Greetings,
What is your process for entering contrast orders on the eMAR in Radiology areas? Our health-system is exploring ways of leveraging CPOE for contrast orders in the outpatient and inpatient radiology areas (CT, MRI, IR, etc.), and running into some challenges with ownership of entering the contrast medication order in the EHR. The provider who is ordering the imaging study, such as "CT Head w/w/o contrast", is usually a provider external to the radiology department, and is likely not able to enter the precise contrast medication order. Radiologists are stretched very thin and are not able to handle the CPOE task for contrast. At our sites, the radiology technologists administer the contrast for the study per P&T approved protocol/algorithm. We are exploring the option of having the rad tech enter the contrast medication order into the EHR "per protocol." Question that comes up is does the contrast order placed by rad tech need a co-sign from Radiologist? My guess is most state regs are silent on this, and at the federal level I could not find clear guidance. Do any sites allow rad techs to enter contrast medication orders?
Thank in advance for sharing.
Daniel