Lol...It sure will not save you any money...the ONLY good thing I can
see is that I CAN READ THE DAMN THINGS...no running over to the tech
and asking if they "think" this letter is a G or a Q then going over
to another Pharmacist to get a 3rd opinion then while muttering under
my breath picking up the phone and dialing the Doctors off then
listening carefully to punch in the correct on their NEW Phone
Menu....

Honestly I retired in 1998 ...but still work one evening a week behind
the counter since I happen to like 6 day weekends better then 7 day
ones Plus that one evening makes me realize why the heck I retired...

But gosh we now receive Rx's in so many different formats I honestly
have to look at each 8x10 Printout and determine IF it is in fact an
Rx or is it a faxed request to refill an exsisting Rx or is it some
other 8x10 inch sheet of paper thet can be tossed in the trash with
all the other tear offs from the 8x20 inch Rx label, receipt,
warnings, etc that spits out of the printer with every Rx that I have
to rip apart initial some sections, trash others, stuff the bag with
another, slap another section on the back of the original Rx, ...you
get the idea...

20 years ago I knew that an Rx looked like...today I have no idea...
and when Rx start showing up on my computer screen ...

Oh well... Pharmacy has changed...at least I do still get to chat with
my customers and ask them how little Sally is etc...of course I can
not mention names ...BUT SCREW THAT Mrs Smith is always going to be
MRS SMITH to me and some dumb a.s number ...

Bob Griffiths
.

Please define "electronic prescriptions."

I work in The Netherlands.

Menno

I'd say at least for five or six years (I am working 4,5 yrs as a pharmacist
now), probably longer.
Well, this is how it works in my pharmacy (and in most pharmacies):
The prescriptions arrive on our server via a VPN over ADSL.
(It used to be a direct, leased line, but that's been superseded by newer
technology). The script is both physically printed on paper and digitally
stored in a buffer. The technician takes the print and uses the number on
the prescription to call the prescription from the buffer. She checks it
and can finalise it by one push of the button: there is no need to retype
it from the printout. Doctors who use the same software as we do even get
feedback. For instance, when Furabid (100 mg bid) is on backorder once
again, the doctor can see in their patientrecord that we subsituted it for
nitrofurantoin 50 mg qid. (that is not a substitution we have to call them
for)
The doctor has to make a print as well, that one has to be signed manually
and these are periodically collected and brought to the pharmacy, where we
have to store them for six years. These are requirements by law.
Sometimes this goes wrong however, when the doctor gives the manually signed
script to the patient and they try to get a fill on that one as well. We
have to be alert at that and explain carefully to the patient that they
already had their medicine on that script.
Well, I think I have covered most there is to it, but if you have anymore
questions, feel free to ask.

Menno