When a change is needed for a prescription, what must be done regarding the electronic drug order?

When there is a need to change a prescription, the correct procedure is to create a new electronic drug order. This is essential from a legal and safety perspective. By generating a new electronic order, the system maintains an accurate and complete record of the patient's medication history and treatment plan. This avoids any confusion regarding which order is currently valid and ensures that all modifications are documented properly.

Maintaining the original order until it expires would not provide an updated or clear direction for medication dispensing and could lead to potential medication errors. Changing the original order directly may create ambiguity about which prescription should be followed, leading to confusion for both pharmacists and patients. Consulting a pharmacist before making any changes is a good practice, but it doesn't directly address how to handle the electronic order itself.

Creating a new electronic drug order ensures that there is a clear, legally valid record of all changes made, improving patient safety and compliance with pharmacy regulations.