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Prescription Form Guide- ePrescribing and ordering medications

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Prescription Form Guide- ePrescribing and ordering medications

Contents

 

What is the Prescription Form?

The Prescription Form is used to prescribe all medication types: over-the-counter and both non-controlled and controlled substance medications. This Prescription Form offers the following functionalities:   
 

How to use the Prescription Form

1. Starting a new prescription

To start a new prescription, use one of the following options:
  • Click “Rx” -> “Prescription Form (Rx/OTC/CS)” at the top of any patient’s chart
  • Click the “Rx/OTC/CS” button in a visit note or non-visit note draft
 

2. Filling out the prescription details

For each prescription, fill out as much detail as needed to effectively prescribe. Required fields have an asterisk
(*). Here is a list of all the different prescription fields:
Prescription FieldDetails
Medication name and strength*Search for the medication name and strength in Elation’s medication database.
  • User Tip: If you are unable to find a prescription or over-the-counter medication you wish to prescribe, you can manually add it to your database. 
Sig*Add as much detail as needed for your directions to the patient. You can select a Sig from Elation’s database or you can create your own Custom Rx Sig
Qty*Specify how much of a medication you want to give the patient for each order.
UnitSpecify the quantity unit.
Refills* Specify how many refills you allow the pharmacy to dispense to the patient before another order is required.
Days SupplySpecify how many days supply your order is for. This field is not automatically calculated and does not replace the Sig or Qty fields. The value entered factors into cost estimate calculations.
NDC with PackagingVerify the packing information as needed. By default, Elation will select the NDC & packaging as defaulted by our database. You can click to select a more appropriate package type as needed.
Diagnosis (ICD-10)Enter all supporting diagnosis for the prescription as needed. Up to two diagnoses can be sent with an ePrescription.
Instructions to PharmacyStore any instructions to the pharmacy as needed.
Do not fill before …Enter the earliest date a patient can receive the prescription if this is a planned prescription for a future date.
Dispense as WrittenCheck this box off if you want the pharmacy to dispense the prescription as specified by your order and to not allow substitutions.
Permanent or Temporary Toggle.pngSpecify whether this prescription should appear in the Permanent Medication List or Temporary Medication List in the patient’s Medication History by selecting the appropriate category. Medications will default to 'Permanent' unless specified as a 'Temporary' medication in the Prescription Form.
PharmacySpecify the pharmacy destination if ePrescribing. If the patient has preferred pharmacies, you will see their preferred pharmacies immediately after clicking into the Pharmacy field.
 
User Tips:
  • If you do not want to send the prescription to the pharmacy or you are not ePrescribing controlled substances, click the "Manual printout only" button in the pharmacy search to print the prescription.
  • If you want to the most recently used pharmacy (for each patient) to populate in the Pharmacy field automatically, have an Admin Level User in the practice use the "I need help" -> "Contact Elation Support" button to send a request to our Support Team and a member of the Support Team will turn this feature on for you.

The pharmacy database is provided by Surescripts and Surescripts has 85% of the pharmacies in the country. To quickly find the desired pharmacy, be sure to type one of the following along with the Pharmacy Name:
  • City (e.g. 'CVS Short Hills' or 'CVS, Short Hills')
  • Street name or Zip code (e.g.. 'CVS 07026' or 'CVS Brooklyn')
  • Phone Number
  • Store Number 
Elation is unable to add new pharmacies to the pharmacy directory as it is maintained by the Surescripts. You must notify the pharmacy to reach out to Surescripts directly to be part of the Surescripts network.
“Save as Rx template”Click this button if you want to save the Medication, Sig, Qty, UnitsRefills, Days Supply, & Packaging (NDC) as a Rx Template for other prescriptions.




3. Adding another medication to the same prescription order

If you are prescribing more than one medication, click the “+ Add Another Rx” button to add as many prescriptions to the form as needed and fill out all necessary details for each prescription. This feature allows you to:
  • add non-controlled medications, over-the-counter medications, AND controlled substance medications to the same form.
  • add multiple controlled substance medications to the same form.
Important Note: The pharmacy selected for the first prescription in the form will be the default pharmacy selected for all prescriptions that can be sent electronically. Choose a different pharmacy if you need to for specific prescriptions.


