Home Forums Discussions General Discussion Pharmacy search function is not working consistently when prescribing

I am having recurrent problems with finding a new pharmacy, when prescribing electronically. I select the patient from my patient list, click new on the message tab and write the prescription. When I go to search for a new pharmacy, such as a mail order pharmacy, nothing happens. Previously, tech support could not give me an answer as to why this is happening. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

Hi Dr Mel,

There are a couple reasons why a pharmacy would not be able to be searched. First is if it is a brand new pharmacy that hasn't been credentialed yet for NewCrop/SureScripts. There is really no solution at this point as we have to wait till the pharmacy gets set up with them, and then that information gets pushed to Amazing Charts.

The more common issue I have seen is a user will click the pharmacy search and try to find a pharmacy, but not realize that there is a zip-code or state abbreviation pre-loaded in the search. Before you search a pharmacy, make sure you clear ALL search fields so that your search starts fresh.

If you are still having issues, you can send me a message and I would be more than happy to look at this with you.

Since upgrading to V10.02 this has been occurring frequently. When the patient is requesting a new pharmacy, starting to enter the first few letters of the pharmacy, no choices will appear(all other search field are clear). If you delete the partial entry in the name of pharmacy field and start entering a zip code, ALL pharmacies start appearing in the name field. If you delete the zip code field and then again start entering characters in the name search field the correct pharmacy will start showing up. I have to this everytime a new pharmacy is needed. This has been going on since we upgraded to V10.2(a few weeks now). I believe is some glitch in the program and have been doing things as described. It is an annoyance but not to the point of complaining. Glad to know someone else has the same problem

When looking for a new pharmacy, I clear any boxes that are pre-filled, then enter the
zip code and the name of the pharmacy.
Almost always works for me.
ERx is excruciatingly slow sometimes -- I just have to sit and stare at the patient, or make small talk, because if they are allowed to fill the time they will go off on a new tangent and further extend the visit.
I hope they get that fixed.

I have to admit I haven't beta tested v10. I think I would have to have that credentialed in a VM. Or something that would require support.

So, this will probably not help. But, I do exactly what Tom does. Clear all fields and use just the zip code. That usually lists all pharmacies in that zip code, and I select from there without typing anything in the pharmacy field.

The phone number is generally very solid. Plus it will smash through walls of bought out pharmacies. I am sure that Walgreens has bought out everyone's Rite Aids. When we would try to send to a Rite Aid, it would often say it didn't exist. Put in the phone number, and it sends it to the pharmacy with that number no matter what their name is.

What is interesting is the pharmacy will be saved. And, the one you just sent with the number will be saved as well. You can then send to that pharmacy each time. I think more and more Rite Aids are becoming full fledged Walgreens. Hopefully, the Rite Aids will be removed from the search.

This problem is somewhat multi-faceted. I realized, along time ago, that all fields have to be cleared. I have had problems with the search function, when putting in the names of mail-order pharmacy such as Humana or Express Scripts. I am not always going to know the ZIP Code or telephone number. A lot of the mail-order pharmacies, especially Humana, use different fax numbers, with their requests. When I am in the middle of a prescription, it is difficult to try to go look up a number. In my experience, this search feature seems to work intermittently. I agree that putting in the ZIP Code works the best, when searching. There have been other times when I enter name and a list of pharmacies will appear, but it will not be complete.

I always forget about the family practice docs. We do about three mail orders a year, if that. It's funny, though, we will send to people when they are out of state, and they are nice enough to have that phone number ready. Or they don't know which one they want. I just say, no, no, give me the zip code. Then I give them a choice. Usually, the know in the room.

Sometimes no matter what I do I get a Walmart from Memphis or Seattle. I mean in the room.

If you really get stuck, you can use EPCS. Their search, while more cumbersome, tends to find everything.