TY - JOUR
T1 - The Impact of Electronic Communication of Medication Discontinuation (CancelRx) on Medication Safety
T2 - A Pilot Study
AU - Pitts, Samantha I.
AU - Yang, Yushi
AU - Woodroof, Taylor
AU - Mollenkopf, Nicole L.
AU - Wang, Nae Yuh
AU - Thomas, Bridgette A.
AU - Chen, Allen R.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was funded by a grant from the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs Foundation.
Publisher Copyright:
© Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
PY - 2022/9/1
Y1 - 2022/9/1
N2 - Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the impact of electronic communication of medication discontinuation from prescribers to pharmacies (CancelRx) on medication safety. Methods We used electronic health record (EHR) data to identify medications that were e-prescribed from a pilot practice to a health system pharmacy and subsequently discontinued before or after CancelRx implementation (January 16-April 15, 2018 versus 2019). We matched these EHR data to pharmacy management software data to identify medications that were sold to patients in the 6 months after discontinuation. As a surrogate for unintended cancellation, we also identified medications refilled within 120 days of discontinuation. We conducted a medical record review to identify documentation of prescriber intent to discontinue these medications. Results CancelRx implementation prevented prescriptions from being sold after discontinuation in the EHR (42 of 392 [10.7%] versus 0 of 387 [0.0%], P < 0.0001), but only 15 of 42 (35.7%) had documented intent to discontinue the medication (15 of 392, or 3.8% overall). There was a nonsignificant increase in the proportion of discontinued medications reordered within 120 days (10.0% versus 12.7%, P = 0.23). Medical record review of reordered prescriptions after CancelRx implementation found that 10 of 49 (10 of 387, or 2.6% overall) might have been unintentionally canceled. Conclusions Implementation of CancelRx eliminated the sale of e-prescribed medications after discontinuation in the EHR but might result in the unintentional cancellation of some prescriptions. Strategies to increase situational awareness of providers and pharmacy staff, including increased visibility of CancelRx, clear distinctions between active and expired prescriptions, and transmission of the reason for discontinuation, might reduce the risk of unintentional cancellations.
AB - Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the impact of electronic communication of medication discontinuation from prescribers to pharmacies (CancelRx) on medication safety. Methods We used electronic health record (EHR) data to identify medications that were e-prescribed from a pilot practice to a health system pharmacy and subsequently discontinued before or after CancelRx implementation (January 16-April 15, 2018 versus 2019). We matched these EHR data to pharmacy management software data to identify medications that were sold to patients in the 6 months after discontinuation. As a surrogate for unintended cancellation, we also identified medications refilled within 120 days of discontinuation. We conducted a medical record review to identify documentation of prescriber intent to discontinue these medications. Results CancelRx implementation prevented prescriptions from being sold after discontinuation in the EHR (42 of 392 [10.7%] versus 0 of 387 [0.0%], P < 0.0001), but only 15 of 42 (35.7%) had documented intent to discontinue the medication (15 of 392, or 3.8% overall). There was a nonsignificant increase in the proportion of discontinued medications reordered within 120 days (10.0% versus 12.7%, P = 0.23). Medical record review of reordered prescriptions after CancelRx implementation found that 10 of 49 (10 of 387, or 2.6% overall) might have been unintentionally canceled. Conclusions Implementation of CancelRx eliminated the sale of e-prescribed medications after discontinuation in the EHR but might result in the unintentional cancellation of some prescriptions. Strategies to increase situational awareness of providers and pharmacy staff, including increased visibility of CancelRx, clear distinctions between active and expired prescriptions, and transmission of the reason for discontinuation, might reduce the risk of unintentional cancellations.
KW - CancelRx
KW - e-prescribing
KW - medication safety
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85137007963&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85137007963&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/PTS.0000000000000998
DO - 10.1097/PTS.0000000000000998
M3 - Article
C2 - 35985045
AN - SCOPUS:85137007963
SN - 1549-8417
VL - 18
SP - E934-E937
JO - Journal of patient safety
JF - Journal of patient safety
IS - 6
ER -