What is the purpose of including a fax statement on a prescription?

Including a fax statement on a prescription primarily serves to indicate that the prescription is valid only if it has been sent via fax. This ensures that the prescription is legitimate and provides a clear trail of communication between the prescriber and the pharmacy. Faxing directly from the prescriber's office to the pharmacy establishes the authenticity of the prescription and can minimize the risk of forgery or miscommunication.

The presence of this statement is crucial because it indicates the prescriber’s intent for the order to be processed in a specific manner, which adds a layer of security to the prescription-picking process. Without this statement, there could be confusion or attempts to alter what was originally prescribed.

While there are other considerations related to pharmacy operations such as verifying the prescriber’s identity or assisting with prescription transfers, these do not specifically relate to the validation through fax communication which is the central focus of the fax statement.