E-Prescription Pitfalls
May 17, 2019
The job of a physician or nurse is filled with many responsibilities; even while attending to a patient and their needs, they must also be very diligent in their actions to provide the best care possible. Electronic prescriptions are a subject of concern, particularly between the roles of health care workers and their responsibilities. Fortunately, there are certain ways to help clarify their position and protect themselves should a liability case be brought against them.
An e-prescription gives a physician the ability to send a prescription to a pharmacy instantly and helps the quality of patient care. However, if a nurse sends or refills an e-prescription by a physician’s verbal order, who becomes liable for the miscommunication? There are several scenarios that a nurse or a physician must be prepared for if the situation arises.
How to Reduce E-Prescription Liabilities
Many legal situations can occur if a prescription is filled in error. The patient, the patient’s family, health care provider, or coworkers may bring a legal case to a nurse or physician if there are no safeguards to protect them. Other times, the nurse or physician may also have to answer to a state board and face legal ramifications and disciplinary actions.
A verbal order from a physician can pose the biggest problem to a nurse while filling a prescription. A miscommunication of the verbal order can lead to several problems for the nurse, physician, or practice, let alone the patient. In a hospital setting, verbal orders for medication are understood through that specific institute’s policy; other instances are often governed similarly but with additional documentation and authorization.
It is often different in an office setting. Therefore, practices should be implemented, such as a system of documentation to help protect those involved in the prescription filling process, more specifically with e-prescriptions. Policies should be in effect that could help direct a nurse in both verbal and standing orders, whereas a physician can pre-authorize a patient’s medical record. Nurses can also document a verbal order, including the date and time, to reduce one’s liability.
Another good practice for a nurse is to follow their state’s nurse practice act, which includes different regulations and rules they can follow. This way, the nurse or physician can protect oneself from legal ramifications if their workplace does not provide those regulations or policies.
Philadelphia Physician Lawyers at Sidney L. Gold & Associates, P.C. Help Health Care Professionals Understand E-Prescriptions
Physicians and nurses face different challenges daily, and proper regulations and guidelines must be available to them so that they can perform their jobs. There are many questions and problems that e-prescriptions can present if not handled correctly, and the Philadelphia physician lawyers at Sidney L. Gold & Associates, P.C. can help answer those questions. Call us today at 215-569-1999 or contact us online for a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia, we serve our clients in Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, and Montgomery County.
