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I frequently check the database but I do not completely agree with posting the notice that I am using the database in the waiting room.  I do tell my patients that I use the database towards the end of the visit when I actually search the database.  The reason is because I have an opportunity to see whether they are being honest with me about their prescriptions.  I will ask them what medications including controlled substance they are receiving from other doctors and when they last filled that prescription.  If the patient tells me that they have been receiving it from another doctor in the state for several months but the last prescription that was filled was a year ago I take this into consideration and confront them about it.  Also, patients will sometimes claim they are on a much higher dose than what was prescribed or state they are about to run out of their prescription.  I frequently will call the pharmacy in front of the patient to confirm when they last filled their prescription.  I even show the patient the printed out controlled database form and discuss concerns.  If the patient claims there is a mistake I will call the pharmacy and make sure the information was not incorrect.  I have found such mistakes.  Also, one of the most important uses of the database is to make sure that the prescriptions I was writing for appears on the database.  If it doesn’t I will ask the patient where they get it filled. I sometimes find the patient was using their middle name or maiden name and/or other dates of birth to fill the script and then when I did then search under the other name they have a whole other series of doctors from whom they were getting controlled substance.

By William Mann on Aug 28, 2009 at 11:40pm