This article covers how to review medication orders correctly to prevent accidental removal of valid orders and ensure resident charts remain accurate. It explains how to identify multiple versions of the same medication order, understand different pending statuses, and determine which orders should be kept or discontinued.
When reviewing medication orders in a resident’s chart, you may encounter multiple versions of the same order with different pending statuses. Common examples include:
Pending Discontinue
Possible Duplicate
Pending Update
Active
Why Multiple Pending Orders Appear
Sometimes, pharmacies will send medication updates in a sequence that causes multiple versions of the same order to temporarily appear in the chart. This can result in:
An active order remaining visible
A duplicate version waiting for review
A discontinue request appearing simultaneously
These statuses do not necessarily indicate an error. They instead, often reflect the timing and structure of how the pharmacy sent the medication updates into the system.
Recommended Review Workflow
When multiple pending statuses exist for the same medication order, always follow this order of operations:
Step 1:
Select "Review" to view the Possible Duplicate or Pending Update first
Step 2:
Leave the Pending Discontinue for last.
Completing the update-related review first typically resolves the discontinuation automatically.
Important: Do not begin with the Pending Discontinue order.
Update the Existing Order
When prompted during the review process:
Choose the option to Update Existing Order
Select the current active order that should be replaced
Review the differences carefully before continuing.
Common differences may include:
Prescription or script number
Pharmacy information
Updated instructions or details
Verify Order Details
Before saving:
Confirm all medication information is accurate
Fill in any missing required information
Review dosage, instructions, and pharmacy details as needed
Once verified, save the updated order.
Confirm the Final Result
After saving:
Search for the medication again in the resident chart
Verify that only one correct active order remains
In most cases, the Pending Discontinue entry will automatically disappear once the update or duplicate review is completed correctly.
Troubleshooting
If the order statuses do not resolve correctly, or if the chart behavior appears unexpected:
Do not continue making additional changes
Contact your support team for assistance
Providing screenshots or details about the statuses visible in the chart can help expedite troubleshooting.
Key Takeaway
If multiple pending statuses appear for the same medication order, begin with the Possible Duplicate or Pending Update review. In most cases, completing that process correctly will automatically resolve the Pending Discontinue and leave a single accurate active order in the chart.