Chapter 8 - The Chart Behind the Chart.
Dr. Mercer did not prescribe anything until he understood the allergy entry.
Rachel appreciated the caution.
She also felt as though the day had become a hallway with no exit.
Tessa pulled up Emma's visit history.
“The allergy was added six months ago.”
Rachel shook her head.
“We were not even here six months ago.”
Dr. Mercer looked at the date.
“She was seen at urgent care that week.”
Rachel remembered immediately.
Emma had twisted her ankle during soccer practice.
“No medication was given.”
Tessa opened the urgent care note.
“You're right.”
Reed looked uncomfortable.
“Could this be another matching-name issue?”
Dr. Mercer searched the demographic log.
“There is another Emma Bennett in the regional network.”
Rachel stared at him.
“Another one?”
“It's a common enough name.”
“Apparently too common for your computers.”
Dr. Mercer did not take offense.
He clicked into the source of the allergy entry.
“It was imported from an outside record.”
Tessa leaned closer.
“Different middle initial.”
Rachel pointed at the screen.
“There.”
The second Emma Bennett had a middle initial L.
Her daughter was Emma R.
Dr. Mercer nodded.
“This allergy does not belong to your daughter.”
Rachel folded her arms.
“So today I have had someone else's test result and someone else's allergy in my child's chart.”
“Those are two different system issues.”
“That does not make me feel better.”
“It shouldn't.”
The doctor clicked a correction request.
Rachel watched him submit it.
“How many other things could be wrong?”
“Most of Emma's record is verified directly from this clinic.”
“Most.”
Dr. Mercer looked at her.
“I can review the entire active list with you right now.”
Rachel sat back down.
“Do it.”
For the next several minutes, they checked each major item.
Name.
Date of birth.
Address.
Emergency contact.
Vaccination history.
Current medications.
Previous visits.
Nothing else was wrong.
Emma grew bored before Rachel grew reassured.
“Can I draw?”
Tessa handed her a clipboard and a sheet of paper.
Emma began sketching a cartoon version of the computer with angry eyebrows.
Rachel looked at it.
“What is that?”
“The computer.”
“Why does it look mad?”
“Because it keeps causing problems.”
Reed laughed quietly.
“That is fair.”
The tension in the room eased for the first time.
Dr. Mercer finished correcting the allergy list.
“Now I can choose the medication without that false warning interfering.”
Rachel nodded.
“Good.”
Emma looked up from her drawing.
“Is it a giant pill?”
“No.”
“Does it taste bad?”
“Probably not great.”
Emma sighed dramatically but not fearfully.
“That is acceptable.”
Rachel almost laughed again.
Dr. Mercer entered Emma's current weight into the prescription screen.
Tessa checked the number against the nurse intake note.
“Eighty-two pounds.”
Dr. Mercer selected the liquid option because Emma preferred it.
He entered the prescription and paused before sending.
Rachel noticed.
“What now?”
“Nothing bad.”
He pointed to the screen.
“I am double-checking the dose.”
Tessa independently calculated it.
The numbers matched.
Dr. Mercer clicked send.
A confirmation appeared.
Prescription transmitted.
Emma looked hopeful.
“So we're done?”
Dr. Mercer smiled.
“Almost.”
Rachel groaned softly.
He held up both hands.
“Only because I want to give you the follow-up instructions.”
“Fine.”
Then Rachel's phone rang.
The caller ID showed her pharmacy.
She answered immediately.
“This is Rachel.”
The pharmacist spoke quickly.
Rachel's face changed.
“What do you mean the prescription was rejected?”
Dr. Mercer leaned forward.
Rachel listened for another few seconds.
May you like
Then she looked directly at him.
“The pharmacy says Emma's profile is showing a medication conflict.”
