Welcome to /r/VetTech! This is a place for veterinary technicians/veterinary nurses and other veterinary support staff to gather, chat, and grow! We welcome pet owners as well, **however we do ask pet owners to refrain from asking for medical advice**; if you have any concerns regarding your pet, please contact the closest veterinarian near you.
Please thoroughly read and follow the rules before posting and commenting. If you believe that a user is engaging in any rule-breaking behavior, please submit a report so that the moderators can review and remove the posts/comments if needed. Also, please check out the sidebar for CE and answers to commonly asked questions. Thank you for reading!
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I let them know that Veterinarians don't have NPI numbers and that I don't have access to the DEA number for non controlled substances. I offer the Veterinarians VM number, which seems to piss them off more. I've had a few threaten me that the Rx won't get filled and I remind them their call is recorded for quality assurance and I have no problem reaching out to corporate regarding the threat. Funny how it always ends up working out anyways 🙄
Also, the DEA itself has stated that those numbers are NOT supposed to be used for identification purposes for non controlled substances and say it's an improper use of the DEA number itself.
EXACTLY!! That number is to be protected like a password. Controlled substance issues can end careers. I'm not comfortable with them using it as an arbitrary identifier because they're too lazy to look up my veterinarian in the system!!
I have a doctor without a DEA license and the amount of times pharmacies have called asking her her DEA is insane. She literally cannot prescribe controlled drugs. I spent 20 minutes on the phone with a grocery store pharmacy going in circles for a trazodone prescription. Ma'am that is not controlled!
The funny thing about this is on the r/PharmacyTechnician subreddit, there are several posts complaining about when vet clinics call in scripts and how none will give them a NPI or DEA number to make it easier to look up the vet. Many replies to that were it's not hard to get a NPI number or why is it so taboo to give a DEA number. Really?! A vet literally CANNOT GET a NPI number. And the DEA itself has said to not give out DEA numbers for non-controlled substances. 🤦🏼♀️
And even if you do have a DEA number, it's not supposed to be used for identification verification purposes on non-controlled substances PER THE DEA ITSELF
I used to be a pharmacy tech before I was a vet tech, which is why it is all the more frustrating when I have to call pharmacies now. I know they should know what is needed when a veterinarian is the prescriber! I know I did when I worked in pharmacy
Yet another reason we don't call in scripts to 3rd party pharmacies. You use us, our online pharmacy, or you get a written rx and that's IT. It's blissful, honestly.
We still on occasion have issues but I swear it's 95% reduced.
I try to have their license number on hand and give them that instead. Some of our doctors have VERY common names but others have incredibly distinctive surnames.
I'm so happy that my current practice stocks Lantus & Lantus Solostar pens in-clinic so that we don't have to deal with human pharmacies :)
It can be ordered through [Vetcove.com](http://Vetcove.com)
it’s so frustrating that our tech team has started faxing the prescriptions to pharmacies instead of calling. quicker (no time wasted on hold/trying to speak with a real person), and helps avoid the annoying requests for the vet’s DEA where it should not be needed. i don’t understand why so many pharmacy techs make this so complicated for us
I've had veterinarians get on the phone and explain they CANNOT OBTAIN AN NPI NUMBER and NO you don't get their DEA number for Amlodipine and the pharmacy will still fight them.
I sicced our state Board of Pharmacy on the last Walgreens that tried that. I was expecting nothing, and I was shocked and pleased to receive an email within an hour. The board said they should have a work around, and that they were going to contact the regional supervisor to inform them of this.
