssignup. Follow @epsnhs on twitter
Communications and engagement Media and PR advice The EPS team can provide professional advice to sites, NHS organisations or suppliers who are looking to plan media, or patient awareness campaigns. Please contact eps@hscic.gov.uk for further information.
Communications and engagement Advice on patient engagement The EPS team can provide professional advice on how to effectively engage with patients. We also offer templates for leaflets which can be printed locally and will explain EPS to patients. Templates and information leaflets can be downloaded from www.hscic.gov.uk/eps.
Communications and engagement Review of communication material The communications team at the HSCIC can use their expert knowledge and experience to provide advice and guidance on any EPS communications planned. Please contact eps@hscic.gov.uk for further information.
Communications and engagement EPS and NHS branding advice The communications team at the HSCIC can provide guidance on how to use the EPS and NHS branding in your own communication materials. Design style guidance can be found on the website www.hscic.gov.uk/epslibrary. Please contact eps@hscic.gov.uk for further information.
Communications and engagement Dissemination of best practice The EPS team is keen to share lessons learnt, experiences and top tips from sites which have implemented EPS successfully. Examples of best practice can be found on the EPS website under get started. For prescribers: www.hscic.gov.uk/epsgp For dispensers: www.hscic.gov.uk/epspharm
Communications and engagement Clinical engagement Clinicians working for the EPS team can provide specific clinical sessions to advise on repeat dispensing, usage of EPS, governance, policy etc. Please contact eps@hscic.gov.uk for further information.
Communications and engagement Presentations to LPCs/LMCs/CCGs/other stakeholders The EPS team can provide presentation material and content for organisations or individuals to deliver themselves, or where possible, EPS subject matter experts can attend events or meetings to present and discuss EPS in general or where necessary more in depth EPS topics. Please contact eps@hscic.gov.uk for further information.
Training and guidance Supplier helpdesk training National guidance materials Review of guidance material developed by stakeholders Review of supplier training material Back to all services
Supplier helpdesk training Training and guidance The EPS team can provide EPS training to supplier helpdesks. Please contact eps@hscic.gov.uk for further information.
National guidance materials Training and guidance National guidance material is available to support end users, commissioners and stakeholders with EPS. This information can be found on the EPS website at www.hscic.gov.uk/eps.
Review of guidance material developed by stakeholders Training and guidance Any EPS guidance material can be reviewed by the EPS team. This will ensure that the material is accurate and is in line with national guidance. Please contact eps@hscic.gov.uk for further information.
Review of supplier training material Training and guidance Training produced by clinical system suppliers can be reviewed by the EPS team. This will ensure that the material is accurate and is in line with national guidance. Please contact eps@hscic.gov.uk for further information.
Reporting Reports to support the GP authorisation process Deployment map NHS Choices National volume data Nomination data Back to all services
Reports to support the GP authorisation process Reporting Area Teams receive a weekly report from the EPS team which provides them with information on which sites they have left to approve and how long they have to approve them. Only available to designated NHS England GP deployment approvers.
Deployment map Reporting The EPS Release 2 deployment map is available for end users and patients to see which practices and dispensers are live or planning to go live with EPS Release 2 in their area. The EPS Release 2 deployment map can be found on the EPS website at www.hscic.gov.uk/epsmap If there is an error on the map please contact the EPS team at epsimplementation@hscic.gov.uk.
NHS Choices Reporting Prescribing and dispensing sites which are live with EPS Release 2 will be flagged as such on NHS Choices. Patients can use this to identify if their GP practice, pharmacy or dispensing appliance contractor are currently using EPS Release 2. Visit the NHS Choices website at www.nhs.uk.
National volume data Reporting The latest statistics on EPS Release 2 deployment, number of prescriptions sent and number of nominations set can all be found on the EPS website. Please see the statistics and progress section of the EPS website at www.hscic.gov.uk/epsstats.
Nomination data Reporting Nomination audit reports provide information on the nomination activity undertaken by people with Smartcards working in GP practices, community pharmacies and DACs in England. Until these reports are widely available, if you require nomination activity information on a case by case basis please contact the EPS team. Email epsimplementation@hscic.gov.uk with the subject heading Nomination Information Request. For the request of information to be valid, the request must be in writing (email), and in the request you will have to: 1. State your name and your address for correspondence. 2. Describe the information requested (give as full a description as possible of the information you require). Please only provide a patient s NHS number. The EPS team will aim to respond to your request within two working days.
Benefits realisation Utilisation visits Back to all services
Utilisation visits Benefits realisation A visit to the practice to assess current use this could be triggered by usage reaching a certain level or stagnating at a level below what is expected. Pharmacies should be invited to make the most of the meeting. The below would be discussed: Current usage Suggestions on how to increase usage / make the most of EPS Release 2 Discussion around issues in using EPS Release 2 A follow up report will be provided which will document what was discussed and suggestions on how to increase usage. Two hour meeting facilitated by an EPS subject matter expert. Report fed back to local NHS based on discussion. Please contact eps@hscic.gov.uk to arrange a visit.
Prescription Tracker EPS system service alerts Service Management Back to all services
Prescription Tracker Service Management The EPS Prescription Tracker is intended for use by all staff working at prescribing and dispensing sites, to CSUs, System Suppliers and Area Teams to provide the status of a prescription. This tool allows users to enter a prescription ID and find out where in the process a prescription is at that time. It will confirm if the prescription has left the prescribing site, if it has reached the Spine or if it has been delivered to a dispensing site. Please find system requirements and access under prescription tracker. www.hscic.gov.uk/epslibrary
EPS system service alerts Service Management Register to receive text or email alerts when there are incidents affecting the EPS. This includes major incidents/service outages of live dispensing system, EPS itself, the Personal Demographics Service (PDS) and the Spine. You can find the registration form on the EPS website under help. www.hscic.gov.uk/epspharm
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