Currently, there are limitations in the prescription ordering and dispensing functions of VistA. These limitations impact the medication ordering practices for recurring medications. When a patient is seen by a physician and a medication is ordered or renewed, the VistA medication ordering and dispensing system currently generates a fill order for the prescription even if the patient’s old prescription is not due for a refill. This creates unnecessary multiple dispensing of medications, additional expense, confusion for the patient (multiple prescriptions for the same medication) and co-pay fees for medicines that were not requested.

This software allows prescribers to “park” a prescription by placing it in a “hold until requested” status. This added functionality will improve quality of care, patient satisfaction, medication safety, and efficiency, as well as offering cost savings.