Design and implementation of a web portal for non-medical prescribing

Abstract

Non-medical prescribing is the process of connecting patients to non-medical, generally community-based resources to support health and wellness. Despite increasing interest in non-medical prescribing, there has been little discussion of the potential role of technology in supporting the practice, and little exposition of the current role of technology in the area. Here we define a number of components of non-medical prescribing, noting how they lend themselves to technical solutions. We present an implementation of a non-medical prescribing platform intended primarily for use in an acute hospital setting. The platform facilitates the role of clinical experts as prescribers, an important consideration in building prescribing platforms that can contribute to the evidence base for non-medical prescribing as an impactful intervention.