QScript – FAQs
QScript is a read-only prescription monitoring system that will help health practitioners identify high-risk clinical situations and assist them to manage their patients. All prescribers, regardless of setting, are required to look up QScript when prescribing or providing a treatment dose of a monitored medicine.
QScript will not prevent a doctor from prescribing—it provides further information to inform decision-making. The decision on whether to prescribe remains with the prescriber (whether they have checked QScript or not).
We support QScript as a strategy to reduce the intentional and unintentional harms caused by monitored medicines but recognise there are some teething issues as the software and process is implemented.
We've prepared some frequently asked questions to help members with this new tool.
What do I need to do?
1. Doctors need to register for QScript now on the link sent to your Ahpra registered email address or head to the QScript registration portal. This is very important to do now as QScript look-up will become mandatory from 28 October 2021.
2. Connect your clinical software to a Prescription Exchange Service (PES)
- Medisecure 1800 472 747 or Medisecure website
- eRx Script Exchange Service 1300 700 921 or eRx website
Software linked to the PES
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What medicines are captured by QScript?
All schedule 8 medications and the following schedule 4 medications including all:
- benzodiazepines;
- codeine;
- gabapentin;
- pregabalin;
- quetiapine;
- tramadol; and
- zopiclone.
These medications have a recognised therapeutic need but may also present a high risk of causing patient harm.
How do I fit QScript into my daily routine?
- Each morning log into QScript and set up your PIN for the day. Stay logged into QScript and remember you can use it on any device including your mobile, tablet or computer.
- The PIN is valid for 12 hours. QScript uses multifactor authentication (MFA) so you will need your phone if this is how you use your MFA.
If you do not have clinical software, you can bookmark the URL: https://hp.qscript.health.qld.gov.au
What are the QScript prompts?
QScript may provide a prompt to review a patient’s history of monitored medicines: these prompt are either RED, AMBER or GREEN prompt.
Red: Red means you need to review the clinical history of the patient due to the patients previous history with monitored medicines
Amber: Amber means you need to review the clinical history of the patient and that a patient monitoring medicine prescription history exists
Green: Green means no patient monitoring medicine prescription history exists
Do I have to log-in to QScript when providing in-patient services in a hospital setting?
Yes. If you are prescribing a monitored medicine to an inpatient on a medication chart then you should log-in.
Do I have to log-in to QScript when providing a prescription at outpatients?
Yes. If you are prescribing a monitored medicine to an outpatient then you should log-in.
Why do I have to use QScript in a hospital setting if Queensland Health is not monitoring in-hospital prescribing?
Queensland Health is recommending doctors working in a hospital setting log-in to QScript in case there is an adverse event due to the prescribed monitored medication provided to the patient. In this instance, the Coroner and their indemnity provider will ask the doctor to justify their actions.
Will I receive a non-compliance notice if I don’t log-in?
QScript look-up is not mandatory until 28 October 2021, so no penalty provisions currently apply.
The department’s compliance approach over the next 12 months is about encouraging doctors to register and starting using QScript. Regulatory action will only be taken against doctors who do not engage and/or deliberately refuse to use the system.
Are hospital scripts and hospital dispensing captured on QScript as public hospital pharmacy systems don't have PES?
Queensland Health Hospital and Health Service Hospitals are exempt from providing dispensed monitored medicines information to QScript at this time.
Is administration in the course of an anaesthetic excluded by the requirement to look up QScript prior to administration?
QScript checking is required if a health practitioner prescribes or dispenses a monitored medicine. If a health practitioner is directly administering a monitored medicine to a patient in treatment, that would not be prescribing, and would not require QScript checking.
Will there be a 12 month exclusion period for penalties?
During the first 12 months of the implementation of the Medicines and Poisons Act 2019 (MPA) and regulations, the Department's intention is to engage and support doctors to enrol and access the system.
Any regulatory action will be focused on community based providers and directed toward people who repeatedly and over time do not engage and/or refuse to access the system. In-hospital prescribing is not able to be monitored in QScript.
N.B. the Department of Health's Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Framework here https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/1111717/compliance-monitoring-enforcement.pdf
For further information
Phone 137 846