I have been very concerned about two issues with the E-Prescribing Prescription Renewal Page, one of which is a safety issue and the other a legal issue:
1. Refill Amounts: On the drop-down menu for # of refills there is not an option for "0". So, my assumption was that when I chose "1" that the pharmacy would get an order to fill just the #requested. For example, John Doe wants a refill on prilosec for #30 pills. If I want to refill just #30 without any further refills there is no option to do that. We had assumed by picking "1" refill that this meant he would get just #30 but what the pharmacy gets is an order for #30 and 1 refill. When I addressed AC support they said that this is a problem with the pharmacy and that they are interpreting the prescription wrong. So, you are most likely giving your patient one more month (or 90day supply) of medication than you think you are.
After complaining more AC "fixed" the problem by automatically subtracting "1" refill on the prescription in AC. So, if you had given "6" refills and go back now and click on the medication in the prescribing page it will say "5" refills. BUT, the 1 is not subtracted from the prescription sent to the pharmacy. AC says that this is an issue with NewCrop, etc. I still don't understand why there can't be a "0" refill so the patient gets only the #30 pills or such.
2. Prescribing Authority-
Do you realize that if you have multiple providers in your clinic and you select to refill a medication from the "Prescriptions Renewal" page that the name of the provider giving the authorization to refill the med is not put on the prescription? Instead, the prescription is sent back to the pharmacy with your refill wishes but with the name of the original prescriber! For example, Dr. Smith chooses to refill a medication originally prescribed by Dr. Jones...the rx comes across to the pharmacy as "signed" by Dr. Jones. This to me is a significant legal issue and again the answer from AC is that this is a NewCrop and SureScript issue. I have begged and pleaded to talk to someone at AC with clinic experience to explain these concerns but get no where. Can someone help?
I can attach examples of screenshots and what the pharmacy receives through SureScripts if this would help...but I encourage you to try it yourself...and especially try to give someone only a single refill of a medication without the pharmacy understanding the Rx as # to be filled and one refill.
Dean
