Adding a home-delivery pharmacy for practices on AdvancedMD

Adding our partner pharmacy in AdvancedMD

Because AdvancedMD handles so much of the practice — scheduling, billing, charting — staff sometimes worry that adding anything will ripple through everything else. Adding a pharmacy doesn't. It lives entirely inside e-prescribing.

As in other systems, e-prescriptions go to a pharmacy chosen from an electronic pharmacy directory. Home-delivery pharmacies are listed there, and adding one generally means searching for it and saving it so it's easy to select.

Our training team helps practices add our partner pharmacy in AdvancedMD's e-prescribing and walks the practice through it.

Practices that keep a short list of preferred pharmacies usually find it easiest to add the partner pharmacy there, so it's one click away rather than a fresh search each time. The training team can show you how that generally works for your account, and what to do if a patient's record already has a different pharmacy saved.

What our training team does

A full training department helps install it so it doesn't impact your workflow. They learn how your practice uses the platform, who prescribes, and who manages clinical settings, then walk those people through saving and selecting the partner pharmacy.

The training stays on the clinical side. Your front-office and billing staff don't need to learn anything new, though it can help if they know the option exists, since patients sometimes ask about prescriptions at checkout.

The team is available after launch for questions, and can help bring new providers up to speed.

• Focus on e-prescribing only
• Train prescribers and clinical staff
• Brief front-office staff if helpful
• Ongoing support for new providers

What stays the same in your workflow

Scheduling, billing and charting are untouched. Prescribing stays the same, with one more pharmacy to choose from.

The prescriber decides what to prescribe and where to send it, and the prescribing doctor decides refills. Patients who want their usual pharmacy keep it.

• No change to practice-management functions
• Same prescribing steps
• Delivery offered when it helps
• Medication is dispensed by our licensed partner pharmacy

Before your setup call

Invite a prescriber and the person who manages clinical settings. List your providers and locations.

Enrollment is one form; then we send the agreements. Have practice details, each prescriber's licence and DEA numbers with copies, and a W-9 ready.

If any providers use a separate e-prescribing tool, note it. We connect to most major EMR and e-prescribing systems.

It's also worth agreeing in advance how staff will describe the option. A short, consistent line — your prescription can be delivered to your door; a $5 dispensing fee applies, and a delivery fee applies — keeps patients from hearing different things from different people.

If you treat many injured workers from particular local employers, mention that. It helps the training team suggest where delivery fits in your visit.

Patients and refills

Once a prescription is sent to our partner pharmacy, medication is delivered to the patient's door. A $5 dispensing fee applies, and a delivery fee applies. Whether a workers' comp claim or auto policy covers the medication is for the patient's adjuster or insurer to confirm.

The prescribing doctor decides refills, using your existing refill process. Some medications, such as Schedule II controlled substances, may not be available by mail — your partner pharmacy will advise.

Delivery is most useful for patients who can't easily travel: a worker with a back strain who can't sit in a car, or an accident patient without a vehicle. Mentioning it at the visit lets them choose.