EPCS Quick Start Guide

A brief introduction on the new EPCS module and how to use it.

Written By Felicia Conner ()

Updated at November 23rd, 2021

Introduction

Welcome to the EPCS/ScriptSure module! This document is designed to provide a brief introduction to the use of the application. If you are looking for roles specific getting started guides, please see the additional resources below.



Browser Information

If you need to log into ScriptSure directly to reset your password, the preferred browser is Google Chrome for stability and security. ScriptSure was specifically designed using Material Design, which is a Google code set. Google Chrome can be downloaded here: https://www.google.com/chrome/.

Scriptsure is not compatible with Internet Explorer (IE) or Edge as Microsoft no longer provides security updates or technical support for IE. Google Chrome, Apple Safari and FireFox are compatible, but Google Chrome and Apple Safari are the preferred browser choices.


Definitions

Electronic Prescription: An electronic prescription message sent, for either a new or refill medication, directly to a pharmacy. These messages are sent over the secure SureScripts network.

SIG: The instructions for a prescription.

Refills: The number of refills indicated on a prescription (for pharmacy use).

Refill Request: An electronic message received from a pharmacy requesting a refill or update to a prescription.

Eligibility: Information related to a patient’s prescription drug benefit coverage.

Formulary: Indicates the coverage for medication under a patient’s insurance or health plan

Drug History Download (medication history): List of medications that a patient has been prescribed in the previous 18 months. We show this information, which may be incomplete, from the patient’s health plan, PBM, or pharmacy. (Do not rely on this list as a complete list; always verify with the patient).


Launching EPCS

To begin using the application, navigate to...


Logging Out

To logout of the application, you can either close the browser window or click your username that appears in the top right of the application and then click Logout:



Navigating the Toolbar

Appearing at the top left and extending to the right there is an informational and navigation toolbar.



From left to right, the toolbar shows the following:

  • Current practice – selected practice puts the name, address and contact information for the currently selected practice on the prescriptions and stores that for history.
  • Current prescriber selected for prescription writing (this can different from the logged in user, if the logged in user has permissions to create non-controlled prescriptions for a provider).
  • Home screen button – navigated user back to Home screen in the application from any screen.
  • Scheduler button – navigates user to scheduler list.
  • Messages button – navigates user to messages window to handle new prescriptions, refills, electronic Prior Authorization (ePA) messages and to view history or approved and declined prescription related messages for the practice.
  • Reports button – navigates user to the reports window where reports and metrics can be run for the practice, user or patient.
  • Queue button – opens a drop down of all medications that have been queued, but not yet sent across the entire practice. This button does not appear if there are no items in the queue.


Adding a New Patient - Toolbar

To add a new patient…Appearing at the top left and extending

 Click the  button on the toolbar at the top of the screen.


 To add a new patient, click the  button on the Home Screen:

 The Add Patient Window will open, allowing you to enter the new patient’s information in the fields. Note: Several fields are required to create prescriptions; first name, last name, DOB, gender, ZIP, address and at least one phone number (cell, home or work). Click Save when complete.


Finding a Patient

To find a patient…Appearing at the top left and extending

 To retrieve a patient record, begin at the Home (patient search screen). If you are not currently at the Home screen, click  at the top of the screen. In the search box (see red arrow below) you can type a patient’s last name and click  to locate that patient.


 Patient’s that match the name entered will appear in the results area. Select the desired patient by double-left clicking on the patient row. In the example below, the search is for Patient, John



NOTE: The   icon next to the add patient button gives you recently selected patient history.


Additional Search options: There is an Advanced Search button next to the search box. Click to expand it and you will see other fields to help you locate a patient.

 




Opening a Patient Chart

To find a patient chart…Appearing at the top left and extending

 Select a patient from the Home Screen .

 When the patient is selected, the screen will change to the selected patient's chart. You will have 2 indicators showing what patient you are working on and have currently selected. The top toolbar will show the selected patient (Tad Dockendorf is the patient in this example):

Also, there is a patient banner that will show the selected patient:


Click through the tabs at left side of the window to view areas of patient chart. After the Patient Chart has opened, you can enter and view dashboard, prescriptions, demographics, allergies, pharmacies, etc.

 The Patient Chart (show below) will open initially to the Dashboard which shows the Last 6 Months of Prescriptions; (downloaded medication history for the patient appears below this medication table when available



TIP: You can re-prescribe a medication from history by clicking  at the end of the medication row. Clicking the down-arrow next to the prescribe button will reveal two additional prescribe features that. The first is Add to Queue and the second is Show Confirmation.

