SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Electronic Medication Cancelations and Refills

Pdf Summary

The organization implemented existing Surescripts functionality to electronically send medication cancellation messages to external pharmacies and receive medication renewal requests electronically, replacing reliance on phone calls and fax. A multidisciplinary team of pharmacists, physicians, nurses, informaticists, and IT analysts reviewed workflows, configured the interface, piloted it in selected groups, and then expanded it enterprise-wide.<br /><br />The project addressed a common interoperability gap: when medications are discontinued in the local EHR, pharmacies outside the institution may not automatically receive the cancellation, and refill requests are often handled by fax. By enabling these electronic messages, the organization improved communication with external pharmacies and reduced manual work.<br /><br />In the first month after deployment, 11,187 medication cancellations were successfully transmitted electronically. Assuming each cancellation would otherwise require a three-minute phone call, this translated into an estimated 559 hours of staff time saved in one month.<br /><br />The new electronic refill request process also improved efficiency. Compared with the prior fax-based workflow, turnaround time from pharmacy request to response decreased by 47%, or about 1.5 days. As a result, pharmacies received answers faster and patients were able to obtain medications more quickly.<br /><br />The project concluded that electronic cancellation and refill messaging can improve medication safety, reduce delays, and save time for physicians, advanced practice providers, pharmacists, and nurses. The authors emphasize that this capability likely already exists in many organizations’ pharmacy interfaces and can be activated with the right advocacy and project team.

Asset Subtitle

Nainesh J. Shah

Meta Tag

Author List Bhavin Patel, Brett Moran, Jeremy Ortwine, Nainesh J. Shah, Pauline O'Bryan

Category Innovations

Concept EHR Interoperability

Concept Medication Cancellation

Concept Medication Renewal Request

Concept Patient Safety

Concept External Pharmacy

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization UT Southwestern

Presenting Author Nainesh J. Shah

Track Technology in Hospital Medicine

Keywords

Surescripts

medication cancellation

electronic refill requests

pharmacy interoperability

EHR integration

workflow automation

fax replacement

staff time savings

medication safety

pharmacy communication

EHR Interoperability

Medication Cancellation

Medication Renewal Request

Patient Safety

External Pharmacy