OK, Passive-Aggressive comments ahead:
I agree this is ridiculous. There are basically three ways to do a script. Handwritten/printed and signed; faxed/electronic; and called in. I would think that in order the least safest scripts would be:
Called in: I had a nurse call in Vicodin for her kid who seven years old for 90 tablets. The pharmacist never asked her name. No DEA number or anything. Anyone with any bal... could call in a script under my name from a phone booth or cell phone or whereever.
A written script. Please. If I print out a script on AC, how difficult is it to forget my signature when one sees it a hundred times.
Fax/Electronic: Sure, someone could download AC (much too easily if you ask me), enter the demographics from the script they got last week and print out a script and forge my name. Then, they have to send a fax with my fax number on it. Seems a bit difficult to me. I would guess ePrescription is even harder if you have a username and password. And, how hard would it be to give the pharmacies a 16 digit code or something which would be like a Certificate of Authenticity and this same number would print out on the cover sheet or on the script. Change it every three months or so.
So, we have been faxing scripts including Vicodin and Tylenol with codeine with no issues. But, some pharmacies won't even take Lomotil or the above. Do you know why I can fax/write/call in Vicodin and Tylenol with codeine and not hydrocodone and codeine? Because the Tylenol will affect the user's liver so they won't abuse it. Right.
Now, the stupid thing is (here comes the passive-aggressive) thing, we have this incredible family pharmacy which is super progressive and will do things like take Ritalin without a diagnosis on it or a number written out, but will ask you to send it in later. So, they have no problem with Lomotil, or T3s or Vicodins. But, other pharmacies will force me to physically sign them. I just refuse and ask the pharmacist to tell the patient to go to Miller Drug. I know...maybe I am acting childish.
Of course, now you CAN'T write scripts for Medicaid patients. You have to either fax them or write them on tamper proof scripts. It's just stupider and stupider. Don't they realize that requiring providers to carry tamper proof scripts around will increase the chances significantly that the pad will be left on a table or desk?
OK, PLEASE DON'T GET ANGRY WITH ME:
The way I see it, I couldn't care less who gets the narcotics and amphetamines on the street. Why should all of the legal patients be penalized and have to drive twenty miles to the office to pick up Concerta or oxycodone. I say call the stuff in or fax it or send it by carrier pigeon. If the users want to use, they will. I know it probably costs society in the long run, but what does it cost the extra phone calls and patient travel.
