How to Write and Send a Prescription in DoseSpot

This article covers how to prescribe medications and supplies electronically through DoseSpot. For compound medications, see Prescribing Compound Medications in DoseSpot.

Step 1: Open the prescribing workflow

From the patient's chart, click the eRx button to open DoseSpot. On the Patient Details page, click '+ Add a Prescription' in the left sidebar.

If you don't see the button, please confirm if you have prescribing capabilities.

If you see it, but it's disabled, the patient may not have the minimum information in their chart (e.g. address). Check for alerts below the patient's name.

If you are on a mobile device or using a narrow screen, and don't see the left sidebar, click on the two arrows on the top left of the screen to open the sidebar.

Step 2: Choose a pharmacy

If your patient has a default pharmacy set, DoseSpot skips this step automatically.

If not, search for a pharmacy by name, address, or phone number. Click the pharmacy in the results to select it, then click Next. You will be prompted to add it as the patient's default pharmacy before you can advance. You can still change the pharmacy on any individual prescription later.

Step 3: Add medications

Search for the medication by typing at least three characters and select the drug name and strength you want to prescribe. If you have saved Clinic Presets, Favorites, and Order Sets, use the tabs to navigate through the lists.

Fill in the prescription details

Complete the following fields:

Diagnosis Code: optional for most prescriptions, but required for EPCS (controlled substances). You can add up to two ICD codes.
Effective Date: required for EPCS prescriptions.
Patient Directions: see SIG Builder below.
Dispense, Dispense Unit, Refills, Days Supply: required fields, marked with a red asterisk (*).
No Substitutions: check this if substitutions are not allowed.
Urgent: check to flag as urgent.
Pharmacy Notes: optional free text or a common note from the dropdown.

Using the SIG Builder

The SIG Builder writes the patient directions for you. Enter the dose, dose delivery method, dose form, and frequency, and it will populate the Patient Directions field and calculate the total dispense amount automatically.

If you prefer to write the SIG manually, click the Custom Format option in the SIG Builder dropdown. This works the same way as the previous DoseSpot interface.

Save as a favorite

If you prescribe this medication frequently, check Create as Favorite before clicking Create Medication. Give it a name, and it will be saved to your Favorites list for future use.

Adding the medication to your queue

Click Create Medication to add the prescription to the Items to Prescribe panel. You can continue adding more medications or supplies before moving to the Review step.

Supply

To add a supply, search for it the same way. If it doesn't appear in the results, click Create Custom Supply. Custom supplies require you to confirm the item is not a controlled substance before saving.

Step 4: Review and send

Click Next to reach the Review screen. You'll see all queued prescriptions in a table with the drug name, directions, quantities, pharmacy, and status.

Click the three dots icon and select Edit to make changes to a prescription.
Click the X to remove it from the queue.

When you're ready, select the prescriptions and choose one of the following:

Approve & Send: transmits the prescription electronically to the pharmacy. If you have a PIN on file, you'll be prompted to enter it. The prescriptions move to the Prescriptions list with a status of Sending, then eRx Sent once the pharmacy receives them.
Print Prescription: opens the prescription in a printable view in a new tab. Make sure popups are enabled in your browser. Printed prescriptions move to the Prescriptions list with a status of Printed.
Save as Pending Prescription: saves prescriptions without sending. You can return and send them later.

Step 5: Updating the patient's chart

After the prescription is sent, click the X in the top-right corner to return to the patient's chart. The medications table will be updated with the sent prescriptions.

Saving a draft mid-workflow

If you leave the prescribing workflow before sending, any medications you added are saved automatically as a draft. When you return to the patient in DoseSpot, you'll see a Continue Prescription button in the left sidebar. Click it to pick up where you left off.

Drug and allergy interaction alerts

If any of your queued prescriptions interact with the patient's current medications or documented allergies, DoseSpot will flag them in the Items to Prescribe panel and on the Review screen. Alerts are color-coded by severity — Major, Moderate, or Minor. Click an alert to read the full interaction details before sending.