Create and Print a Veterinary Prescription in New Jersey

Written veterinary prescriptions in New Jersey must be issued on an official New Jersey Prescription Blank obtained from an approved vendor. This applies to written prescriptions for controlled dangerous substances, legend drugs and other prescription items. PawthosX may print patient-specific information onto an official New Jersey Prescription Blank. PawthosX cannot generate the official blank, its unique identifier or its physical security features.

Written By Brendan Baker

Last updated About 1 month ago

Before Creating the Prescription

Confirm that:

  • A valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship exists.

  • The veterinarian has reviewed and authorized the medication.

  • The client’s full legal name and address are correct.

  • The patient’s name and species are correct.

  • The veterinarian’s New Jersey license information is current.

  • For a controlled dangerous substance, the veterinarian has an active New Jersey CDS registration and DEA registration.

Create the Prescription

  1. Open the patient’s record.

  2. Select New Medication Request or open the medication workflow from the current visit.

  3. Search for and select the medication.

  4. Enter:

    • Medication name

    • Strength or concentration

    • Dosage form

    • Quantity

    • Dose, route and frequency

    • Duration

    • Complete directions

    • Number of refills

    • Prescribing veterinarian

  5. Under Fulfillment Method, select Print/Fax.

  6. Confirm the prescription contains:

    • Client name and address

    • Patient name and species

    • Date issued

    • Drug name, strength and dosage form

    • Quantity

    • Directions

    • Refills

    • Veterinarian name

    • Practice information

    • New Jersey veterinary license number

    • NPI number, when the veterinarian has one

    • DEA number when required

  7. Select Generate Prescription.

Prepare the New Jersey Prescription Blank

  1. Obtain NJPB forms from a New Jersey-approved printer vendor or sales representative.

  2. Confirm that the blank belongs to the prescribing veterinarian, group practice or eligible healthcare facility.

  3. Load the blank into the appropriate printer tray.

  4. Test the orientation using ordinary paper.

  5. Do not use an official NJPB for testing.

  6. Confirm that PawthosX text will not obscure:

    • Unique identifiers

    • Security features

    • Prescriber selection boxes

    • Required form text

New Jersey permits the prescriber’s identifying information to be typed, stamped, printed or otherwise affixed to the official blank, provided the applicable NJPB requirements are satisfied.

Print and Sign

  1. Print at actual size or 100% scale.

  2. Review the prescription against the patient’s record.

  3. Confirm the issuing veterinarian is correctly identified.

  4. Have the veterinarian manually sign the prescription.

  5. Give the original to the client or transmit it to the pharmacy through an authorized method.

  6. Save the prescription in the patient record.

Controlled Dangerous Substances

A separate NJPB must be used for each controlled dangerous substance. No other medication may appear on the same blank. The veterinarian’s DEA number must be printed, written, stamped or otherwise affixed to the form.

For a controlled prescription:

  1. Print only one controlled medication on the blank.

  2. Confirm the veterinarian’s New Jersey CDS and DEA information.

  3. Date the prescription on the date it is issued.

  4. Have the veterinarian manually sign it on that same date.

  5. Do not pre-date or post-date the prescription.

  6. Do not add a second controlled or non-controlled medication to the form.

New Jersey expressly prohibits issuing more than one controlled substance on one prescription blank and requires CDS prescriptions to be dated and signed on the date issued.

Schedule II prescriptions cannot contain refills. Schedule III and IV prescriptions may contain no more than five refills during the six months following issuance.

NJPB Security and Recordkeeping

The practice must:

  • Securely store all unused NJPB forms.

  • Control who may receive and use the forms.

  • Maintain records of ordering, receipt, storage and internal distribution.

  • Record the vendor, date received and unique pad identifiers.

  • Report a lost, stolen or altered NJPB to the New Jersey Office of Drug Control as soon as possible, but no later than 72 hours after discovery.

  • Submit the required written incident report within seven days.

Final Verification for Every State

Before releasing the prescription, confirm:

  • Correct client and patient

  • Patient species included

  • Correct medication and strength

  • Clear dosage form and quantity

  • Complete directions

  • Correct refill count

  • Correct issue date

  • Correct veterinarian

  • Manual signature present

  • DEA and state controlled-substance credentials present when required

  • Correct state-approved paper or blank was used

  • Prescription is saved in the patient’s medical record

Staff may prepare and print the prescription for review, but the prescribing veterinarian remains responsible for the prescribing decision, final verification and authorization.