Spectra SP1
Release date: 25 March 2025
Enhancements to include Self-collection options for Cervical Screening
Cervical screening participants now have the choice to self-collect their own Cervical Screening Test sample. Enhancements have been implemented to accommodate the recording of results from tests where the patient themselves collected sample .
In Spectra SP1, the Cervical Screening Results screen has been enhanced to include a new check box, Self-collection, allowing clinicians to specify whether the patient has collected the sample themselves. A new option, Self-collected by patient, has been added to the Performed by field.
The recommended process for recording Self-collection in the Cervical Screening Results screen is outlined below:
- When the sample is Self-collected without the assistance of a Clinician, set the Performed by field to Self-collected by the patient and tick the Self-collection check box.
- When the sample is Self-collected with the Clinician's assistance, update the value in Performed by to the Clinician and tick the Self-collection check box.
See Record cervical screening results for more information.
Enhancements to Database Searches for Cervical Screening
Enhancements have been made to the Database Search for Cervical Screening. The search criteria for Last Screening has been updated to include a single drop-down menu, Last Screening Test Over:, which allows searches for results from 1 year to 10 years ago.
The search criteria for additional parameters have been updated to the following:
- HPV Test Only has been updated to HPV test/CST
- When selecting HPV test/CST, the option for Cytology results will be replaced with LBC Results
- A new search criterion, Risk Category, has been added
- The search criteria for Performed By has been updated to include Self-collected by patient.
See Search for Cervical Screening Results for more information.
Email eScript tokens directly to the patient’s preferred pharmacy
Enhancements have been made to allow clinicians to send eScript tokens directly to the email address of the patient's preferred pharmacy.
If a patient consents to have their eScript token sent directly to their preferred pharmacy, the clinician can select Email (Pharmacy) from the Token menu in Current Rx. A new window, Send to Pharmacy, will appear, requiring the clinician to confirm that they have obtained consent from the patient for the eScript token to be sent to their preferred pharmacy. The clinician can manually enter the pharmacy email address or select a pharmacy contact with an email address on record.
eScript tokens sent via Email (Pharmacy) will include the patient's consent as an Action in Today's Notes. The action will detail the eScript delivery address (email address) and the corresponding drug and dosage information.
A contact note will be recorded for each eScript sent via SMS (default), SMS (Other), App, Email (default), Email (other), or Email (Pharmacy).
See Create and Send Electronic Prescriptions for more information.
Email Investigation Reports as PDF from the Patient Record
Investigation Reports can be emailed directly to patients as a PDF file attachment, secured with a PIN, from the Investigation Reports screen within the Patient Record.
The document and image file formats listed below can be emailed directly from Patient Record > Investigation Reports:
- Documents: PDF, RTF, DOC, DOCX and TXT.
- Images: JPG , JPEG, TIF, PNG, GIF, BMP, TIFF and MTIF.
An Action will be created in Today's notes to show that the Email has been sent, and a Contact Note will be generated for all Investigation Reports sent via Email.
IMPORTANT To email Investigation Reports from the Patient Record in Spectra SP1, email accounts must have TLS encryption enabled.
See Send emails from the Patient Record for more information.
AIR Vaccination Encounter Reporting Changes
Reporting accurate vaccination information to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) allows the register to contain a complete and reliable dataset for monitoring immunisation coverage and administration. The Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) will establish new reporting requirements on 24 October 2025 to improve the data currently held.
Updates to Vaccine Type Reporting effective from 24 October 2025
The Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) is introducing changes to simplify the Vaccine Type field. In Spectra SP1, the following options will be available:
- NIP/Commonwealth
- Antenatal
- Other
The options for Private and State Program have both been replaced by the new option 'Other'. Where you previously would have selected the Private or State Program option, you will now select 'Other'.
See Record Immunisations and Send to AIR for more information.
Spectra
Release date: 15 October 2024
Display unactioned reports in the patient record
Bp Premier version Spectra offers enhanced visibility for unactioned/outstanding results that have not been marked as given to the patient. We've included new User Preferences that, when enabled, ensure that unactioned reports are prominently shown in the Notifications section of the patient record and appear in a popup when opening and closing the patient record.
To enable the display of Unactioned reports in the patient record, go to Setup > Preferences > Clinical and tick the following user preferences:
- Display Unactioned report list in patient record
- Popup Unactioned report list when closing the patient record
See Display unactioned reports in the patient record for more information.
Enhancements to ePrescribing for Medicinal Cannabis
When ePrescribing was introduced in Bp Premier, a thorough Product check was conducted to analyse the ingredients of prescribed drugs. Where drugs with the same ingredients were identified, they were unable to be sent via eScript on the same day.
In Spectra, the same ingredient ePrescribing logic for medicinal cannabis drugs has been improved. When a provider sends an eScript for a medicinal cannabis drug that contains the same ingredient as another prescribed on the same day, Bp Premier will check the product name rather than the ingredients.
See ePrescribing for Medicinal Cannabis for more information.
Filter incoming reports based on date, by patient name, addressee, and practice location
We have added new filtering options to make it easier for you to manage the Incoming Reports screen. Now, you can filter Incoming Reports by patient name, date, addressee, and practice location.
See View Incoming Reports for more information.
Enhancements to recording Observations in Today's notes
Where Primary Observations and Multiple Observations are recorded during the same visit, they will be documented in Today's notes along with the corresponding timestamps.
See Record Primary and Multiple Observations for more information.
Enhancements for recording Blood Pressure and Pulse in the patient record
Bp Premier version Spectra offers enhanced functionality for recording Blood Pressure and Pulse in the following areas of the patient record, ensuring more accurate measurements:
- Clinical > Blood Pressure
- Observations > Add
- Today’s Notes > History & Examination > General
When recording Blood Pressure, providers can specify the arm from which the blood pressure measurement was obtained by ticking the Left or Right arm check boxes.
When recording Pulse, providers are offered the opportunity to specify the patient’s pulse rate when sitting, standing or lying down.
See Record Blood Pressure for more information.
Australian Rheumatology Association resources added to Patient Education materials
Patient Education material has been updated to include resources from the Australian Rheumatology Association. To access patient education material, go to View > Patient Education material in the patient record.
NOTE Patient education materials for the Australian Rheumatology Association will be included in a future data update.
See Patient Education material for more information.
Enhancements to Lyrebird Scribe
A new user preference, Lyrebird transcription save to visit notes position, has been added to Setup > Preferences > Clinical to allow clinicians to save Lyrebird transcribed clinical notes to the top or bottom of Today's Notes.
See Setting User Preferences for more information.
Enhancements to Accommodation statuses in Family and Social History
In the July 2024 Data Update, we introduced new options for recording Permanent, Respite, and Locum Aged Care Home Accommodation statuses within Family & Social History to support the MyMedicare General Practice in Aged Care Incentive.
In Bp Premier version Spectra, the accommodation statuses for Permanent, Respite, and Locum Aged Care Home have been extended to Health Summaries, Enhanced Primary Care documentation, and the Word Processor.
Information correct at time of publishing (25 March 2025).
AU 