Transferring Prescriptions In

[Mur7ay]

Hello All,

So I recently started working as an intern and the only thing I hate doing is transferring scripts over simply because the person on the other end talks super fast. I understand the other person may be busy and probably done it a million times before, but I feel bad for saying 'could you please slow down' or having them repeat themselves. I know I'll eventually get better at it, but how did you all handle this when you started working as an intern?

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[trailerpark]

Tell them to fax it.

 

[zelman]

If you tell them that you’re a new intern and need them to go a little slower than normal up front, I expect most people would be happy to oblige. I’d rather give my 35 second transfer once over 60 seconds than twice over 70 seconds. That’s just maths.

 

[RxPreceptor]

Have them fax you the Rx...verbal orders, technically, a read-back SHOULD be done. Mostly just a matter of being familiar with drug names/sounds...would suggest brushing up on your short hand/sig codes/abbreviations too

 

[owlegrad]

Don’t spell everything out. Rather than write “desvenlafaxine” just do a couple letters then go back and fill in the rest later. Of course use sig codes for the directions.

Also if you are transferring in you should already have all the info written down expect perhaps how many refills are remaining. You shouldn’t be writing anything down, you should just be listening to make sure it’s correct.

In time you will be the one annoyed when people DON’T talk a million words a minute.

 

[BenJammin]

Can you type faster than you write? Do that

 

[angelsplight]

Transfer and phoned in prescriptions come with experience from doing it so long over time. For transfers, you usually just follow a template of required information through your stores computer system or the written transfer pad. I know some places even try to avoid transfer as much as possible by telling patients to just call the doctor to send it to their pharmacy with refills because my state as a limitation of 1 refill can be transferred at a time. Same goes with phone in prescriptions where in the beginning when you don't know the doctor/pharmacist, you ask a lot more unnecessary questions than normal but as time goes on, you find ways to speed up the process.

 

[NHRPH]

Don’t spell everything out. Rather than write “desvenlafaxine” just do a couple letters then go back and fill in the rest later. Of course use sig codes for the directions.

Also if you are transferring in you should already have all the info written down expect perhaps how many refills are remaining. You shouldn’t be writing anything down, you should just be listening to make sure it’s correct.

In time you will be the one annoyed when people DON’T talk a million words a minute.

Sounds like some great techniques to introduce errors.

 

[owlegrad]

Sounds like some great techniques to introduce errors.

I would say that most time saving techniques do that.

 

[angelsplight]

I would say that most time saving techniques do that.

The only time when knowing brand names actually help. Saves you so much time on spelling. I actually learned a lot of brand names through phone calls relating to transfer, phone ins and medication list.

 

[owlegrad]

The only time when knowing brand names actually help. Saves you so much time on spelling. I actually learned a lot of brand names through phone calls relating to transfer, phone ins and medication list.

I agree with you but even that introduces an element of risk if you accidentally mismatch a brand/generic. It’s probably a low risk for an experienced pharmacist but a much higher risk for a new intern. I would argue that leaving out a few letters that you go back and fill in is much safer than trying to remember what brand goes with what generic when you are new and hastily scribbling down a transfer.

 

[Wickett]

Tell them to fax it.

Our main competitor in town, a Walmart, says they aren't allowed to fax. They also put me on hold 1hr+, despite being low volume. It is a fun time right now.

 

[angelsplight]

I agree with you but even that introduces an element of risk if you accidentally mismatch a brand/generic. It’s probably a low risk for an experienced pharmacist but a much higher risk for a new intern. I would argue that leaving out a few letters that you go back and fill in is much safer than trying to remember what brand goes with what generic when you are new and hastily scribbling down a transfer.

Yeah that does happen too. I had someone take a phone in who wasn't familiar with the brands take a phone order but didn't know how to spell it so wrote it out to be as aciclovir solution. I was really confused as to why an optometrist wrote for that but found out she heard optivar but didn't know what it was so tried googling and spelled out optavir to get aciclovir.

 

[owlegrad]

Yeah that does happen too. I had someone take a phone in who wasn't familiar with the brands take a phone order but didn't know how to spell it so wrote it out to be as aciclovir solution. I was really confused as to why an optometrist wrote for that but found out she heard optivar but didn't know what it was so tried googling and spelled out optavir to get aciclovir.

When I was an intern I once took trazadone as tramadol, back when tramadol wasn’t a control. I don’t recall how my error was found out but thankfully it was. Honestly even with reading back verbal transfers are just a terrible system.

 

[flip33]

When I was an intern I once took trazadone as tramadol, back when tramadol wasn’t a control. I don’t recall how my error was found out but thankfully it was. Honestly even with reading back verbal transfers are just a terrible system.

Reminds me of a dentist with a new secretary that called in Ifufrofen 800 mg po TID

 

[projektreverb]

You could ask them to fax it. I remember when I was a newly minted intern and I was in this situation I would tell them “Hey, I’m sorry man I’m a new intern, still learning and I’m struggling with the speed, if we could go a touch slower that would be great”. 99% of the time it’s a positive response.

 

[rxkrafted]

Not sure what year you are in school but it does take repetition since you may not be familiar with all the drug names and common doses/SIGs yet. Just remember to let them know you are a new intern when you first introduce yourself over the phone so they understand that they may need to slow it down a bit. Just be respectful as well and know that it may be hectic on the other line as they may be constraint with time.

 

[TerryTerry]

Some pharmacists read things fast enough so no human being can keep up and write. You gotta ask them to slow down. I do. Some people hate it when I say that and treat me like I am no human being afterward, but there is nothing else I can do if it has to be done over the phone.

Some pharmacies do not fax for whatever reasons they have.

 

[CetiAlphaFive]

Sounds like some great techniques to introduce errors.

Having a horrible short term memory?
Probably, yeah

 

[Mur7ay]

Thanks everyone!