About
PrescribeIT is Canada's official multi-jurisdiction electronic prescription service, developed and operated by Canada Health Infoway in partnership with Health Canada, provincial and territorial governments, and healthcare industry stakeholders. The platform enables healthcare prescribers—such as physicians and nurse practitioners—to transmit prescriptions electronically and securely to any enrolled pharmacy across participating provinces and territories, eliminating the need for paper, fax, or phone-based prescriptions. Patients benefit from greater convenience, improved safety, and the ability to choose which pharmacy receives their prescriptions. PrescribeIT integrates directly with existing prescriber and pharmacy software systems via standardized APIs, requiring minimal workflow changes for healthcare professionals. The service is designed with strong privacy and data protection principles, ensuring patient health information is handled in compliance with Canadian privacy legislation. PrescribeIT supports a broad range of prescription types, including controlled substances, and offers dedicated resources for pharmacies, pharmacists, and pharmacy staff, including fee schedules and integration guidance. The platform is expanding its reach across Canadian provinces, with ongoing onboarding of prescribers and pharmacies. It is suited for healthcare providers, pharmacy operators, and health IT vendors looking to modernize and streamline prescription management at a national scale.
Key Features
- Electronic Prescription Transmission: Enables prescribers to send prescriptions electronically and securely to a patient's chosen pharmacy, replacing paper, fax, and phone processes.
- Multi-Jurisdiction Support: Operates across multiple Canadian provinces and territories with a single, standardized service for national coverage.
- Controlled Substances Support: Supports electronic prescribing of controlled substances in compliance with Canadian regulations.
- Patient Choice: Patients can designate their preferred pharmacy to receive prescriptions, empowering them with control over their care.
- Privacy & Data Protection: Built with robust privacy safeguards to protect patient health information in accordance with Canadian privacy legislation.
Use Cases
- A physician sends a prescription electronically to the patient's preferred pharmacy, eliminating the need for a paper script or phone call.
- A pharmacy integrates PrescribeIT into their management software to receive and process electronic prescriptions seamlessly.
- A patient selects their preferred pharmacy through their prescriber's system to ensure their prescription is sent directly there.
- A health IT vendor builds or certifies software to connect prescribers and pharmacies to the PrescribeIT national network.
- A provincial health authority deploys PrescribeIT to improve prescription accuracy and reduce medication errors across its healthcare network.
Pros
- Nationwide Coverage: Spans multiple provinces and territories, offering a consistent e-prescribing experience across Canada's fragmented healthcare landscape.
- Seamless Integration: Integrates with existing prescriber and pharmacy software systems via standardized APIs, minimizing disruption to established workflows.
- Improved Patient Safety: Reduces prescription errors associated with illegible handwriting, lost paper scripts, and manual transcription.
Cons
- Limited to Canada: The service is exclusively available in Canada and is not applicable for healthcare providers or pharmacies operating outside the country.
- Pharmacy Fee Requirements: Pharmacies are subject to service fees to participate, which may be a barrier for smaller independent pharmacies.
- Adoption Dependency: Full utility depends on both prescribers and pharmacies being enrolled, meaning the benefits are limited in regions with low adoption rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PrescribeIT?
PrescribeIT is Canada's national e-prescribing service that allows healthcare prescribers to send prescriptions electronically and securely to a patient's chosen pharmacy, replacing paper-based prescriptions.
Who operates PrescribeIT?
PrescribeIT is operated by Canada Health Infoway in collaboration with Health Canada, provincial and territorial governments, and healthcare industry stakeholders.
Can PrescribeIT be used for controlled substances?
Yes, PrescribeIT supports the electronic prescribing of controlled substances in jurisdictions where regulations permit it.
How does PrescribeIT protect patient privacy?
PrescribeIT is built with strong privacy and data protection principles, ensuring patient health information is handled in compliance with Canadian federal and provincial privacy legislation.
How do pharmacies join PrescribeIT?
Pharmacies can enroll by integrating PrescribeIT with their existing pharmacy management software. Fee information and integration resources are available on the PrescribeIT website.
