Home Forums Discussions General Discussion Eprescribing

Does anyone else have the same problem as I do regarding ounces and grams when eprscribing to local and mailaway pharmacies.
1.If I print to printer then it prints as eg Cream xx15 grams or Cough syrup6 ounces.
2. When I try to eprescribe to local or mail away pharmacies it says 15 grams or 6 ounces is an invalid number. When I preview the scripts it does says fifteen or six but no grams or ounces
Grenville

eprescribing doesn't allow any words in the quantity area.

Don't worry, just put the number in the quantity area and enter the measurement unit (i.e., ounces, grams) in the comment line at the bottom left.

Thanks
Grenville

This does seem correctable. I too have been using the comment line for topical products like creams and powders. But the choices should be extended, if only so they don't require a quantity of pills. As a pediatrician, I am often prescribing oz or gm or ml quantities, with application multiples. What's odd is that the program has anticipated this with "to affected area" as one of the choices in the 'route' section of the quick script writer. But the 'take' and 'number' sections both clearly assume it's pills or capsules.

Barry from AC advises that the newest version will allow ml, gm, etc.

Is there an electronic way to connect with TriCare Express Scripts, or other mail-order pharmacies that patients use for 90-day at a time meds for chronic use? How can I look them up and connect with them?

It is sometimes tough, but most of them are there. You can try a lookup by phone number. Medco shows as Medco Fax Only.

thanks, I'll try phone number. I called Express Scripts and asked them. They didn't know, and gave me the local distribution center zip code (Tempe AZ), but the system didn't find it. They gave the zip code for the mail-in address (Phoenix) but that wasn't in the system either.

I have problems with that also, but here is one:

Costco... use Corona, California 92880

A previous electronic prescribing program I used had the mail order pharmacies in a separate list, made it much easier. We can hope for future enhancements, I guess. At least I know it is possible.

Is this easier in the update? Right now I just send them using updox.

I use many of the mail orders through the eprescribing. I have found that you need to go through the listing that states "fax" because they are not electronically connected, yet. I send to medco, caremark, express, rightsource, aetna rx, and several others. Is there a specific one you are having problems with?

Seems a little ridiculous that you can't put quantities in ounces or grams when a ton of meds are Rx'ed that way. Or how about patches? Is it the Amazing Charts side of things or the generic eRx thing? There could be a second pull down menu even! or make the box able to be free text. The pull down menu is unneccessary for how many pills anyway. Just type it in.

Seems like such a simple fix by which ever side the fix needs to be done on.

You do have the ability to do ounces/grams/inhaler/etc if you use the newcrops screen.

Solodocmom:

thanks for that but honestly that is ridiculous as it opens a new screen then search then you enter and then sign...easier to write one and then in the comments write out what you need

New soon to be released version promises that units such as ml, oz, gm, etc will be included.

well then we don't haev a problem...:D thanks

Honestly, if you don't use the Newcrops screen, how do you receive your e-refill requests from the pharmacies?

I don't. I don't refill without followup, but I am only doing sports medicine. So i rarely use meds and when i do, they don't get refills without coming in. For me too many patients want to treat the symptoms and not the issue.

I have a couple rules that keep my patients honest to themselves. 1. they know i don't like meds 2. you have to fix the issue and go to rehab 3. you follow up when you are supposed to and you do what you need to to help your self.

You can lead a horse to water...but. . .

I know if i was doing HTN and DM i would need to refill meds but i don't need to do it. And I in the last 3.5 years in practice have given out 5 or 6 total vicodin/percocet scripts. And no one gets a refill on those ever.

I know this limits who will see me, but i don't wnat the patient in here who wants to just get meds to be pain free.