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GUEST POST: THREE B.C. HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS TO START USING DIGITAL SIGNATURE ON E-FAXED PRESCRIPTIONS
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Shared for informational purposes on behalf of the Clinical & Systems Transformation (CST) project, Vancouver Coastal Health, Provincial Health Services Authority and Providence Health Care. |
Since 2018, more than 40,000 staff and providers across Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) and Providence Health Care (PHC) facilities have moved from old systems and paper charts to CST Cerner. Following a pilot at BC Cancer’s Prince George centre, any facility using this shared electronic health records system can start using new functionality for eFaxing of prescriptions, for medications to be taken by the patient at home. This change is being ‘soft launched’ from early December 2023, to allow gradual uptake and it impacts B.C. pharmacies that start to receive these prescriptions.
FIVE IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW
- As of early December, 2023, community pharmacists who receive eFaxed prescriptions from VCH, PHSA or PHC sites or clinics will see unique digital signatures in place of ‘wet’, hand-written signatures.
- This change only applies to prescriptions sent using the new CST Cerner system. It does not apply to prescriptions written by other prescribers, or those submitted in person.
- This is what the new unique digital signature looks like. Please familiarize yourself and update your colleagues.
Graphics below: A unique digital signature as it would appear in an eFaxed prescription displayed next to a prescriber’s signature as it would appear on a printed prescription for comparison. Each unique digital signature is automatically generated via CST Cerner.
| e-faxed prescription | printed prescription |
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- This change excludes prescriptions within the Controlled Prescription Program (CPP), which remain limited to printed prescriptions only.
- The launch of this functionality is part of a broader rollout to more sites across VCH, PHSA and PHC, following a pilot project at BC Cancer – Prince George that started in June 2023.
WHY THIS NEW FUNCTIONALITY IS BEING ROLLED OUT
CST Cerner, and related practice changes, are designed to improve the safety, quality and consistency of patient care. This new functionality helps providers, clinicians, and clerical staff save time by automating the prescription faxing process, removing the need to manually send faxes or spend time obtaining ‘wet’ (hand-written) signatures. Patients do not need to wait for printed prescriptions and are not required to drop off a printed prescription.
HOW TO FIND OUT MORE
Questions or comments regarding the eFaxed prescription rollout across VCH, PHSA and PHC facilities? Email [email protected]. To find out more about the CST project overall, visit CSTproject.ca.
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CPBC registrants are reminded of their legislative requirement under section 6(1) of the Health Professions Act, Bylaws, Schedule F, Part 1 – Community Pharmacy Standards of Practice to take reasonable steps to ensure that every prescription is authentic (link to additional information on electronic signatures can be found here). Registrants are expected to use their professional judgement when evaluating the legitimacy of any prescription authorization. All faxed prescriptions must also continue to meet the requirements outlined in section 7 of the Bylaws. |