Joint Statement on Long-Term Care – Authorized Prescriptions

There have been several questions and requests for clarification in follow up to the Long-Term Care – Authorized Prescriptions joint statement that was sent out by CPSS, CRNS, CLPNS and SCPP. Legislation requirements were included in the original joint statement. This second joint statement has been issued to provide further clarity regarding the use of verbal/telephone orders to dispense a prescription in a Long-Term Care (LTC) setting.

Pharmacists

  • Must receive orders to dispense a prescription directly from a physician, NP, RN (AAP), dentist and other authorized prescribers.
  • May accept a verbal/phone or faxed original prescription written and signed by an authorized prescriber.
  • May receive a faxed transcribed order from a nurse as a means of communication so the pharmacist can expect an order from the authorized prescriber and alerts the pharmacist to follow up with the prescriber if the prescription is not received.

Physicians

  • May provide nurses with a telephone/verbal order to facilitate timely patient care.
  • Must provide pharmacists with an order directly to authorize the pharmacist to dispense a prescription.

Nurses

  • May take telephone/verbal orders from an authorized prescriber and may fax the transcribed order to the pharmacist for communication purposes.
  • Cannot act as a third party in the direct communication required between the authorized prescriber and the pharmacist when there is an order to dispense a prescription.

CRNS Nursing Advisors are available to answer your questions. They can be contacted by phone at 1.800.667.9945 or 306.359.4227 or by email at practiceadvice@crns.ca.

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