Enhancing Patient Compliance with Covetrus Script Assist

Covetrus is aiming to simplify the prescribing process for preventatives with a new application, Script Assist.

In January, Covetrus announced the availability of Covetrus Script Assist, offering a “new and more convenient way” for veterinarians to leverage practice management system information to more proactively prescribe preventative medications for patients with past or upcoming appointments, according to a release.

Covetrus Script Assist leverages machine learning and practice management records to quickly identify where gaps in medical care reside, particularly in areas like preventative medications. Once a prescription is “created,” the veterinarian or delegate will have minimal steps in order to get a prescription to the client for fulfillment on their storefront.

“Veterinarians continue to face challenges balancing the on-demand needs of today’s consumer with the focus on delivering outstanding clinical care,” said Georgia Wraight, executive vice president and president, Covetrus Global Technology Solutions. “Covetrus Script Assist is a great addition to our proactive prescription management capabilities and will be instrumental in helping veterinarians drive better clinical outcomes.”

“Script Assist has simplified our prescribing process and improved our workflow,” said Lenore Corazza, CCFP, practice manager, Lake Austin Blvd Animal Hospital. “Setting up patients with automatic renewals leads to improved medication adherence. Covetrus is helping us to better communicate and strengthen the trust and confidence our clients have in us.”

Veterinary Advantage asked Covetrus for insights into the application’s capabilities.

Veterinary Advantage: Can you walk us through the typical process of prescribing preventatives? What are the usual steps?

Covetrus: There are two main ways in which practices prescribe preventatives: from their in-house inventory or online. The first line of approach is usually to offer what they keep in house (usually one, sometimes two brands). This is the best way to make sure that the client has purchased the product – to see them walk out with it in their hands.

If the client opts not to purchase the product in house, practices can issue a prescription through their online store. Practices who do this proactively by logging into the Covetrus prescription management platform and writing a prescription to be sent to the client’s email address have the best chance of making the sale.

Veterinary Advantage: How does Covetrus Script Assist simplify the process? How does it
improve workflow?

Covetrus: While the ideal process involves a proactive prescription to any client who walks out without product, there are times where the practice is unable to complete that flow. For those situations, we have Covetrus Script Assist, which leverages machine learning and practice management records to quickly identify where gaps in medical care reside, particularly in areas like preventatives.

Covetrus Script Assist acts as a net, catching any clients who have fallen off on their compliance. Using transactional data from the practice’s online store and Practice Management system, it looks for patients who:

• Have a wellness visit scheduled within the prior 4 weeks or upcoming 2
• Have not purchased a preventative in the past 18 months
• Do not have a valid script on file through the online store

It then returns a list of recommendations pre-filled based on practice preferences that can quickly and easily be issued or removed. Once a prescription is “created,” the veterinarian or delegate will have minimal steps in order to get a prescription emailed to the client for fulfillment on their storefront.

Veterinary Advantage: Why do veterinary clinics need solutions like Script Assist in today’s marketplace?

Covetrus: Covetrus Script Assist can be instrumental in helping veterinarians drive better clinical outcomes. Historically, there have been very limited tools available to veterinarians to identify gaps in compliance. In order to identify patients in need, practices would need to either wait to react to a client request or dig through reports to find eligible clients. With Covetrus Script Assist, the clients are identified for them so they can engage proactively on their own terms. Setting up patients with automatic renewals leads to improved medication adherence.

Covetrus Script Assist features include:

Systematic prescribing of preventatives
Veterinarians can proactively prescribe preventatives for patients with past or upcoming appointments that have not purchased any product within the last 18 months.

Reduced steps for issuing prescriptions
Once a proactive prescription has been “created” the veterinarian or delegate will have just a few steps in order to get a prescription to the client for fulfillment on their storefront.

More informed compliance monitoring
The ability to quickly prescribe preventatives will drive practices closer to compliance and keep their patients healthy.

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