Prescription Phone Orders: A Common Cause of Dosage Errors

It may be faster for your doctor to "call in" a prescription to your pharmacy than sending an order by email. Unfortunately, transcribing these orders is a common source of prescription dosage errors in Houston. Since the order is not typed, the name, dose per pill and timing of medication may all be misheard-and then typed incorrectly on the patient label.

The American Society of Hospital Pharmacists recommends these guidelines for verbal prescription orders:

• Use rarely. Verbal drug orders should only be used in situations where it is impossible for the physician to enter a written or typed order. 
• Spell names & numbers. It is important that the drug's name be spelled out to the person on the other end of the line. When ordering dosages, numbers should be spelled as well, taking extra care with easily-confused numbers such as "fifteen" and "fifty." 
• Read everything back. The pharmacist should read the order back to the physician slowly and clearly. When directions are repeated, never use abbreviations (such as "b.i.d."). Always read the full use description, such as "two times daily."
• Write a back-up. A written copy of the spoken order should be typed and added to the patient's medical record for confirmation by the pharmacist.

 

Don't let a pharmacy take chances with your family's health! If someone you love has suffered a prescription drug mistake, contact the board-certified Texas pharmacy error lawyers at Kennedy Hodges today at 888-526-7616.