Digital Health Information

ePrescribing Electronic Prescribing (ePrescribing) provides an alternative option to paper-based prescriptions for prescribers and their patients.

Electronic prescribing is optional and both patients and prescribers can choose their preference between electronic or paper prescriptions.

The Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) has published information on electronic prescribing which explains how to prepare your practice and how the e-script process works.

Resources

ADHA Online training:

• Electronic Prescribing in your practice
• Electronic Prescriptions in Community Pharmacy
• RACGP information for GPs and patients

SafeScript NSW – Realtime Prescription Monitoring

SafeScript NSW is a real-time prescription monitoring (RTPM) system that allows prescribers and dispensers to access to their patient’s prescription history for high-risk, monitored medicines.

All prescribers registered with AHPRA can access SafeScript NSW. Prescribers or pharmacists can access SafeScript NSW either via the SafeScript NSW portal or integrated clinical software. To further support the use of SafeScript NSW, HealthPathways has developed two pathways to help practitioners navigate this initiative.

Support Resources for SafeScript

• Setting up access in Best Practice
• Setting up access in Medical Director
• HealthPathways clinical and referral pages for pain, mental health and addiction
• Education and training (includes CPD accredited learning modules and past webinars)

The National Authentication Service for Health (NASH) provides Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) certificates which help primary care providers and individuals to connect to health systems such as My Health Record, secure messaging and electronic prescribing.

NASH certificates have a two-year expiry date and need to be renewed before they expire to allow primary care providers to continue using these systems. For instructions on renewing your practice’s NASH certificate, watch this video on renewing your NASH PKI certificate or visit the Services Australia’s website for more details.

The security of patient information ensures high quality and safe healthcare. The information security guide for small healthcare businesses has been developed by the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) and the Australian Government’s Stay Smart Online Service to assist GPs to safely store confidential information. The ADHA and RACGP have information on their websites regarding security in general practice to help practices meet their legal obligations for information security and the necessary requirements for accreditation.

It is recommended that all staff complete cyber awareness training to adopt positive cyber behaviours in your healthcare organisation.

Available training

ADHA Cyber Security eLearning courses:

• Digital Health Security Awareness eLearning course
• Using Online Conferencing and Telehealth Technologies Securely
• Cyber Security Considerations When Working Remotely or Working from Home

We also have a recorded webinar on how to build cyber awareness.

Other resources

• RACGP factsheet – Responding to a Cybersecurity Incident
• Office of the Australian Information Commissioner – Data Breach Preparation and Response

We offer a variety of useful clinical software templates for specific programs, such as Medical Director and Best Practice.

The templates provided by us are for your personal use only and must not be redistributed without permission.

Templates are also available under the ‘Supplied’ section of most clinical software or are searchable online from their respective organisations. If you have templates that you would like to share with your peers or if you have any enquiries, contact us.

Medical Director – import instructions

1. Open Medical Director and then LetterWriter
2. File Menu > Select Modify Template > Select Blank Template
3. File > Select Import – locate downloaded file and click on Open
4. File > Select Save As Template – type in appropriate name and click on Save

IMPORTANT: DO NOT open templates except when importing into clinical software as it may corrupt the format of the document causing you to re-download the template.

Best Practice – import instructions

1. From the main BP screen, select Utilities > Word processor from the menu or when in a patient record, select File > New Letter. The word processor will open.
2. Open a New Letter and from the Templates menu select Import templates
3. Locate downloaded file and open
4. From File menu select Save As. Type in appropriate Template name and click on Save.

Best Practice – import instructions

1. From the main BP screen, select Utilities > Word processor from the menu or when in a patient record, select File > New Letter. The word processor will open.
2. Open a New Letter and from the Templates menu select Import templates
3. Locate downloaded file and open
4. From File menu select Save As. Type in appropriate Template name and click on Save.

IMPORTANT: DO NOT open templates except when importing into clinical software as it may corrupt the format of the document causing you to re-download the template.

Recent Webinars

AI in General Practice Webinar Series

A three-part webinar series where we delve into the evolving role of artificial intelligence in primary healthcare.

Part 1: An Introduction to AI in General Practice

Held on 14 August 2025, this webinar provides an overview on AI’s current role in general practice and the governance structures that ensure its safe and effective use.

An Introduction to AI in General Practice Video
An Introduction to AI in General Practice Slides

Part 2: Integrating AI into your Clinical Software (with Heidi Health)

Held on 28 August 2025, a guest speaker from Heidi Health showcases how their AI tool integrates seamlessly with Medical Director. Learn how to incorporate Heidi Health into your daily workflow to enhance efficiency and patient care.

Integrating AI into your Clinical Software – Heidi Health Video
Integrating AI into your Clinical Software – Heidi Health slides
Integrating AI into your Clinical Software – Heidi Health Demonstration Slides

Part 3: Integrating AI into your Clinical Software (with Lyrebird Health)

Held on 4 September 2025, a guest speaker from Lyrebird Health showcases how their AI tool integrates seamlessly with Best Practice. Learn how to incorporate Lyrebird Health into your daily workflow to enhance efficiency and patient care.

Cybersecurity in General Practice and My Health Record Compliance

The Cybersecurity in General Practice and My Health Record Compliance webinar was held on 16 May 2024 to emphasise the importance of positive security behaviours to protect sensitive information, remind general practices the legislative requirements surrounding My Health Record Access.

Cybersecurity in General Practice and My Health Compliance Webinar Video
My Health Record Compliance Slides
Mint IT Cybersecurity Webinar 2024 Slides

Provider Connect™ Information Session

This webinar was held on 14 March 2024. The participants heard from Australian Digital Health Agency guest speaker, Julie Khoury, on how Provider Connect Australia can streamline the way you communicate your healthcare service updates to your business

partners. This online event was in collaboration with our neighbouring PHNs located in Central Eastern Sydney, Hunter New England and Central Coast, Murrumbidgee, North Coast, South Western Sydney and Western NSW.

Provider Connect Webinar Video
Provider Connect Presentation Slides

Secure Messaging Series: Part 1 Electronic discharge summaries (eDS) – the how and the why?

This part 1 webinar was held on 7 March 2024 and focused on (1) factors involved for GPs to successfully receive their patients’ electronic discharge summaries (eDS) from hospitals, and (2) how to update your practice’s provider details on the HealthLink provider directory.

Secure Messaging Series: Part 1 Webinar Video
Secure Messaging Series: Part 1 Slides

Secure Messaging Series: Part 2 A spotlight on Smart Forms and Electronic Referrals

This part 2 webinar was held on 21 March 2024 and focused on how to use Smart Forms and Specialists Referral Directory.
Secure Messaging Series: Part 2 Webinar Video

Australian Digital Health Agency Resources

• Online Learning Portal
• Communication Materials
• Recorded Webinars
• Recorded Podcasts

Practice Software Resources

• MedicalDirector Webinars and Live Demos
• MedicalDirector Online Help
• Best Practice Free BP Premier Webinars
• Best Practice Premier Video Library
• Best Practice Knowledge Base

My Health Record is a secure online compilation of documents and information related to a patient’s health which can be viewed by registered healthcare providers and their patient across Australia.

Registered primary care providers can view and upload information to a patient’s My Health record without seeking permission each time they access it (subject to any access controls that the individual may have in place).

My Health Record supplements existing health records with a high-value, shared source of patient information that can improve care planning and decision making.

Visit the My Health Record website for healthcare professionals to find out more information, including how to get started and which clinical documents can be viewed and shared.

Patients who do not have a My Health Record but who are interested in more information or linking one to their MyGov can visit the My Health Record website.