5. Prescriptions and Dispensing Flashcards
What is a VCPR?
a vet cannot prescribe drugs requiring a prescription unless a valid VCPR exists
However, a prescription may be filled/dispensed without a VCPR to clients of another clinic in which case your clinic is acting as a veterinary pharmacy
Clients also have the option of taking their prescription elsewhere, ex. human pharmacy or another vet clinic to be filled
Where are some gray areas in dispensing and prescribing?
in herd anims/litters, not always req to exam EACH anim to prescribe. Visiting premises sufficiently to have enough knowledge to be able to make a confident dx
refills may be prescribe for a current condition without the need to see patient again
up to vet to use best judgement
Can vet techs perform prescription refills?
Pr’s can only be filled if the vet has authorized refills
Cannot be refilled more times than# of refiles the vet has authorizes
Refill must be exactly as the original Pr. Any changes need new Pr
Refill & Rxs only good for 1yr from date the script was written.
Frequency of refills must be checked to ensure intervals are consistent with Pr
part-fills not same as refills.
What are part-fills?
where the client requests only a portion of the drug ordered to be dispensed at any one time
What is a prescription?
A legal order for a specific patient, with a specific condition, for a specififc drug w/ specific instructions as to dosage and use
prescribed by vet, can be provided in written or verbal form. If verbal, must be in medical record
must be documented by prescribing vet and vet responsible for filling it
What is a dispensing label?
label and info placed on package of med to go home with patient
RVT’s can perform task of dispensing as per the Rx order which includes creating a dispensing label
What information is required on a prescription?
Client name, patient name/species, drug (brand or generic but brand cannot be substituted w/o DVM permission)
May or may not specific strength/conc (100mg capsule or 25mg/ml), dosage form (suspension, tablet), quantity (if not conveying thru directions. ex. 40 tabs)
Directions (“sig.”), route, dose, frequency, duration
Refills if requestion, clinicians signature, date
What happens when a DVM gives an RVT a verbal order?
RVT then writes Rx in patient’s medical record and then dispenses the drug
Verbal orders may be called to human pharmacy to be filled or another vet hospital - dvm needs to make this call
What must we keep in mind when given a verbal order from the DVM?
Must be recorded into permanant record. The same info must be present on written Pr.
If from outside vet, recommended to re-write it on a clinic Pr pad, under “signature” enter vets name, time of call (all clinic contact info) and indicatio “by phone”, scan into file
What happens when you get a verbal order for a controlled drugs?
recommended that prescription transfers recieved directly from prescribing clinic (fax or signed e-script or vet phone call), ALWAYS verify validity w/ prescribing clinic
If receiving a verbal Pr from another clinic, verbal drug order must come directly from the prescribing vet
Can an RVT take verbal orders from your own vet? What about outside vet for a client?
Yes
Can an RVT take verbal orders from an outside RVT for a client?
no
Can an RVT take verbal orders from outside vet for emergncy clinic use?
Yes
ex. neighboring clinic needs to purchase some emerg med for clinic use like tramadol, than verbal Rx can be taken by RVT
Can and RVT, on behalf of their vet, phone in Pr’s? What about ordering stock for the clinic?
Cannot phone in Pr’s on behalf of their vet. Can order stock for clinic
we can FAX in the Pr for the client to the pharmacy of client’s choice if vet does not have time to phone the order in
Can our clinic act as a pharmacy and fill Rxs for clients from another clinic? How and why?
Our clinic does NOT have VCPR with this client/patient
Must still assess validity of Rx written or verbal - does Rx make sense: drug for the condition, dose for the size of patient, call to confirm the other clinic
Make sure prescribing DVM’s name is on dispensing label
maintain records: place physical Rx in a file with any additional pertinent info, ex. how was validity verified, record of your dispensing ex. label
