On a client’s profile, you can access the Medications tab to prescribe new medications and manage existing ones.
Note: To add ePrescribe to your account, see Adding ePrescribe to your SimplePractice account.
In this guide, we’ll cover:
- Viewing a client’s medications
- Reviewing client info for ePrescribe
- Managing a client’s pharmacy list
- Adding a client’s allergies
- Creating a new prescription
- Renewing a prescription
- Stopping a prescription
- Deleting a prescription
- Setting up a favorite prescription
- Addressing ePrescribe alerts
- FAQs
Viewing a client’s medications
To view a client’s active and inactive medications:
- Navigate to the client’s Overview page
- Select Medications
On the client’s Medications tab, you’ll find a section for both active and inactive medications, as well as the date and time this page was last updated.
For each active and inactive medication, you’ll find the following for each medication:
- Name, Strength, Form
- Dose
- Route
- Timing
- Start date and Stop date
- Additional directions, if added
Click Manage medications > Continue to open the DrFirst ePrescribe window.
Note: DrFirst is our third-party ePrescribe partner.
Reviewing client info for ePrescribe
To review or edit a client’s info saved for ePrescribe:
- Navigate to the client’s Overview page
- Select Medications > Manage medications
Here, you can review the client’s information, or make edits by clicking Edit.
The following information is required for each client:
- Legal first name
- Legal last name
-
Date of birth
- If the client is a minor, their Height (inches) and Weight (Pounds) are also required
- Sex
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Client’s street address
- If you don’t know the client’s address, check the box for Unknown address
- Client’s city
- State
- ZIP Code
Important: The information here is saved for ePrescribe only. To update the client’s profile in your SimplePractice account, click edit client info to be taken to the client’s Client info page.
Managing a client’s pharmacy list
Designating a default pharmacy for the client is required to send a prescription.
Note: A default pharmacy isn’t required to create a new prescription. However, you’ll be required to set one before you can send out a new prescription.
In this section, we’ll cover:
Adding a pharmacy
To add a pharmacy to a client’s list:
- Navigate to the client’s Overview page
- Select Medications > Manage medications > Continue
Note: Clicking Continue will open the DrFirst ePrescribe window, which may take a moment to load.
- Click the magnifying glass class icon under Pharmacy
-
- If applicable, you can also click Please set the default pharmacy
- Use the checkboxes and text fields to narrow your search
- Click Search
- Choose the row to add the pharmacy to the client’s list
Note: You can repeat the above steps to have additional pharmacies for the client.
The pharmacy will appear in the client’s dropdown list on their Patient Summary page. Use the dropdown menu to select a pharmacy as default.
Viewing pharmacy details
To view a client’s pharmacy details:
- Use the dropdown menu under Pharmacy to select the pharmacy in question
- Click the bullet list icon
The pharmacy details will appear in a pop up window. Click Close to exit.
Deleting a pharmacy
To delete a pharmacy from the client’s list:
- Use the dropdown menu under Pharmacy to select the pharmacy in question
- Select the trash can icon to delete it
- Click Confirm Delete
Adding a client’s allergies
To add a client’s drug allergies:
- Navigate to the client’s Overview page
- Select Medications > Manage medications > Continue
Note: Clicking Continue will open the DrFirst ePrescribe window, which may take a moment to load.
- Scroll to Allergies
- If the client doesn’t have any known drug allergies, click Mark patient NKDA
- To add the client’s known drug allergies, click the + icon
- Type in the Allergen and click Search
- Choose the Matching Allergen / Group
- Enter the Reaction(s) and click Add Reaction
- Type in the Severity and click Add Severity
- Select the Onset Date
- Click Save
Note: To delete an allergy, click the three dots next to the allergy and select Delete.
Creating a new prescription
After the client's default pharmacy has been added and allergies have been entered, you’re ready to create a new prescription for them. To do this:
- Navigate to the client’s Overview page
- Select Medications > Manage medications > Continue
Note: Clicking Continue will open the DrFirst ePrescribe window, which may take a moment to load.
- Choose Create New Rx
- Enter the drug name
- Click the magnifying glass icon
- Select a medication to prescribe
- Choose a Strength / Pkg
- Add Patient Directions by using the dropdown menus
- Add a Quantity and any other additional details
- Click Review
- Review the information
- Click Save Pending Rx
Other than Save Pending Rx, you also have other options for your prescription:
- To save and add another Rx, click Save and Add Rx
- To make updates, click Back
- To cancel the prescription, click Cancel
To send the prescription to the client’s default pharmacy:
- Enter your Signature Password
- You may also need to enter your signing passphrase and a one-time PIN (OTP) from your token for a controlled substance
- Click Send
A confirmation banner will appear at the top of the page.
Important: In order to send a prescription to a pharmacy, a default pharmacy must be added. To learn more, see Adding a pharmacy.
