I am new LTC Pharm.D. & what is difference between order vs RX when called in to LTC Pharm (i.e. me)? For example, if nurse receives order from MD x Assisted Living Pt. -- Percocet 5/325 mg 2 po stat X 1 dose from Pyxis & faxes form containing med ordered w/o MD signature, then is only the order? Consequently, must I call MD for verbal then reduce this to Narcotic Rx form, fax it back to him, then he fax it to us with signature? If so, is that when the transition of order to prescription actually occurs?

It isn't a script unless signed by the doctor. So yes, phone the doctor to confirm and then fax it back to him, the he confirms, signs and sends back to you. There are no shortcuts.




To him. There are no shortcuts.

If this is within the facility, meaning this is a patient in the facility and your pharmacy is within the facility, a verbal or telephone order from the MD is appropriate without a physical MD signature.

For example: V.O. Percocet 5/325 X 1 PO for one dose. S. Smith RN/J. jones MD.

That should be all that is needed within one facility. This will also be policy specific, so you need to find out what the exact policy is for your facility.

Regarding policy: in all my 35+ jobs, the ones with no written documentation of policy and procedures were the failures.

It boggles my mind that any pharmacy would not have it's process in a notebook (or online these days, to include state and federal laws, well indexed, and changes as laws change). It worries me that a new pharmacist would go online to ask strangers what to do. What if your rules are more stringent? Or less, and this single dose is needed immediately?