Questions regarding techs taking verbals

[jasonkido]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I just graduated in aug 2010 and am currently working in a long-term care facility. I was wondering what is the law concerning techs taking verbal orders on c3-c5s? Retail answers should be relevant here as well. Usually I let the techs take the verbals and write it down on paper and I sign off on it. Answers would be appreciated.

 

[All4MyDaughter]

This is almost certainly an issue of state law. Techs may not take verbal orders for NEW orders in my state. Certified techs (I think they must be certified) can take refill authorizations.

 

[npage148]

No verbal tech orders is NY period and with the techs I work with this is a good thing

 

[deleted205891]

No verbal tech orders of any kind in PA.

 

[Sparda29]

No verbal tech orders is NY period and with the techs I work with this is a good thing

I agree. Part of taking verbals is reviewing the patient's medication profile to check for any potential interactions, is it gonna be covered by their insurance, etc.

Usually I'll suggest some alternatives to the prescriber and get the okay to fill those instead, if the insurance doesn't cover the original thing they want.

 

[whatbout2morrow]

Texas

Techs allowed to take refill authorizations but not new prescriptions. But strange how vocational nurses are allowed to call in any type of new prescription (except C-IIs of course). I have often observed pharmacists spending large amounts of time on the phone holding for doctors because of potential mistakes (nurse confusing the names of drugs with other drugs, etc).

Double standard in my opinion. Doctors should be required to speak to pharmacists when calling in new prescriptions. Else, they should just fax or e-scribe.

To the OP, no offense to your techs, but what if your techs someday make a mistake. Do you really want your signature there even though you really don't know what was said during the original phone call?

 

[Sparda29]

Texas

Techs allowed to take refill authorizations but not new prescriptions. But strange how vocational nurses are allowed to call in any type of new prescription (except C-IIs of course). I have often observed pharmacists spending large amounts of time on the phone holding for doctors because of potential mistakes (nurse confusing the names of drugs with other drugs, etc).

Double standard in my opinion. Doctors should be required to speak to pharmacists when calling in new prescriptions. Else, they should just fax or e-scribe.

To the OP, no offense to your techs, but what if your techs someday make a mistake. Do you really want your signature there even though you really don't know what was said during the original phone call?

One thing I hate about retail is having to call the doctor's office. Now, I love the doctor's offices where I call up, and the person who picks up the phone is the actual doctor or his PA or someone who instantly relays my message and I have a response within 1 minute. When I'm doing doctor calls while checking the QR, if I'm unable to speak to a human or put on hold for more than 90 seconds, I hang up.

What I hate is having to navigate through ridiculous menus, then speak to some random clerk who relays to a secretary who gets the message to the doctor 3 days later.

Future Doctors - Please for the love of all things holy, DO NOT put buffers in between yourself and other healthcare professionals. Get a cell phone specifically for medication related issues (prior auths, refills, etc) and just turn it off when you're not at the office.