Dispensing Prescriptions Using MethaMeasure

This topic is intended for Independent pharmacies only and is not applicable to Rexall pharmacies.

MethaMeasure is an automated methadone dispensing system offered by Amjay Software Solutions. MethaMeasure is integrated with Propel Rx, so when eligible prescriptions are filled, information is sent to the device and methadone dispensing occurs seamlessly. To accomplish this, a MethaMeasure packager is available for selection in Propel Rx.

Configuring the MethaMeasure Packager

Like other retail packaging devices, you can configure the MethaMeasure packager preferences to suit your pharmacy's workflow.

To set the MethaMeasure packager preferences:

  1. Select More (...) > Pharmacy > Workflow.

  2. Beside the Packagers field, select Configure. The Packager window opens.

  3. Select the MethaMeasure device.

  4. Select Edit. The Packager Configure window opens.

  5. The following settings are defaulted for MethaMeasure:

    • Location - On-site

    • Device Type - Retail

    • Product Verification - Off

      When Product Verification is Off, the prescriptions that are sent to the packager will skip the Packaging queue in Propel Rx. Product UPC Scan is not applicable to MethaMeasure. If Dispensed Product Scan is selected, you must complete the Packaging step for the prescription but the UPC, lot number, and expiry date do not need to be entered.

    • Labels - After Data Entry

    • Technical Validation - Off

    • Clinical Review - Off

    • Auto-Send - On and disabled

      When Auto-Send is ON, prescriptions are automatically sent to the packager upon Fill.

    If necessary, make any changes to the settings.

  6. Select OK to close the Packager Configure window.

  7. Select OK to close the Packager window.

  8. Select Save.

Setting Up Prescriptions with the MethaMeasure Packager

The MethaMeasure packager follows the same hierarchy as other retail packaging devices. When set at the drug level, prescriptions for that drug are auto-dispensed by MethaMeasure unless the packager is overridden at the group, patient, or prescription level. For methadone mixtures, the packager setting of the individual methadone ingredient is considered the drug level. For more information on the hierarchy, see Retail Packager Hierarchy.

Unlike other retail packagers, the MethaMeasure packager can be set for both Compliance Pack and non-Compliance Pack patients. Mixtures can also be transmitted to MethaMeasure.

To set up the MethaMeasure packager for methadone prescriptions:

  1. Open the methadone Drug Folder.

  2. In the Packager field, select MethaMeasure.

  3. Select Save.

  4. If the patient is part of a group, complete the following steps:

    1. Open the Group Folder.

    2. Select the Preferences tab.

    3. Select the Packager button. The Group Packager Preferences window opens.

    4. From the Group Packager dropdown, select MethaMeasure or Default.

      If you have patients in your group that do not take methadone and they need to have their prescriptions auto-dispensed by another retail or non-retail packager, skip steps b - e and go to step f.

    5. Select OK.

    6. Select the Patients tab.

    7. For the applicable patient, select the following for the Packager column:

      • Default - if you set MethaMeasure or Default as the packager in Group Preferences

      • MethaMeasure - if a different packager was set in Group Preferences

    8. Select Save.

When filling methadone prescriptions in Rx Detail, you should see a "MethaMeasure" indicator located below the Compliance Pack checkbox.

Sending Split Quantities for MethaMeasure Prescriptions

If a patient takes methadone more often than once daily, you can split the methadone dose across multiple bottles and labels. This is configured in the Rx Detail Extended tab, similar to a non-methadone prescription. However, unlike a regular prescription, the split quantities must be expressed per millilitre, even if the prescription quantity is entered per milligrams if a methadone DIN is used. For more information, see Split Label Functionality.

For methadone prescriptions, split quantities specified during Packaging will not be transmitted to MethaMeasure. If split quantities needs to be transmitted to the device, it must be done in Rx Detail before the prescription is filled and submitted to MethaMeasure.

Resending MethaMeasure Prescriptions

After a methadone prescription is filled, it is transmitted to MethaMeasure. In some situations, you may need to resend a methadone prescription after it was successfully sent. This can be done using one of the following methods.

  • If Product Verification is set to Product UPC Scan or Dispensed Product Scan, the prescription will land in the Packaging queue after it is filled. If the prescription has not been packaged yet, it can be resent by selecting the Resend button from Packaging. If the prescription has already completed Packaging, you can reject it back to the Packaging queue by following the steps in Rejecting a Prescription to a Previous Workflow Step.

  • If Product Verification is set to OFF, amend or rebill the prescription to resend it to the device.

Failed MethaMeasure Prescriptions

If a methadone prescription fails to transmit to the MethaMeasure device, it will stay in the Packaging queue. This applies to methadone prescriptions filled using a Drug Folder or Mixture Folder. When the prescription is processed from Packaging, one of the following packager statuses will display:

  • Waiting for connectivity - this status appears for the first eligible prescription that fails to send to MethaMeasure.

  • Queued - this status appears for all subsequent eligible prescriptions that need to be sent to MethaMeasure.

Once the connection is restored, Propel Rx will send the prescriptions automatically in sequence. You are not required to select the Send button to re-transmit the prescriptions; Send will only refresh the Packaging window.