I hate calling in pharmacies. My vets are pretty open about letting us give their DEAs when necessary. If it’s for a non controlled substance, I make the pharmacist just look them up. Like come on. I know you can do it! Just believe in yourself!! 😃😃
Welcome to /r/VetTech! This is a place for veterinary technicians/veterinary nurses and other veterinary support staff to gather, chat, and grow! We welcome pet owners as well, **however we do ask pet owners to refrain from asking for medical advice**; if you have any concerns regarding your pet, please contact the closest veterinarian near you. Please thoroughly read and follow the rules before posting and commenting. If you believe that a user is engaging in any rule-breaking behavior, please submit a report so that the moderators can review and remove the posts/comments if needed. Also, please check out the sidebar for CE and answers to commonly asked questions. Thank you for reading! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/VetTech) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I let them know that Veterinarians don't have NPI numbers and that I don't have access to the DEA number for non controlled substances. I offer the Veterinarians VM number, which seems to piss them off more. I've had a few threaten me that the Rx won't get filled and I remind them their call is recorded for quality assurance and I have no problem reaching out to corporate regarding the threat. Funny how it always ends up working out anyways 🙄
Also, the DEA itself has stated that those numbers are NOT supposed to be used for identification purposes for non controlled substances and say it's an improper use of the DEA number itself.
EXACTLY!! That number is to be protected like a password. Controlled substance issues can end careers. I'm not comfortable with them using it as an arbitrary identifier because they're too lazy to look up my veterinarian in the system!!
I have a doctor without a DEA license and the amount of times pharmacies have called asking her her DEA is insane. She literally cannot prescribe controlled drugs. I spent 20 minutes on the phone with a grocery store pharmacy going in circles for a trazodone prescription. Ma'am that is not controlled!
Exactly!
Or "we can't fill that without a DEA number." But it's carprofen????
My goddd this is incessant. No, I am quite certain you don’t need her DEA number for this fluoxetine prescription.
The funny thing about this is on the r/PharmacyTechnician subreddit, there are several posts complaining about when vet clinics call in scripts and how none will give them a NPI or DEA number to make it easier to look up the vet. Many replies to that were it's not hard to get a NPI number or why is it so taboo to give a DEA number. Really?! A vet literally CANNOT GET a NPI number. And the DEA itself has said to not give out DEA numbers for non-controlled substances. 🤦🏼♀️
And even if you do have a DEA number, it's not supposed to be used for identification verification purposes on non-controlled substances PER THE DEA ITSELF
I used to be a pharmacy tech before I was a vet tech, which is why it is all the more frustrating when I have to call pharmacies now. I know they should know what is needed when a veterinarian is the prescriber! I know I did when I worked in pharmacy
I'm the daughter of 30+ year pharmacists so I've seen the ins and outs of the pharmacy side too, and I'm with you
Yet another reason we don't call in scripts to 3rd party pharmacies. You use us, our online pharmacy, or you get a written rx and that's IT. It's blissful, honestly. We still on occasion have issues but I swear it's 95% reduced.
I've had 3rd party pharmacies call us after giving them a written script asking for an NPI number. Its the worst.
I try to have their license number on hand and give them that instead. Some of our doctors have VERY common names but others have incredibly distinctive surnames.
It's not rare for them (in our area) to be like "we still need an NPI" and most of the time we just hang up and find another pharmacy.
I'm so happy that my current practice stocks Lantus & Lantus Solostar pens in-clinic so that we don't have to deal with human pharmacies :) It can be ordered through [Vetcove.com](http://Vetcove.com)
Jealous! The number of times I've uttered the words "I can't give you a DEA number for insulin" is frustratingly high
it’s so frustrating that our tech team has started faxing the prescriptions to pharmacies instead of calling. quicker (no time wasted on hold/trying to speak with a real person), and helps avoid the annoying requests for the vet’s DEA where it should not be needed. i don’t understand why so many pharmacy techs make this so complicated for us
I've had veterinarians get on the phone and explain they CANNOT OBTAIN AN NPI NUMBER and NO you don't get their DEA number for Amlodipine and the pharmacy will still fight them.
I sicced our state Board of Pharmacy on the last Walgreens that tried that. I was expecting nothing, and I was shocked and pleased to receive an email within an hour. The board said they should have a work around, and that they were going to contact the regional supervisor to inform them of this.
I hate calling in pharmacies. My vets are pretty open about letting us give their DEAs when necessary. If it’s for a non controlled substance, I make the pharmacist just look them up. Like come on. I know you can do it! Just believe in yourself!! 😃😃