PIMS and electronic medical records are now standard in veterinary medicine, yet many practices still rely on fax to transmit prescriptions. While faxing may feel familiar, it has significant drawbacks that can be avoided. Fax-based workflows introduce delays, require manual follow-ups, and create opportunities for miscommunication that modern veterinary e-prescribing is designed to eliminate.
Veterinary e-prescribing allows prescriptions to be created digitally, transmitted instantly, and clearly tracked throughout the approval process. Structured and comprehensive data can be communicated between the veterinary clinic and pharmacy, enabling safer and more efficient care. Drug interaction checks, visibility into prescription status, and access to fulfillment and tracking information are just a few of the benefits. As more practices move away from fax-based prescribing and approvals, clarity in how medication information is entered and displayed becomes a central component of medication safety.
Medication errors in electronic environments are rarely caused by intent. They most often stem from unclear formatting, inconsistent abbreviations, or visually ambiguous dosing instructions. Best practices emphasize clarity over shorthand by using full medication names, maintaining consistent dose expression, and relying on standardized veterinary abbreviations. Generic drug names should remain the default to ensure consistency across pharmacies, with brand names clearly differentiated when necessary. E-prescribing systems such as VetWay go a step further by displaying pharmacy-specific medication availability at the time of prescribing, helping ensure prescriptions can be filled without delay.
Dose formatting plays a critical role in safe prescribing. Trailing zeros should be avoided, while leading zeros help prevent missed decimals. The word “units” should be spelled out, and standard measurements such as mg, mL, kg, and mcg should be used consistently. Clear spacing between drug names, doses, and units reduces the risk of values running together and being misread. Electronic prescribing systems inherently enforce many of these safety standards.
Well-designed veterinary prescribing systems do more than transmit prescriptions. They support pharmacy and PIMS connectivity, prevent incompatible medication-route combinations, and help teams manage complex regimens such as tapers or alternating doses. Structured fields keep dosing instructions organized, while optional indication notes provide valuable context for technicians, pharmacists, and clinicians reviewing the prescription later.
Moving away from fax-based prescribing also improves daily workflow. Electronic prescription approvals reduce phone calls, eliminate re-sending documents, and create a clear audit trail within the medical record. Prescriptions move faster, staff interruptions decrease, and clients experience fewer delays at the pharmacy.
Platforms such as VetWay support electronic prescribing and approval workflows by connecting veterinary practices directly with pharmacies and practice management systems. When prescribing information is clear, consistent, and electronically shared, veterinary teams gain confidence that medications are communicated accurately, allowing everyone involved to work more efficiently.
As veterinary e-prescribing becomes the standard, practices that prioritize clarity, consistency, and connected workflows will see safer medication use and smoother operations. The goal is not complexity, but confidence — clearer communication, safer patients, and a more effective veterinary team.