3.2 Patients - Identification

General Policy Description 

New patients must be properly identified before a claim can be submitted.

Policy Details

Before creating a patient record, the pharmacist must take all reasonable steps to positively identify the patient, or the patient’s personal representative, in compliance with College of Pharmacist of BC guidelines and, for the management of patient protective words, the provincial government’s Office of the Chief Information Officer Evidence of Identity Standard (PDF, 1.4MB).

Refer to Section 9.1—Positive Identification of Patients for full information on requirements.

Before a pharmacist can fill a prescription for a new patient of the pharmacy, the pharmacist must enter the patient’s PHN and create a patient record on the local pharmacy system.

Procedures for Pharmacists

Processing a prescription for a new patient

1. If the patient has a BC Services Card, or knows their PHN, jump to step 4. 
2. Determine whether the patient has a Confirmation of Application for Medical Benefits form or other confirmation of assistance document from the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction.
3. If the patient has the necessary documentation, go to Processing New Plan C Patients in Section 7.4—Income Assistance (Plan C). Otherwise, go to step 4.
4. Search PharmaNet for the patient’s PHN as described in Section 3.3—Searching for a PHN. 
5. If the search is unsuccessful but the patient states they do have a PHN, or if you cannot distinguish the correct PHN from multiple matches, go to Section 3.3—Assigning a PHN.
6. If the search verifies that the patient does not have a PHN, assign a PHN according to the steps in Section 3.3—Assigning a PHN.
7. Complete the transaction as a normal claim.