 

4. Completing the prescription(s)

Once you are ready to complete the prescription(s), click one of the following buttons as appropriate. Certain options will bring you to a confirmation screen to continue your prescription.
  • “Prescribe” 
    • Sends all prescriptions that have a pharmacy selected to the pharmacy AND
    • Prints all prescriptions that do not have a pharmacy selected and prescriptions that cannot be sent electronically.
    • If a Staff Rx Delegate selects Prescribe and controlled substance prescriptions with a pharmacy destination are in the queue, the controlled substance prescriptions and their pharmacy destinations will be saved as a draft.
  • “Print All & Close”
    • Prints all prescriptions, even if any of the prescriptions in the queue has a selected pharmacy destination, and closes the form
  • “Sign & Close”
    • Signs all prescriptions and closes the form
  • “Save as Draft & Close”
    • Saves all the information entered as a draft in the Requiring Actions section of the patient's chart, including all medications in the form.
  • “Discard”
    • Discards the selected prescription in the form.
      • Important Note: Delete with caution as discarded prescriptions cannot be recovered.
 

4a. Sending the prescription(s) to the pharmacy

If you choose to electronically prescribe the prescription, you will see a Prescription Summary that details all the information tied to the script(s) along with each pharmacy destination. Click “Prescribe” in the Prescription Summary window to send all medications to the pharmacy.
  • Important Note: If any of the prescriptions are for controlled substance medications, you will need to enter your EPCS password and security code one time before the prescriptions are sent to the pharmacy.
ePrecribe to different pharmacies.png

 

4b. Printing prescriptions for your patient

If you choose to print certain or all prescriptions for your patient, or if you do not use the electronic prescribing controlled substance (EPCS) feature and you need to print your controlled substance prescriptions, the Prescription Summary will show which prescriptions will be printed. Click “Prescribe” in the Prescription Summary window to electronically send appropriate prescriptions to the pharmacy and then print the prescription that must be printed.
ePrescribe and print.png


 

How to view medication coverage, formulary, and cost estimate information

Reference the following article for instructions on how to view medication coverage, formulary and cost estimate information: Prescription Form Guide- Viewing patient prescription benefits (Beta)

 

Additional Workflow Tips

Manually adding a medication to the medication database

Important Note: Medications that are manually added to the medication database will not be associated with a National Drug Code (NDC). This means Elation will not be able to provide any details around allergy interactions, drug interactions or intolerances, formulary information, or prescription cost estimates.

If you are unable to find the medication you wish to prescribe, you can manually add it to your database by following these steps:
  1. Type the name of the medication in the field and click out of the field
  2. Click the “Add a new med” button under the name
  3. Edit the name, strength, and medication type as needed
  4. Click “Create Medication & Continue Rx”
 

Using Custom Rx Sigs

You can store a custom sig in your sig database for any medication you prescribe. To create a custom sig for any medication:
  1. Select a medication in the Prescription Form
  2. Type your custom sig in the Sig field
  3. Click “Create a custom sig for this med…”
  4. Confirm the sig you want to save is accurate
  5. Click “Save”

To edit or delete a custom sig from your Prescriptions Setting:
  1. Click on your email at the top of your Elation account
  2. Click “Settings”
  3. Go to the ‘Prescriptions’ section
  4. Go to the ‘Custom Rx Sigs’ section
  5. Find the custom Rx sig you want to edit or delete
  6. Click the “Edit” or “Delete” button to proceed
 

Using Rx (Prescription) Templates

You can store commonly prescribed medications along with their sig, quantity, units, refill amount, days supply and NDC as an Rx Template to be used for any patient at any time. Click here to learn more about Rx Templates.


 

Using Drug Decision Support

Elation’s Drug Decision Support feature displays drug to drug interactions or drug to allergy interactions directly in the right hand side of the Prescription Form when you are drafting a prescription. Click here to learn more about the Drug Decision Support features


 

Storing preferred pharmacies for your patients

If patients have one or two preferred pharmacies they commonly use to retrieve medications, you can store their pharmacy preferences in the 'Pharmacies' section of their Patient Demographics. When prescribing medications, the patient’s preferred pharmacies will appear first when selecting a pharmacy. 


