What’s the deal with writing
prescriptions?
It is my job to dispel some of the myths out there about
how a resident can write prescriptions.
Myth #1 – You need a license to write a prescription.
This is absolutely false as long as you are using the hospital
prescription pad. All you need to do is sign your name and
stamp the stamper given to you at orientation.
New York State has a new program requiring licensed physicians
to have personalized prescription pads. The details for how
this affects training programs with interns and residents
not yet licensed are still being worked out. Until instructed
otherwise, you may continue to use the hospital prescription
pads to write scripts.
Myth #2 – You can’t write for controlled substances
like narcotics without a personal DEA number.
Once again this is false. What you do is use the hospital/institutional
DEA number followed by your personal suffix, which you will
receive at orientation.
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Institutional DEA #’s:
NYU# AN1866625
Bellevue# AB8439235
HJD# AH8647957
Myth #3 – You need to put the hospital DEA# with your
suffix on all prescriptions.
You only really need the DEA# for controlled substances,
but it never hurts to put it on all prescriptions to show
the pharmacist filling the prescription something.
Myth #4- It is impossible to obtain a non-formulary drug
for a patient at Bellevue.
It’s not impossible, it just takes work. The physician
responsible for the patients care should obtain (from pharmacy-14S)
and fill out a Non-Formulary Request Form. The requesting
physician must then contact Dr. Sakalis (or in his absence,
a designated physician member of the Committee) and present
the form for his signature. Alternatively, the form can be
left in his mailbox (which is checked once a day) in the
medical directors office, room MN-21. After hours, Dr. Sakalis
can be contacted by pager, 917-884-2637. Please note that
Dr. Sakalis should be contacted through his pager for all
urgent, life sustaining non-formulary medications that need
to be given to the patient without delay. |
