Use this section of System Settings to configure the default settings for the Medications block, the medication prescribing window, and how medication information is pulled into encounter notes using Chart Parts.

Medications Block

Which tab should be shown in front on the patient's dashboard?

You can choose to have the Medications tab appear in front, or the Supplements tab if your clinic uses supplements more than prescription medications.


Enable a free text box in Medications block

If enabled, the free text box appears at the bottom of the medication block. And can be used to add free text about the patient's medications, not connected to any specific prescription.


Discontinued medications appear

Choose whether discontinued medications should show in the Medications block on the patient's chart, or only in the expanded medication history. The medication history is accessed by clicking on the double box icon at the top right of the Medications block.


If shown in the Medications block on the patient's dashboard, expired or discontinued medications appear

Choose whether expired or discontinued medications should be pushed to the bottom of the Medication block (vs. appearing mixed in with active or administrative medications in the order that they were prescribed).


Medication Dosing Window & Printable Prescription Form

Use these settings to configure the default appearance and values for dosing and prescription forms. See Prescribing Medications and Printable/ Faxable/ Saveable Prescription Form.


You can set desired defaults across the board for all prescriptions for the following fields. Note that a saved dosing profile for a specific medication will override your background default setting.

  • Patient instructions/ prescription free text sig
  • Frequency (QD, BID, PRN, or Other)
  • Dispense amount
  • Whether the "Generic OK" box is checked or unchecked


By default, the checkbox acknowledging that a prescription is being added outside of an encounter note should be

When adding a prescription directly to the Medications block in the patient's chart, there is a required checkbox acknowledging that the prescription is being added outside of an encounter note. If you regularly add prescriptions with no encounter note, you can use this setting to have that acknowledgment automatically checked. 


Prescriptions can be edited, even if they were added in an encounter note that has since been signed

By default, prescriptions that were added inside of an encounter note cannot be edited after the encounter note is signed. But you can use this setting to change that, if you regularly need to adjust prescriptions that are inside signed encounter notes.


Note that renewing or replacing a medication is often recommended, where applicable, versus editing an old prescription. Renewing or replacing allows you to add the adjusted prescription information, and preserves a clearer paper trail compared to editing.


The location of "Dispense as Written" and "Substitution Permitted" signature lines on the printable/faxable prescription form

Different jurisdictions have different requirements as to the location of the Dispense as Written and Substitution Permitted signature lines on the printable/ faxable prescription form. You can use this setting to adjust to your local requirements.


Note that e-prescribing is recommended over using the printable/ faxable prescription form. Cerbo allows for e-prescribing of standard, compounded, and controlled substances.


Number of days to warn before a dosing expires

In the prescribing window, there is a checkbox for "Warn me when this dosing expires." If checked, that will generate a Follow Up task when the dosing expires (based on the Days' Supply in the prescription). If you want a notification further in advance of the prescription expiration, you can use this setting to specify how many days in advance of the expiration you want that task to appear.

 

Pulling in Medications into the Encounter Note Using Chart Parts

Text variables can be used within your Chart Part templates to pull context-specific information into your Encounter Note or (message or other free text area) when the Chart Part is used. The [[pt_rxs]] variable pulls in the patient's current medications list. See Chart Parts and Text Variables for Chart Parts.


Use these settings to configure what should be pulled into the Encounter Note when using a Chart Part that contains the [[pt_rxs]] text variable. You can include or omit:

  • The patient instructions for each medication
  • The free-text medication note (if enabled)
  • The patient's past medications