 

Refilling a single medication

If you need to refill a medication for a patient, click “Actions” -> “Refill” next to the medication in the patient’s medication history to begin a new prescription draft with the same details as the last prescription sent for that medication. You can edit the prescription as needed. Any available coverage, formulary, and cost estimate information will be readily visible on the right hand side of the prescription form. The last pharmacy the script was sent will be automatically selected.


 

Refilling multiple medications in bulk

Click the “+Bulk Refill” button at the bottom of the 'Permanent Rx Meds' or 'Permanent OTC Meds' sections of the Clinical Profile to begin refilling multiple medications in bulk. All the details from the last prescription sent for each medication will automatically be populated in the Prescription Form. You can edit the prescriptions or specify different pharmacies for different medications as needed. Any available coverage, formulary, and cost estimate information for each prescription will be readily visible on the right hand side of the prescription form. The scripts will default to the pharmacy of the first medication on the list if pharmacy information is available.
Bulk Refill Button.png

 

Prescribing discontinued and/or off-the-market medications

When a medication is discontinued by the manufacturer and/or taken off the market, its NDC code will be made obsolete and you will not be able to prescribe the medication or retrieve formulary or coverage information for that medication.

If you attempt to prescribe or refill a medication that is discontinued or off-the-market, you will be prompted to choose another active medication. If you'd like to continue prescribing the discontinued or off-the-market medication then you must create a custom medication
  • User Tip: You may run into this situation when a medication in one of your Prescription Templates is discontinued by the manufacturer and/or taken off the market. Update or delete that template in your Prescriptions Settings to avoid running into this error. 
Medication off the markert alert.jpg

 

Setting Prescriber Locations

The Practice Locations Settings is where each provider can store their prescriber locations. You can select which location you are prescribing from at the top of the Prescription Summary window before electronically sending your prescriptions to pharmacies.
  • Important Note: For ePrescribing purposes, each Practice Location must have a 10-digit phone number and fax number. Elation will prompt you to update your Practice Location if any of these details are missing.
Set Prescriber Location.png

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

If I queue 3 medications and then click "Save as Draft & Close", will the medications remain in one queue when I open the draft?

If you queue 3 medications and then click "Save as Draft & Close", opening any medication draft will open all 3 medications in a single queue again.

 

Can I default certain medications for certain pharmacies?

You cannot default certain medications to certain pharmacies. Elation will only default to the last pharmacy used for the last prescription that was sent electronically from the patient's chart.

Optionally, if you want to the most recently used pharmacy (for each patient) to populate in the Pharmacy field automatically, have an Admin Level User in the practice use the "I need help" -> "Contact Elation Support" button to send a request to our Support Team and a member of the Support Team will turn this feature on for you.

 

Can I enter a relative date (e.g. ‘2 months’) in the Date field of the Prescription Form?

The Prescription Form does not support relative dates in the Date field. You must enter an exact date or select a date from the calendar.


 

I am a Workspaces user. What do I need to know about the Prescription Form?

As a Workspaces user, you will only see the Practice Locations specific to your Workspace when sending prescriptions to the pharmacy. The first Practice Location listed in the Workspace will always be the default location. Workspace users will not be able to select a default prescribing location for ePrescribing.

 

Will I be able to ePrescribe from the Elation Go mobile application?

Yes, you will be able to ePrescribe non-controlled substance medications from the Elation Go mobile application. Please note that the following features are currently not available in the Elation Go mobile application:
  • Packing (NDC) field
  • Days Supply field
  • Prescription insurance benefits details
 

How do I Prescribe controlled substances?

To prescribe controlled substance medications, simply select a controlled substance medication in the Prescription Form and then follow the necessary steps to complete the prescription.  

How do I prescribe custom or compound medications?

You can follow the instructions about adding a medication to the medication database to add custom or compound medications to the Prescription Form to prescribe them. 
  • Important Note: Custom or compound controlled substance medications cannot be prescribed electronically via Elation. You will need to prescribe these medications via other means such as printing the prescription or calling them into the pharmacy.




Will I be able to associate an NDC code with custom or compound medications?