  • Add to Queue – this selects the medication to re-prescribe it and immediately places the script in the queue to send later with the same information visible on the row.
  • Show Confirmation – this selects the medication to re-prescribe and places the user at the confirmation window (last step before sending to the pharmacy) bypassing the PREVIEW window which allows a user to make alterations to the medication. This is a useful shortcut if there are no changes to drug number, SIG or pharmacy selected.


Click the  view button to change the medication view to one of the available views:


  • Click to Prescribe a new drug:






  • View past medications

prescribed for the patient

here. You can re-prescribe

a medication in the same

format as delivered

previously by clicking

on the PRESCRIBE button.



Here you can view the

medications for this patient

that were prescribed by

other providers. (A license is

required for this data.) This data

is retrieved from pharmacies

and PBM companies that store
past prescription data. This Drug
History Download information
can be helpful in determining what the patient has taken or is currently taking. Please note that this download list may not represent all medications the patient has been prescribed and includes up to 12 months of data. DISCLAIMER: Certain information may not be available or accurate in this report including items that the patient asked not be disclosed due to patient privacy concerns, over-the-counter medications, low cost prescriptions, prescriptions paid for by the patient, or non-participating sources, or errors in insurance claims information. The provider should independently verify medication history with the patient.


Finding a Medication

There are multiple ways to find a medication. After selecting a patient, you can find a medication to prescribe by using one of the following:



PRESCRIBE NEW DRUG BUTTON changes the screen to the find a drug search window.


FIND A NEW MEDICATION at the top of the screen is a search box that will display a drop-down of medications based on the drug name.




TIP: The  icons have drug filtering and drug group viewing capabilities.


Selecting a Medication to Prescribe

To select a medication… Appearing at the top left and extending

 Select a patient.


 Click the  button and then search for the drug you would like to prescribe.


 Click on the drug name and a slider will appear to select the desired format (slider pictured below).


 Once a format (strength) is selected, you will be able to select the specific number and SIG for the prescription from a pre-programmed list.


Note: If you would like to modify the drug format, you can do so at the Prescription Preview window which will appear after a format is selected. ANY FIELDS CAN BE MODIFIED.


Prescription Preview Screen

Modifications can be made to a prescription prior to printing or sending to a pharmacy. This is done at the Prescription Preview screen. All fields can be modified and the send method for the medication can be chosen from this screen.


 Select a patient.

 Find the medication you would like to prescribe.

 Select the medication and the format.

 The Prescription Preview window opens, the format selected will be expressed in the fields. You can make any modifications necessary at this point: change the quantity, set refill amount, add a comment, etc.).

 When ready to produce the prescription, click one:


(NOTE: Add Diagnosis fields and Formulary compliance and class alternatives are shown on right)


You can send to pharmacy, Send to In-house pharmacy, queue to provider for sending later, save only and print prescriptions.



Sending a Prescription Electronically to a Pharmacy

 After selecting a patient and then a medication, you can send a prescription electronically to the pharmacy location indicated on the prescription preview window and then clicking the  button on the Prescription Preview window:



 Click the Pharmacy drop down to  to view other preferred patient pharmacies.

 If you want to select or search for a new Pharmacy to send a prescription to, click the  to select or search for another pharmacy. There are three different tabs of this screen that will show:




        • Patient Preferred pharmacies

        • Frequently Used Pharmacies

        • Pharmacy Search (at top) – allows you to search for a pharmacy




Creating a Favorite Medication List

You can select a medication and add it to a Favorite List so that it can be located easily in the future. 

Add a Medication to Favorite Medication list:


 Select a patient.

 Find the medication you would like to add to your favorite list.

 Select the medication by clicking on it and when the formats window slides open, click the  to add to your favorites list. When it is orange  , the medication is on the Favorites list.



 

 

Storing a New Format

 

You can customize the formats attached to any medication for easy selection in the future. 

 Select a Patient.

 Find the medication you would like to prescribe.

 Click on the medication name and then click on Add Format:

 Select the strength to create and store a format for and a preview window will open.

 Next, enter any required information and customize the SIG details for the medication and click the save format button:  .



When you click Save, you will be prompted to enter a title for the format – the format will then be available anytime you select the medication it was entered for.



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