PHARMACISTS have raised concerns about the rapidly approaching end of the transitional arrangement for the use of Electronic National Residential Medication Charts (eNRMC), with systems that are non-conformant no longer able to be used for prescriptions after 21 Oct - an extension of the original cut-off date of 01 Oct.
While residential aged care homes can continue to use a non-conformant system for administration purposes, prescribers will need to use a paper NRMC or create separate electronic or paper PBS prescriptions, creating extra work, while pharmacists will need to dispense from these alternative scripts.
As PD went to press, three eNRMC systems were non-conformant: emma (Compact Business Systems), MedPoint (Telstra Health) and StrongCare (StrongRoom Technology).
Karen Simpson, CEO at Compact, told Pharmacy Daily that emma will achieve conformance before the deadline.
"Our eNRMC Observed Testing Assessment with the Australian Digital Health Agency commenced this morning and will run for three days," she said.
"We are confident that this process will result in us attaining full conformance before 21 Oct 2025."
Similarly, Carrie Shen, Head of Sales at StrongRoom AI, told Pharmacy Daily: "I can confirm that StrongCare will be fully conformant by 21 Oct 2025."
MedPoint, however, will not be conformant.
Telstra Health sent an email to users of MedPoint last week explaining the system would not achieve conformance by the deadline, while assuring users it is "moving quickly to implement the required changes to achieve conformance".
"Based on current indications, we anticipate full eNRMC conformance will take two to three months unless any major issues arise in the latter part of conformance," the email continued.
"We sincerely apologise and thank you for your understanding.
"Please be assured this remains our highest priority and we will continue to keep you informed as new information becomes available."
Telstra Health also provided some suggested workflow documents for prescribers, pharmacists and nurses administering the medicines.
One pharmacist, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the situation as a "debacle", wondering how long Telstra Health had known about the conformance issue, and why the information was shared at a seemingly late stage.
Another pharmacist, who also preferred to remain anonymous, was concerned by the late notice and pointed out the delay is "creating new paper processes for pharmacies".
PD has reached out to Telstra Health for comment. KB
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