getting order changed

[clearblue3]

Hi!

I am new to PDN so I just have a question about getting an order route changed :-) My client has an OTC cold med that is ordered to be dissolved in her G-tube but she wants to let it dissolve in her mouth as she has apparently done in the past. The med is ordered to be taken this way on the box. (She is able to eat/drink so taking it PO is not an issue with swallowing). I wanted to call the Dr. to get the route changed, but how do they give you that order in writing?? There is no fax machine in the home. If the order is verbal over the phone, how long is that good for? And how do you document changes to orders? I have her POC with her meds listed on it, but that isn't re-typed up every time something is changed is it?? It looks like this is written up every two months or so and then signed by the Dr.....how does this all work with PDN? Thank you!!!

[clearblue3]

Hi! Sorry it took me so long to respond to your comments! Thanks for the suggestions!! My patient is AOx3 but does not have the physical ability to take his own medications. SDALPN, I am an RN, so you mentioned I can change the POC? What we have is a typed up copy. Do you just attach new orders etc.? I was able to contact the MDs office and they mailed out a bunch of clarifications/change of orders and those were put in the folder with the POC. This seems like an easy way for things to get overlooked though? Or is that how it is done, and then when the POC is re-done every 80 days or so, make the changes then? And for those of you who mentioned keeping your own record of everything....we each have a folder with our copy of the charting. Would you say this is good enough or do you make your own copies and keep them at home? Do you also make copies off all changes in orders or would just keeping them with the POC and documented at the physican's office be good enough? And maybe a silly questions...but at the vent class I took someone said if there is no copier at the home, that you could take a picture with your smartphone and keep the records of charting/orders on your computer that way?? The whole photo thing always makes me uneasy....but I suppose a picture of a form is pretty much the same as a copy...as long as you obviously never post the pics anywhere and I take them off my phone and store them on a hard drive? I am just trying to think of the easiest way here since there is no copy machine.

Thanks again for all of your help!! SDALPN, sorry if I sounded crabby in my post to you....after your first post, I was feeling frustrated...and a little nervous that I didn't have the answer to my question! Thanks for clarifying the miscommunication with me :-) I was able to really clarify things (and probably annoy the nurse at the MDs office :-)) so that I felt the POC was up to date. I feel much better now! I am such a worrier...;-)