Drugs and Prescription Records: History, Laws, and Procedures

1. Chapter 10 Drugs and Prescription Records

2. Objectives • Review the learning and performance objectives for this chapter • By the end of this chapter, demonstrate the procedures in the textbook and the job skills in the workbook

3. Heart of theHealth Care Professional • Service • Efficient handling of prescription refills will serve the patient in ways you may never fully realize.

4. History of Drug Laws • The Harrison Narcotic Act – 1914 • Register doctors, pharmacists, vendors • Paperwork for all drug transactions • The Volstead Act – 1919 • National Prohibition Act • Prohibited Beverages > 0.5% Alcohol

5. History of Drug Laws • The Marijuana Tax Act – 1937 • Transfer tax for marijuana sales • The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act - 1938 • Control of cosmetics and medical devices • First labeling of drugs • Premarket approval from the FDA • FDA: Food and Drug Administration

6. History of Drug Laws • The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) • 1960s War on Drugs • U.S. Department of Justice • Regulates Dangerous Drugs • Regulates Potentially Abused Drugs

7. History of Drug Laws • Watch the video scenario about the DEA and controlled substances • DEA & Controlled Substances

8. History of Drug Laws • The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) – 1990 • Medicaid Pharmacy Programs/Providers • Prospective Drug Utilization Review • Patient Counseling Standards • Maintenance of Patient Records • Drug Use Review Board

9. History of Drug Laws • Controlled Substances Act – 1970 • Limit/control access to intoxicating drugs • Schedule of controlled substances • Five levels based on potential for abuse • Schedule I: Highest potential • Schedule V: Lowest potential • Table 10-1

10. History of Drug Laws • Controlled Substances Act – 1970 • Physician Narcotic License • Physicians required to register with DEA • Administer, prescribe, or dispense • The Compassionate Use Act • Possible clinical uses of cannabis

11. Drug Names • Chemical name • Indicates chemical content • Brand name • Trademark indicating ownership • Generic name • Established, nonproprietary, official name • See Example 10-1

12. Drug References • Physicians’ Desk Reference (PDR) • Pharmaceutical products • Prescription information • Use a PDR to spell and locate information • Procedure 10-1

13. Drug References • Other drug reference books • Over-the-counter drugs (OTC) • PDR for nonprescription drugs • Labeling (Figure 10-4) • Word books • Helpful in spelling • Detailed drug information not included

14. Understanding Prescriptions • Routes of administration • Table 10-2 • Components of a prescription • Prescription • An order to prepare medications

15. Understanding Prescriptions • Components of a prescription • Physician/office information • Name and address • DEA narcotic number • Patient information • Name and address • Date

16. Understanding Prescriptions • Components of a prescription • Superscription • Recipe/Rx • Inscription • Name of medication • Quantity • Dosage and strength

17. Understanding Prescriptions • Components of a prescription • Subscription • Directions to the pharmacist • Signature • Instructions to the patient

18. Understanding Prescriptions • Components of a prescription • Signature of physician • Number of refills • State prescription regulations • Other regulations in certain states

19. Understanding Prescriptions

20. Understanding Prescriptions • Authorizing prescriptions • Legal document • Electronic prescription programs • E-prescribing • Transmit electronically to pharmacy • Preprinted and duplicate prescriptions • Copy for the medical record

21. Understanding Prescriptions • Prescription abbreviations • Table 10-3 • Common errors/dangerous abbreviations • Table 10-4 • Formatting errors • Read and interpret a written prescription • Procedure 10-2

22. Prescription Drugs and the Role of the Medical Assistant • Pharmaceutical representatives • Schedule meetings • Drug classifications • Organize • Track expiration dates

23. Prescription Drugs and the Role of the Medical Assistant • Medication instructions • Instruct patients • Learn drug categories • Table 10-5 • Medication schedule card (Figure 10-7) • Drug dispensing containers • Medication log (Figure 10-8)

24. Prescription Drugs and the Role of the Medical Assistant • Medication refills • Obtain information from the patient • Charting prescriptions • Record medication • Patient’s chart • Medication log • Procedure 10-3

25. Prescription Drugs and the Role of the Medical Assistant • Drug abuse prevention measures • Good documentation • Protecting prescription pads • Drug side effects and adverse reactions • Allergies • Alert tags • Figure 10-9

26. Control and Storage of Drugs • Control and storage • Keep an inventory • Contact pharmaceutical representative • Lock up controlled substances • Check expiration dates

27. Control and Storage of Drugs • Disposal of drugs • Uncontrolled substances • Discard as hazardous or medical waste • Controlled substances • Return processors • Follow federal, state, and local regulations

28. Stop and Think • Determine correct medication • Review the scenario • What would you do to determine the correct medication? • What are some preventive measures to help avoid cases of mistaken drug identity?

29. Stop and Think • Determine food and drug allergies • Review the scenario • What might the patient also be allergic to? • What should you say to Dr. Practon in this situation? • Are there additional questions you might ask the patient?