You will not be able to associate an NDC code with custom or compound medications. Custom or compound controlled substance medications cannot be prescribed electronically via Elation. You will need to prescribe these medications via other means such as printing the prescription or calling them into the pharmacy.
  
 

How do I check my Drug-Decision-Support settings?

Provider Level Users Only: Drug Decision Support Settings are provider specific. This means only Provider Level Users can adjust their Drug Decision Support settings in their own Elation EHR account. 
  1. Go to "Settings" -> "Preferences" -> "Drug Decision Support"
  2. Adjust your Drug-to-Drug alerts as needed. You have the following options
    • Major alerts only
    • Major and Moderate alerts only
    • All alerts
  3. Turn on or off your Drug-to-Allergy alerts as needed
  4. Changes will be saved automatically on this page
Click here to learn more about the Drug-Decision-Support feature.


 

I am trying to send a prescription to the pharmacy for a patient but the patient does not have an address. What should I do?

Patient addresses are now required for both non-controlled and controlled substances. If the patient is experiencing homelessness, store the word 'HOMELESS' in the Address field and enter the City, State, and Zip for your local area. If the address of the patient is unable to be obtained, store the word 'UNKNOWN' in the Address field and enter the City, State, and Zip for your local area.


 

I am unable to find the unit I want to use to order a medication. What should I do?

In an effort to provide more accurate and precise quantity and dosing information to pharmacies to dispense medications to patients, the National Council for Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (NCPDP) has specified which quantity units are acceptable for prescribing. Below is a list of all the accepted prescription units and their recommended alternatives. When 'each' is one of the recommended alternatives for a deprecated unit but other recommended alternatives are available, the NCPDP suggests that you choose one of the other more appropriate terms (e.g. choose 'mL' for ampule instead of 'each').

Deprecated UnitRecommended Alternative
AmpulmL or each
Applicatorgrams or mL
Baggrams or mL
Bareach
Beadgrams
Blockeach
BolusmL
BottlemL
Cangrams, mL, or each
Canistergrams or mL
Cartongrams, mL, or each
CartridgemL
Casegrams, mL, or each
Cassettegrams, mL, or each
Containergrams, mL, or each
Cylindergrams, mL, or each
Deviceeach
Diskeach
Dose packgrams, mL, or each
Dual packgrams, mL, or each
Fluid ouncemL
Frencheach
GallonmL
Inhalationgrams, mL, or each
Inhalergrams, mL, or each
Inhaler refillgrams, mL, or each
Intravenous bagmL
Kilogramgrams
LitermL
Milliequivalentgrams or mL
Milligramgrams
NebulemL
Needle free injectionmL
Ocular systemeach
Ouncegrams
Packagegrams, mL, or each
Papereach
PintmL
Pouchgrams, mL, or each
Poundgrams
Pre-filled pen syringemL
Puffgrams or mL
Pumpgrams or mL
QuartmL
Sacheteach
Scoopfulgrams, mL, or each
Spraygrams or mL
SyringemL or each
TablespoonmL
Tabmindereach
Tamponeach
TeaspoonmL
Traygrams, mL, or each
Tubegrams, mL, or each
VialmL or each
 
Important Note: The unit 'unspecified' should only be used when the correct unit is not available. Inappropriate use of unspecified may trigger an auditing flag by our prescribing partner.
  




Can staff sign off on prescriptions on a provider's behalf?

Yes, Provider Level Users can allow Staff Level Users to execute prescription orders on their behalf by assigning individuals as Authorized Rx Delegates. Authorized Rx Delegates can perform the duties listed below. Learn more about how to assign Authorized Rx Delegates in the User Accounts Guide- Utilizing authorized staff delegates article. 
  • Transcribe prescription orders in the EMR and send a new prescription electronically to the pharmacy on provider's behalf.
  • Transcribe verbal approval or denial of a prescription refill or change request received from a pharmacy and send that approval or denial electronically to the pharmacy on provider's behalf.
  • Transcribe provider's order to discontinue a medication in the EMR for documentation purposes
  • Transcribe provider's order to cancel a medication sent to a pharmacy
Important Note: Authorized Rx Delegates will not be allowed to ePrescribe controlled substance medications or address controlled substance medication refill requests on a provider's behalf due to DEA regulations.
 



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