Here are some of the scenes played out in my ofice as far as prescritions for meds are concerned
#1. Patients or pharmacy call in for refills. The MA's while taking the message, peek into AC to see when was the last visit and will notify them whether they need to be seen or it will be filled. Message is sent to me with all the particulars and 99% of the time it take me under 10 sec to make my decision and the message is sent back to refill or deny the request
#2. The pharmacy will send in a script by fax which arrives as a pdf file. Agains the MA's do the same as in # 1 and all parts of the script are filled out by them using the Typewriter function in Adobe Acrobat pro(20-30sec) and sent to my message folder(outside AC). It takes me under 10 sec to sign the script again using Adobe where my signature is stored and send the file back to them in their folder for them to fax it out
#3 Lastly while patients are in the examining room and request refills of their meds. I open the Rx and click on the meds from the med list on the left and fax it to the local pharmacy or save it as a PDF file by cliking the PREVIEW PRESCRITIONS button and send it to the MA's folder(outside AC) for them to fax it.
Pts can also collect their printed scripts from the check out counter as they leave which is sent to the printer while I am with them in the room.I hate to do that as it cost too much in paper and ink.($$$)
Sometimes I am forced to do that for Narcotics that I cannot send to the local pharmacy as they insist that I sign my printed electronic script.
I sincerely hope this helps you.
I hated to write scripts,being a family physician as each pt had atleast 5-10 scripts or even more and by the end of the day my hands were fatigued.I am positive that I will never go back to paper. Honestly I am virtually paperless as I am waiting for my LABCARE interface which should be completed in a few days (I have Labcare in my office and they print out all the labs )
Grenville
