EPS Technical Settings  

 

These settings apply to sites in England only.

 

In normal operating mode, the EPS Technical Settings on the Comms tab are not for end-user adjustment.

 

In most instances, the correct settings for your configuration, with the correct personal controls, will have been implemented on installation/set-up by an engineer or trainer. For the large part they remain visible but with access disabled (they are greyed out) and could only be changed when a system administration key has been entered.

 

To access the configuration screen, start Pharmacy Manager and from the Welcome Screen, click Tools then Pharmacy Details.

The Pharmacy Details screen will appear.

  • From the Pharmacy Details screen, click the EPS tab

The EPS Configuration options will appear. Once activated, the top part of the display is greyed out and can only be modified if a System administration key.

Comms tab

Activation/De-activation

The EPS functionality will have been activated as part of the system set up.

 

Subsequent de-activation can only be achieved when a System administration key has been entered. Telephone Service Deskfor assistance in making this change.

 

 

Message Handler

The Message Handler settings are for connecting to the central message broker which handles communication to and from the CRS for your system.

Polling

The Polling settings determine the frequency in seconds at which the CRS and this system connect.

Disconnected Polling

The polling settings determine the reconnection frequency in seconds. This will take place in the background without interfering with system usage.

By default, should the communications be disconnected, Pharmacy Manager will try to reconnect every 15 seconds for the first 300 seconds (5 minutes) before entering the sleep mode period. If the communications do not reconnect after that period of time, Pharmacy Manager will then only poll once every 600 seconds (10 minutes) whilst it is sleep mode.

Certificates

The Certificate settings govern EPS security and identification.

Logging

This option enables detailed logging to take place. Typically, it will only be activated by Service Desk to aid resolution of problems.

 

Changes can only be made to any of the settings listed above when a System administration key has been entered.

 

General tab

  • Click the General tab

Dispense notify options

 

These settings allow the pharmacist to determine when, after dispensing a prescription, the dispense notification is sent to the CRS.

 

With Send on collect medication in force, when the Collect button is clicked, the dispense notification is sent to the CRS without further user input.

 

With Prompt on collect medication in force, when the Collect button is clicked, a confirmation prompt appears. It is controlled by a timer and appears for five seconds before disappearing.

 

With Send only on request in force, when the patient collects their medication, click the Collect button - the status changes from In progress - Not collected to Ready to notify.

 

The impact on the dispense notification stage is explained in context in the Notification topic.

 

Initially, the recommended option for this setting is Send only on request. The advantage being that the pharmacist can verify what has been dispensed before submitting the notification.

 

Once the system has been initially set-up, any change to these options requires the System administration key code for the day. Telephone Service Deskfor assistance in making this change.

Prescription completion options

These options, when enabled, will automatically update the status of completed electronic messages on the eMessages tab.

Claiming

Defer claim

You can defer sending a claim. Check this box to enable this feature.

 

Confirmation of exemption status

This option ensures, by default, that you are prompted to confirm the patient status before submitting a claim.

Suppressing the exemption status prompt can save an extra key press. However, if your claims are incorrectly submitted with a patient status Paid, you can easily end up out of pocket.

Consequently, this option is hidden behind the System administration key in order that it cannot be inadvertently switched to your potential detriment.

It is strongly recommended that you do not suppress the prompt. Please leave the box unchecked.

 

See also Electronic messaging

 

Token tab - England only  

The right hand side of the dispensing token reflects the prescription token in that it may contain additional prescriber information as well as the patient's details

 

A dispensing token may be required in the following situations, often when a prescription token was not issued as you are the patient's nominated pharmacy:

  • where a prescription charge exemption declaration is required, this could be captured on either a dispensing token or the prescription token (if printed by the GP practice).

  • when a patient needs to go to a different dispensing contractor to collect their medication, their nominated dispensing contractor can return the prescription to the EPS and provide the patient with a dispensing token to hand in at the other dispensing contractor

  • when clinical information needs to be communicated to the patient that would have traditionally been placed on the right hand side of the prescription (this information will form part of the electronic prescription message from prescriber to dispenser)

  • at the patient’s request.

Invariably, when dispensing tokens are printed when a patient signature is required i.e. to confirm non-age based exemption status, the additional information/right hand side is not required.

 

You can choose a policy for printing any duplicated right hand side of a multiple selection of dispensing tokens.

  • Click the Token tab

 

Select one of the two options:

 

The  first option is the default policy that will be in operation if you make no change i.e. the right hand side is always printed even when there is no additional information.

  • Select Always print the token's right hand side

When additional information is present, the second option will prompt you and will ask if you want to print the right hand side. You may answer No when, for example, you are printing the token for an exemption declaration signature, but Yes for any other requirement.

  • Select Prompt to print right hand side of token when patient information present

The  final option is to confirm whether or not you wish to product any duplicated token right hand sides as a regular policy.

Duplicated right hand sides could be produced for a patient who requires dispensing token copies  for several prescriptions and you have chosen to  multi-select a patient's prescriptions on the eMessages tab.

 

The default options for a new installation are to Always print the token's right hand side but to not print any duplicates that are encountered by unchecking Permit printing of duplicated token right hand sides.

 

Updated 25th September 2014