CVS Computer System Pearls of Wisdom...

[Wan2BPharmD]

So all computer systems have their ups and downs, but one thing I love in the CVS computer system is being able to type in a couple of characters in the drug line and have exactly the drug I want come up on my computer. So, for all you CVS Techs/Pharmacists, I figure we'd start this thread to get a list of good shortcuts you can type in. I found some that even my genius lead tech didn't know, and he shared quite a few with me, so let's feed off of one another. Here are the few I know. Feel free to share.

A500 - Amoxil 500
A875 - Amoxil 875
AU875 - Augmentin 875
AU500 - Augmentin 500
MDP - Medrol Dose Pack
ZPAK - Heroine (go figure)
H25 - Hydrochlorothiazide 25 (one of my favorites, b/c you gotta type "hydrochlorothia" otherwise to narrow the list down enough...see, I had to backspace like 5 times just now to get it right lol)
H50 - Hydrochlorothiazide 50
T3 - Tylenol #3
P500 - Penicillin VK 500


Also, if you type ZP in the sig field, it'll insert the full directions for a Z-Pak as opposed to "Take As Directed."

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[gabapentin]

MT50 Lopressor 50
CY10 Cyclobenzaprine 10
H-A Vicodin (a popular one)
H7.5 Vicodin ES
PRD Prednisone 20
PR5,10 Prednisone 5 or 10
NX40 Nexium 40
DX100 Doxycycline 100
OC28 Ortho Cyclen
LP10,20,40 Lipitor
LI?? Lisinopril
P-N Darvocet-N
APC?? Brings up the generic for all Augmentins (tabs and suspensions)
SDS Bactrim DS (CVS finally switched it to the new manufacturer)

I think there is a list on RXNet, but it's so long that it won't print out..I've tried multiple times. That just shows how big of a dork I am.

Do you think they will keep these for the new RxConnect system?

 

[nnguyenc]

some of it is store specific

i float a lot and when i try them at different stores
i will get different directions or drugs

 

[ocella]

this thread is genius, lets keep this going......cvs computer system archaic and ancient, but i love it once you know what your doing......where is the list of shortcuts in rxnet?

 

[Old Timer]

this thread is genius, lets keep this going......cvs computer system archaic and ancient, but i love it once you know what your doing......where is the list of shortcuts in rxnet?

Just search for Quick Picks......

 

[meister]

Today was my last day at CVS after 5 years coincidentally.

ALH is albuterol inhaler. Also, you can create your own speed codes if you know how, you just have to get to the screen with the four lines of text that is supposed to represent the label. Then you type what you want up top, and then you put the code you want in the field on the bottom of the screen. I created dozens of codes this way (eg ADV for "Inhale 1 puff twice daily" or FOS for "take 1 tablet by mouth every week" or UDPHY for "as directed by physician.")

I have so many little secrets but I think I'll take them to the grave with me. Let's just say there's a backway not only into other stores' email, but also into the employee database. You can search the company directory and get anyone's hire date, employee ID number, training information as well as home store. Their computer system is a giant liability.

 

[DrugDealer]

DX100 Doxycycline 100

I use DXT for doxy 100 mg tabs....at least at my store....

 

[rxdotty]

for predental prophylaxis with amoxicillin sig, you can type 'Predent' and the sig 'Take 4 capsules 1 hour prior to appointment' comes up

There's more, but unfortunately, I forget since it's been awhile since I've been employed full-time with CVS.

 

[OUTexan]

I have found that if you use some of the quick pick lists to select drugs, that a lot of times a different generic than what you have will come up. I think LN10 is lisinopril 10 mg and I always got the Watson brand and all we carry is Ivax.

It is true that the system is archaic, but it is so nice and fast once you get the hang of it.

 

[Farmercyst]

No one at my store seems to know the spanish speed codes. I have to type them all out. The PSA's don't seem to care if the patient can't understand the directions in English. 😕

 

[Wan2BPharmD]

Does anyone have the RXConnect system yet? I believe our region gets it in two days...

If so, do these shortcuts work on that system?

 

[Old Timer]

No one at my store seems to know the spanish speed codes. I have to type them all out. The PSA's don't seem to care if the patient can't understand the directions in English. 😕

To get Spanish directions on the label you just need to put a space before the SIG code. For example if you want the label to be One capsule by mouth three times daily you would type:
For English: 1C;PO;TID
For Spanish: 1C; PO; TID Include the space before the 1C.

Does anyone have the RXConnect system yet? I believe our region gets it in two days...

If so, do these shortcuts work on that system?

I'm not sure 100%, but I would think they would. They tried to make the conventions backward compatible so the transition would be as painless as possible.

 

[gabapentin]

Anyone know when CVS is going to fully rollout RxConnect? Do we have to relearn the system or is it just add ons to Rx2000?

 

[Wan2BPharmD]

I'm not sure about the full details, but our region is going to be pilot-ing the system starting Monday, or sometime around then. Unfortunately, our store is pretty busy so we're probably gonna get it last in our region, and by that time I'll be back in school so I'll miss the startup date (or else I'd fill you in on how painless it really is, or isn't). From what I know, during the first few days when we get it, they're gonna have techs there who are already trained on the system to help guide everyone through any rough patches. I assume they'll do that for all stores when they do a full roll-out.

 

[Old Timer]

Anyone know when CVS is going to fully rollout RxConnect? Do we have to relearn the system or is it just add ons to Rx2000?

It's a whole new system, but the key conventions are the same. It would be much faster and NOT a whole lot of new stuff....

 

[Old Timer]

Back to the OP for a second. Are you folks aware of the ,, search.