Renewing a prescription
To renew a medication:
- Navigate to the client’s Overview page
- Select Medications > Manage medications > Continue
Note: Clicking Continue will open the DrFirst ePrescribe window, which may take a moment to load.
- Under Active Medications, find the medication in question
- Under Actions, click the renew button
Renewing a medication will recreate the prescription as is and can’t be edited. If you’d like to recreate a previous prescription and edit before sending, select the Rx button.
If you selected the Rx button, make edits to the Patient Directions, Quantity, and other fields where needed.
Once you’re ready to send the prescription:
- Scroll to Prescription Management
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Enter your Signature Password
- You may also need to enter your signing passphrase and a one-time PIN (OTP) from your token for a controlled substance
- Click Send
Stopping a prescription
Stopping a prescription will move it from active to inactive medications in the client’s Medications tab.
Note: To fully remove the prescription from the Medications tab the prescription from the Medications tab, see Deleting a prescription.
To stop a prescription:
- Navigate to the client’s Overview page
- Select Medications > Manage medications > Continue
Note: Clicking Continue will open the DrFirst ePrescribe window, which may take a moment to load.
- Under Active Medications, find the prescription in question
- Under Actions, click the stop icon
- Click Stop to confirm
Deleting a prescription
To delete an active medication:
- Navigate to the client’s Overview page
- Select Medications > Manage medications > Continue
Note: Clicking Continue will open the DrFirst ePrescribe window, which may take a moment to load.
- Under Active Medications, find the prescription(s) in question
- Use the checkboxes to select more than one medication
- Under Actions, click the trash can icon
- Click Confirm Delete
Setting up a favorite prescription
If you have a medication you prescribe often, you can add this to your favorites.
Note: Medications you’ve favorited will only apply for your clients.
To set up a favorite medication:
- Click the Medications tab from the client’s Overview page
- Select Manage medications
- Choose Continue
- Hover over the hamburger icon at the top left
- Select Utilities > Favorites
- Click Add Favorite and add a medication
- Choose the medication to prescribe from Favorites
Addressing ePrescribe alerts
ePrescribe alerts represent important updates from a pharmacy, such as refills, changes, and cancellations. You’ll receive these via email.
Click sign in directly from the email to view the alert.
Note: Alert emails are required and can’t be disabled.
To access your ePrescribe alerts:
- Click ePrescribe in the left navigation menu
- Select View next to the alert you’d like to see
Note: Only the primary ePrescribing clinician will receive these ePrescribe alerts on the ePrescribe tab. These alerts won't be accessible to any registered non-clinical or clinical staff team members.
Alerts are updated every 20 minutes. You’ll be able to view how much time has passed since the last update.
To exit from your ePrescribe alerts, click anywhere outside the alerts column or the x next to the ePrescribe tab.
Pending prescriptions
You’ll receive an alert for Pending prescriptions when a prescription has been written, but hasn’t been sent to a pharmacy yet.
When you click View for an alert about Pending prescriptions, you’ll be taken to the Prescription Summary page.
Here, you can take the following actions:
- To edit the prescription, click the pencil icon
- To favorite the prescription, click the star icon
- To delete the prescription, click the trash can icon
- To send the prescription, enter your Signature Password and click Send
You may also need to enter your Signing Passphrase and Token Pin for a controlled substance
Pharmacy requests
An alert for Pharmacy requests will appear when a pharmacy has sent over a request. To address this:
- Click ePrescribe
- Choose View next to Pharmacy requests
The Pharmacy Messages page in DrFirst will appear. Each client will be listed with their prescription and additional details of the request from the pharmacy.
Examples of pharmacy requests include but aren’t limited to:
- Generic substitution request
- Prescription change request
- Renewal request
To respond to a request:
-
Under Response, choose an Action
- Add any additional required fields or notes for the pharmacist
- Click Send
FAQs
- Can I auto-populate a client’s active medications into their documentation?
- Can I disable Clinical Alerts?
- Can I use the iPrescribe mobile app to ePrescribe?
- Can I use the SimplePractice mobile app to ePrescribe?
- How do I generate a report of medication history, including the reason why a medication was discontinued?
- How do I set up cross-coverage in my group practice?
- How do I perform a data export for ePrescribe?
- How do I request and process Prior Authorization for medication electronically?
- I entered a free text medication by accident. How do I fix it?
- I want to change my Signature Password. How do I do that?
- Is height and weight required?
- Which team members can access a client’s Medications tab?
Can I auto-populate a client’s active medications into their documentation?
You can add a client’s active medications when you’re creating or editing a progress or psychotherapy note.
Note: To view a client’s active medications, see Viewing a client’s medications.
To do this, select the Rx button in the note’s text box.
