Record Allergies and Adverse Reactions—Allergies

• If you haven't already:

1. Select the patient.

2. Click Write (ALT+W).

3. Click Allergies/Adverse Reactions (ALT+L).

4. Complete the record in one of the following ways:

• Note that allergy information is unavailable

  1. If the record currently holds specific allergies in error, discontinue these to reactivate the Allergies Unknown button. Select each order and click D/C (ALT+D).

  2. Click Allergies Unknown (ALT+U)

  3. Once Allergies Unknown has been on the record unchanged for 24 hours, any MD, NP, PA, or CNM who writes new orders on this patient between 6 and 10 a.m. will be prompted to evaluate the original Allergies Unknown record. See Responding to the Allergies Unknown Warning.

  4. Click Close (ALT+C).

• Indicate that the patient has no known allergies (NKA)

  1. If the record currently holds specific allergies in error, discontinue these to reactivate the NKA button. Select each order and click D/C (ALT+D).

  2. Click NKA (ALT+K)

  3. Click Close (ALT+C).

• Select allergens and their associated reactions

  1. Click Add (ALT+A)

  2. For food or environmental sensitivities, click the appropriate option.

  • Carbohydrate (Ketogenic/LGIT) is listed as a Foods option. This will trigger alerts for providers ordering medications, IV fluids, parenteral nutrition (TPN or PPN), or food and nutrition. See Responding to Ketogenic/LGIT Diet Interventions.

  • To inform Food and Nutrition Services of food or diet restrictions, see Ordering Oral Diet and Food Restrictions.

  3. Click to select an allergen or Other from the list.

  4. If Other, type at least three letters from the name of the allergen in the field provided and click Search (or press ENTER). Select the medication you want or "take as typed", then click OK (ALT+O).

  Ingredients such as EGG and Latex are included in the repository. Inactive components are also part of allergy interventions.

  5. If you select a medication allergen using "take as typed" as described above, click OK to acknowledge that NO checking can be performed against this record.

  Use the list or search to identify medication allergens whenever possible. Order Entry automatically checks these for possible adverse reactions when you write medication orders. If you choose Other and take "as typed" information, this check is not possible.

  6. Click to select one or more reactions to the allergy. (Click again to deselect an item.) If Other, type a description in the field provided.

  7. Click OK (ALT+O).

  8. The system checks your selection against patient's active medication orders. If a potential allergy or sensitivity is discovered, the Drug Warning window opens. See Responding to Drug Allergy Interventions.

  9. Click Close (ALT+C).

5. Click Close (ALT+C).

• If the patient has an order for any medication that was just added to the allergy record, you will be prompted to either delete the new allergy  order or discontinue the medication. See Responding to Drug Allergy Interventions.

• Write additional orders as needed, then sign the session.