If you want to find a patient named JOHN SMITH you would normally type:

SMITH,JOHN and all types of matches would come up some where you would think there is no relation.

Try:

SMITH,,JOHN and only patients whose last name is SMITH and first name is JOHN will come up. Also works with doctors...

 

[RX CARE]

It's really about time that rx2000 gets hauled out because it has the most annoying quirks.....the system is not very efficient........I still really do not know why in the world a prescription gets a separate 'on hold number' and will IDEALLY have to be pulled out again to get it filled. It resorts to the staff just printing the screen and scanning as a prescription image.....same thing goes for refills and transfers and I have always believed that it greatly affects the accuracy and efficiency of quality assurance...
Those of you who are a little too impressed with it have probably not worked at another chain with superior and more efficient systems....

 

[Wan2BPharmD]

haha, I haven't come across very many people who tell me that they're "impressed" with RX2000 lol =P

 

[Farmercyst]

Those of you who are a little too impressed with it have probably not worked at another chain with superior and more efficient systems....

Students who are broke are probably those who have spent all of their money.

 

[Wan2BPharmD]

Oh, how about this one. If the doctor writes PRN for the number of refills, just type in a space in the refill area. It'll give the rx unlimited refills.

 

[wazzz]

Woah, I am way behind. I just started at CVS this week and am befuddled by Rx2000. What is the deal with this upgrade?

 

[loo]

Can anybody comment on how to do transfers (out to an non-CVS pharmacy) much quicker?

Specifically,

1. How do you "store" other pharmacy's info (address, DEA, phone number, etc) w/o having to type it in all the time?

2. Since you can't flip screens and look at the same rx on the other screen, is there a way to get all the info out to the transfering pharmacy w/o having to transfer it first? I know about using the label function, but that does not give all info on the same screen...

Thanks!

 

[PharmDstudent]

Those of you who are a little too impressed with it have probably not worked at another chain with superior and more efficient systems....

I couldn't have said that better myself. 👍

 

[Old Timer]

I couldn't have said that better myself. 👍

I hate to point out the obvious, but where in this thread did anybody say RX2000 was a good system?

The OP asked about short cuts to work more efficiently....

It definitely is a poor system and that's why it's being replaced.

 

[jtwcamel]

It definitely sucks but it is a whole lot better than QS1 that we use at my store.

 

[ThePillslinger]

If the drug "has" a short code it will be located in the drug information screen accessed by utilizing the F keys. You can also add your own code by changing the drug information from an option in the maintainance menu.

 

[IWantTheGenetic]

Allegedly, if you type an "e" before the wait time you will have unlimited time to fill the prescription. And if you type "Bloody Mary" 3 times in the sig field, Tom Ryan's hand will burst out of the monitor with a coupon for $3 off your next purchase of $15.

 

[uclasushi]

The CVS where I work converted to the RX Connect system at the beginning of the year. I never knew about the shortcuts until I came across this thread. At work the other day, I tried some of the shortcuts for Amoxil and Augmentin and it worked! I'm definitely printing out the these shortcuts and bringing them to work.

BTW, RX Connect system may be better looking than RX2000, but it still has its shortcomings. 1) The system is SLOW, much slower than RX2000. 2) Lots of random glitches in the system, constantly getting "Throwable error" or "Technical Error" messages that sometimes has to be called into the CVS help desk. 3) The Longs down the street has also converted to RX Connect, so thats been slowing down the system even more.

There are some good things about the RX connect. 1) There is a batch print option, so you can print multiple labels at once. 2) if a script has more than 1 drug, you dont have to scan the RX after each time you enter in a drug. You can press "P" to use previous image. 3) when you put a RX on hold, it produces the same RX number as the other RXs (no more 910-hold numbers). So when you want to fill a RX on hold, you dont have to go and find the hardcopy. Its already in the system so you can process it through patients profile.

 

[VAFarmacia13]

I know this may be a little off topic, but i've searched other posts and haven't found any that go along with what I am looking for.
I am a pharm tech that just started pharm. school and have worked for CVS for just over 3 years and was talked into staying on by my DM when I went to work for a local hospital. He made it sound like a good idea at the time, but now he is no longer with the company and I am finding it even more difficult to find stores that need help. I continually call my base store and the new DM but they are of no help. I have also called numerous stores to see if anyone needs extra help but again no such luck. Do you know if CVS now has a way to send out e-mails company wide from home and how?
Also, are there any floaters that can give me advice on how they make sure they get their hours in?

 

[vafcarrot]

are you an intern or a pharmacist? Your district should have an intern director who takes care of scheduling. If you are a pharmacist, there should be a pharmacist scheduler. I say "should" because this is what happens in KY. I'm a part time pharmacist with CVS, and I email my availability to the pharmacist scheduler for the month, and she emails me back what shifts I work for the week.

 

[asc05]

I just found this thread. A shortcut I use all the time is ZPAK!

We're still on RX2000. I'm pretty sure Mississippi will be one of the last areas to be converted to RXConnect.

 

[ManagedCare]

No one at my store seems to know the spanish speed codes. I have to type them all out. The PSA's don't seem to care if the patient can't understand the directions in English. 😕

Hmmmm ... you sound like CVS or pharmacist are doing something wrong. While good customer service is the intent ... ALWAYS and good healthcare services is ALWAYS intented to provide the best patient outcomes, CVS does not market itself as a BiLingual pharmacy and associates are not required to speak anything but good English, though other languages are a plus. CVS' in Korean town, or Japan town, or China town, or Vietnamese town don't speaks those languages either.

We attempt the best, but at the end of the day .... we are English speaking Americans doing the best we can to service our immigrant populations.