If you haven't already, start the medication order and look up epoetin or darbepoetin.
When prompted, provide the indications for ordering. Clicking Cancel (ALT+C) at any point in the data entry and evaluation step clears the Medication order.
Click to select a single reason for placing this order, then click OK (ALT+O).
If you select Other, no additional information is needed. Continue with the dosing needed.
If a hemoglobin (HGB) result less than 7 days old is available from the Clinical Data Repository (CDR) at Partners, this is automatically used for evaluation. Otherwise, provide the information as follows:
Type the patient's last known hemoglobin (HGB) result.
Type the date the specimen was collected, or select the date from the calendar.
Type the location of the lab that ran the test.
Click OK (ALT+O).
If the HGB result was not pulled from the CDR, a CBC Next Draw will be included automatically in this order session. Likewise, a Ferritin Next Draw is automatically included if this level is not available. The lab orders are displayed in the Current Lab Orders list, as well as the Order For This Session. If you cancel the original medication order, you must manually delete the lab order(s) if you don't want them. See Deleting Orders.
If the most recent HGB is over 10 mg/dl, treatment with epoetin or darbepoetin is not warranted. Click OK (ALT+O). You will have to select a different medication or cancel out of the medication order form.
Click to select a diagnosis, then click OK (ALT+O).
Click to indicate which phase of epoetin/darbepoetin treatment the patient is undergoing, then click OK (ALT+O).
Guidelines for ordering the selected medication for the stage of treatment you indicated are displayed.
To change the order specifications from the selected default, click another option.
Click OK (ALT+O).
The parameters as selected for dose, frequency, and duration are entered on the med order form. These parameters cannot be edited.