Note: NZF Integration is available from Toniq version 5.39.


TABLE OF CONTENTS


Recording NZF Allergies/Adverse Reactions

The ability to record NZF Allergies/Adverse Reactions (ADR) will be part of Toniq Dispensary’s core functionality from version 5.39 and will be available for use by all New Zealand customers who do not use the alternative method of recording Intolerances. However, Toniq registration is required for full Allergy/ADR functionality, e.g. allergy checking during script processing.


To maintain a patient’s allergies and adverse reactions, select the patient from the prescription entry screen, press F2 Edit Patient then F11 Next Page twice and use the following function keys:



Note: The same screen and options will display if F10 Allergy on second page of Edit Patient is pressed.


  • F2 Add Allergy

To add an allergy/adverse reaction, use F2 Add Allergy and select the medicine the patient reacts to:



The medicine may belong to more than one medicine group and so have more than one entry listed under Description:



If the same medicine with the same medicine groups is entered twice, the program will warn the user that it is already in the list but will not create another entry.


A duplicate entry will be created for a medicine that has the same medicine groups as an item already in the list but is a different medicine. The following warning occurs when this happens:



If the pharmacy is not registered for NZF integration a warning will prompt users that allergies/ADR won’t be checked during dispensing.


  • F3 Allergy Note

A note may be made against the medicines in the Allergies list to clarify the adverse reaction using F3 Allergy Note. The Note is visible both in the list and, for an expanded view, below it:



  • F5 Delete Allergy

If an allergy/adverse reaction has been added in error, or an unnecessary duplicate has been created, it can be removed by highlighting it and using F5 Delete Allergy.


Note: If F5 Delete Allergy has been pressed by mistake, press ESC twice to not save the changes. (This will only work if F12 Accept Details has not yet been pressed.)


  • F10 Other (Sort and Clear All Options)

There are three NZF related options under the F10 Other function key: 1 Clear all NZF allergies, and two sort options, 4 Sort by description and 5 Sort by medicine, which do as they state:



Allergies/ADR Alerts During Script Processing

Once a patient has been selected on the prescription entry screen, if they have recorded allergies/ADR, the medicines will be displayed in an orange panel:



Alerts will not occur during dispensing if your pharmacy is not registered for New Zealand Formulary integration. However, the allergies/ADR will still be visible on the prescription entry screen with the warning that they will not be checked:



If a medicine (or mixture) is dispensed to a patient who has an allergy/ADR to its medicine group, an alert will prompt showing not only the allergy type, description, and its note, but also which medicine was selected at the time the allergy/adverse reaction was entered, who it was entered by, and when:



Manual Allergies/ADR Checking

If alerts are missed or a wider check is required, NZF Allergies/ADR can be checked manually. To do so, press F10 Other then Interactions/intolerances - check during dispensing:



Note: Medicine Interactions will also display on a separate panel when this option is used.


Allergies/ADR on Check Forms and Labels

When an Allergy/ADR is detected during dispensing a check form or label will print at End Visit, depending on how the Check Label Options are set. These options are found under 7. Administration > 1. Setup > 3. Printer setup > 2. Label print options, then F11 Next Page from the main menu:



If Print at ‘End Visit’, Use CRC printer, and Allergies/Intolerances are all ticked (like the screenshot above) an A5 check form will print out when allergy alerts occur during dispensing. It will display the Medicine the patient reacts to, its Allergy Group, and an Allergy Note (if there is one) on the line below:



However, if Use CRC printer is unticked (and the other two options remain ticked), then a check label will print. This will show the medicine and its allergy group, along with the label Allergy:

 


  • Reprinting Check Forms / Labels

Check forms or labels can be re-printed from the patient history grid if required. Select the patient, press F5 Use History then F8 Re-Print, and select 3 Check items:



Then press F9 Select Day to choose all dispensings for that day, or F8 Check Items for individual scripts, and press F11 Auto Accept:



Note: The Check items option also checks interactions so will prompt how far back the user wishes to check for those.


Allergies/ADR on Dosepack and Medication Charts

Note: The Charts module requires separate Toniq registration.


Printing NZF Allergies/Adverse Reactions on charts is core functionality from version 5.39 for those not using MIMS Intolerances. NZF Allergies/ADR can be printed on both Medication and Dosepack Charts, depending on how they are set up.


  • Dosepack Charts

The settings for printing Allergies/ADR on Dosepack Charts are available in 5. Dosepack/Charts > 7. Administration > Edit dosepack chart types. There are options to print the allergy/ADR, the allergy note, and whether to print in red:



Using the options as set above, the printout will look like:



To have the chart heading state Allergies, as opposed to Intolerances, is an Institution setting. Go to 5. Dosepack/Charts > 7. Administration > 1. Institution maintenance, select the Institution the patient is in, and press F11 Next Page. Tick Use ‘Allergy’ word on charts to enable this option:



Note: This option is only available for patients who are in an institution.


  • Medication Charts

Medication charts are used for patients who do not have a dosepack. Their settings are found in 7. Administration > 1. Setup > 3. Printer setup > Medication chart options. Allergies/ADR will print by default, unless the Don’t show allergies/intolerances option is ticked:



The following screenshot shows how NZF Allergies/Adverse Reactions print on Medication Charts:



Merging Patients with NZF Allergies/ADR

If duplicate entries of a patient exist and are merged, all NZF Allergy information (the medicine, medicine group, and any notes) will be copied from the hidden patient record to the remaining patient record. If the same allergy/ADR is on both patient records, it will be recorded twice, and so will need to be reviewed. The NZF Allergies/ADR information will be removed from the hidden record.