📌 Note: This is currently a beta feature, available to a few CHR beta users to test and provide feedback. It will be available to more users once the beta period is complete.

A deferred prescription is a non-authoritative copy of the prescription which is sent to PrescribeIT® when you print or fax instead of e-prescribing. You might print or fax the prescription because a patient does not identify a pharmacy to send their prescription to (for example, if the patient is out of town and does not know where they will fill the prescription) or the pharmacy is not a PrescribeIT® pharmacy.

The authoritative copy is the printed or faxed prescription, and it includes a barcode and a unique identifier (the PrescribeIT® Rx ID). When you print or fax the prescription, the details of the prescription are sent for PrescribeIT®-enabled pharmacies to access. This deferred prescription cannot be filled by any pharmacy without the corresponding authoritative paper prescription. The pharmacy uses the barcode or the unique identifier to retrieve the deferred prescription and pull it into their pharmacy management system. This reduces the amount of data entry and possible transcription errors for the pharmacy.

Before you can print or fax the prescription, you must indicate whether the patient consents to sending a deferred copy of their prescription to PrescribeIT®. If a patient opts out, a deferred prescription is not sent and the barcode is not included on the prescription.

1. Create a prescription as you normally do (refer to Creating prescriptions for more information).

In the prescription window, the Prescriptions section of an encounter, and the contact window when faxing, a coloured barcode icon indicates if the patient has consented to sending a deferred prescription.

Grey with a question mark indicates you have not yet recorded patient consent or refusal:

Green with a checkmark indicates the patient provides consent:

Red with an x indicates the patient does not provide consent:

3. Click the barcode to set or change the patient consent.

4. In the RX/Meds tab in the Update Patient window, select if the patient gives consent or refuses consent and click Save.

💡 Tip: This selection is saved for future prescriptions for this patient.

4. Proceed to fax or print the prescription. (Refer to Printing prescriptions and Faxing prescriptions for more information).

📌Notes:

5. If you are not connected to PrescribeIT®, and the patient consents to sending deferred prescriptions, you are prompted to connect so the deferred prescription can be sent. If you do not connect to PrescribeIT®, the deferred prescription is not sent.