discharge/scripts & pt responsibility

[lily8585]

Just curious on people's thoughts...we debated this at work...

If a patient tells the Dr/nurse which pharmacy to electronically send their scripts to, if by the time the pt is discharged, the pharmacy they use is closed because it is has very limited hours, who would be considered liable if the pt couldn't get their scripts? IMO, if the pt is getting d/c home that means they can manage their care and if they found they couldnt pick up scripts at their selected pharmacy, they should call the unit that discharged them and tell the staff so the scripts could be sent elsewhere/other arrangements made. Some nurses said it's the hospital's fault but I think it's unfair to think we know every pharmacys ours and that some onus needs to be on the patient.

[Jules A, MSN]

I haven't ever had this happen so I would guess that either my patients have been able to pick them up or they didn't run right out after being discharged to get their medications. Since I'm normally not prescribing something like insulin or warfarin I'm not inclined to freak out if they decide not to get them that day however if the patient called back and said they wanted them resent or phoned in elsewhere I'd be happy to do it.

[Davey Do]

IMO, if the pt is getting d/c home that means they can manage their care and if they found they couldnt pick up scripts at their selected pharmacy, they should call the unit that discharged them and tell the staff so the scripts could be sent elsewhere/other arrangements made.

Agreed.

[Mandychelle79, ASN, RN]

Even with paper scripts you run into the issue of the pharmacy not having the Med. My friend is on sapharis, new order last friday, not available till Monday. Happened enough with my daughters adhd med that I called around to make sure they had it before going. She had to have the name brand.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

IMO, it's the same if we hand the patient the scripts or if we send them to the pharmacy. After a certain point--i.e., discharge--it's not our responsibility anymore: it's up to the patient and/or conservator to take control of their care after discharge, including getting their medications. Otherwise if they can't do that, why are they discharging?