Clicking this button will enter this text: {client_active_medication_list}. Once the note is saved, each active medication will populate with the following information:
- Name, Strength, Form
- Dose
- Route
- Timing
- Start date
-
Additional notes, if added
- This populates from the Additional Directions To Patient field, accessible from the DrFirst ePrescribe window
This is how an active medication will appear in a saved note:
Tip: You can also auto-populate other information saved as snippets in a progress or psychotherapy note. For more information, see Using snippets.
Can I disable Clinical Alerts?
Clinical Alerts can appear in DrFirst when you’re setting up a prescription. These are intended to highlight potential concerns for client safety.
If there are Clinical Alerts associated with your prescription, you’ll be prompted to acknowledge the alert before submitting. Click Acknowledge Alerts to bypass.
Can I use the iPrescribe mobile app to ePrescribe?
To use the iPrescribe app on your mobile device, we can securely upload your login information to your account.
Note: You won’t be able to create a client or update demographic information within the iPrescribe app. These changes can only be made in your SimplePractice account.
To get started with iPrescribe, please reach out to our team.
Note: SimplePractice is unable to offer support with the iPrescribe app. You can reach out to DrFirst directly for further assistance.
Can I use the SimplePractice mobile app to ePrescribe?
ePrescribe is only available in the SimplePractice web version.
How do I generate a report of medication history, including the reason why a medication was discontinued?
To generate a report of medication history, including the reason why a medication was discontinued:
- Navigate to the client's Overview page
- Click Medications > Manage medications > Continue
- Next to Clinical Reports, choose Provider
Note: If you don’t see Clinical Reports in the DrFirst panel, reach out to our Customer Success team.
- To download the report, Export EHI
- To print the report, click the printer icon
How do I set up cross-coverage in my group practice?
If you’d like another clinician to ePrescribe for your client, you can add the clinician to the client’s Clinicians granted access list. To do this, see Granting clinician access.
Once the clinician has access, they’ll be able to view the client’s Medications tab.
Note: There isn’t a way to grant clinicians access in bulk. However, you can grant a clinician access to the Medications tab for all clients by updating their team member role to Clinician with entire practice access. To update a team member’s role, see Updating a team member’s role or access level.
Only the primary clinician will receive ePrescribe alerts for the client.
How do I perform a data export for ePrescribe?
To perform a data export for a client:
- Navigate to the client’s Overview page
- Click Medications > Manage medications > Continue
- Next to Clinical Reports, select Patient
Note: If you don’t see Clinical Reports in the DrFirst panel, reach out to our Customer Success team.
- Click the printer icon to print to bring or to save as a PDF for your records
Note: For any other ePrescribe reports, click the hamburger menu in the top left corner and select Reports.
How do I request and process Prior Authorization for medication electronically?
Electronic Prior Authorization (ePA) is a secure, electronic way to request and process Prior Authorization (PA) for medications. You’ll be alerted whether a PA is required when you’re creating a new prescription for the client.
While you’re creating the new prescription, click Start PA to initiate the ePA process.
Once completed, you’ll see an alert that lets you know that the process has been started.
You can view the status of your PA medications at any time by clicking Prior Authorizations.
To finish a Prior Authorization request from this list:
- Click Complete
- Answer the presented questions
- Click Save
I entered a free text medication by accident. How do I fix it?
It’s important to select medications and allergies from the list provided in DrFirst, as these are coded to undergo clinical and formulary screening. Medications and allergies entered as free text won’t undergo the same screening.
If you choose a free text medication, you’ll receive a red alert notification after selecting it.
To fix this and choose a medication from the list provided, click Cancel.
If you choose a free text allergy, you’ll receive a yellow alert notification after selecting it.
To fix this, delete the allergy. Once deleted, re-add the allergy and select one from the list provided.
I want to change my Signature Password. How do I do that?
If you know your Signature Password and want to change it, you can update it within the DrFirst panel. To do this:
- Open the DrFirst panel in SimplePractice
- Click the hamburger menu in the upper left corner and choose Settings
- Select Signature Password
- Enter your Current Signature Password and your New Signature Password twice
- Click Save
Important: If you forgot your Signature Password and need to reset it, reach out to our team.
Is height and weight required?
Only clients who are minors (18 years or younger) are required to have height and weight entered in their ePrescribe client information.
Which team members can access a client’s Medications tab?
Only clinicians designated under Primary clinician or Clinicians granted access can view a client’s Medications tab. To add a clinician to a client’s Clinicians granted access list, see Granting clinician access.
If a clinician with ePrescribe needs access to the Medications tab for all clients, their team member role can be updated to Clinician with entire practice access. To do this, see Updating a team member’s role or access level.
Team members that only have non-clinical roles such as practice manager, practice biller, and practice scheduler won’t have access to the client’s Medications tab or the DrFirst panel.