Question: How should prescribers handle tracked (triplicate or duplicate) prescriptions required for outpatient use of controlled substances?
Context: The Alberta Tracked Prescription Program (TPP, tppalberta.ca) monitors use of prescription drugs prone to abuse. It does this by ensuring that such prescriptions are handwritten to prescription pads with security features and copies. Unfortunately, the program has yet to take advantage of the additional security and surveillance made possible by digital health records. It is hoped that the emergence of e-prescribing (PrescribeIT) will avoid paper workflows in the future.
Prescribers must follow TPP requirements for managing tracked prescription copies and records:
Answer: Connect Care made application to the Alberta TPP program for workflow adaptations appropriate to Connect Care, as a fully integrated clinical information system, like Connect Care. A TPP decision was made (July 2019) to the effect that Connect Care prescribers do not need to scan a copy of the TPP paper form for attaching to the digital chart. The acceptable workflow is as follows:
- Order all prescriptions in Connect Care, including TPP specified Type 1 controlled substances.
- Write out a manual (handwritten) TPP prescription (3-part or newer 2-part TPP pad) for specified Type 1 controlled substances.
- Record the TPP prescription identification number (unique to each prescription) in Connect Care (ideally in the comments field of the actual order).
- Provide the paper TPP to the patient, or fax to the pharmacy (see guide).
- Destroy any leftover paper copies or artefacts.