Scanning Prescription with Stand Alone Reader

Using the Spoken Rx Stand Alone Reader to access all the important info about our CVS prescriptions is so convenient and easy. In our previous workshops, we got set up with the Spoken Rx service. And we explored our reader to learn the location and function of each item on the device. Now that we know where everything is and what it does, it's time to scan a prescription.

First, let's orient our device so that the raised round speaker is facing upward, and the row of three buttons is facing us. Next, we'll make sure our reader has power, which we can do in one of two ways. We can use four AA batteries inserted into the battery compartment on the back of the reader. Or we can use the USB cable that came with our reader. To do that, we'll just plug the smaller end into the port on the left side of the device and then plug the other end of the cable into a USB wall charger. Finally, we'll plug our wall charger into an electrical outlet. And we're good to go. They often come bundled with devices such as cell phones. Or you can find them at many retailers.

Now that our reader has power, let's turn it on. We'll use the wheel or dial on the right side of our device. To turn it on, we'll just move our dial downward or towards us. We'll first feel a little click as the device powers on. And as we continue turning the dial, this will increase the volume. Let's try it. We'll just turn our dial downward and just keep turning for a bit after the click.

Reader: Spoken Rx, ready.

Ricky: Excellent. Our reader is ready to scan. Now let's find the Spoken Rx tag on our prescription. It's white and round and feels like a sticker. In today's example, our prescription is a bottle, and the Spoken Rx tag is on the bottom. Now that we've found our tag, we'll just place our prescription on the blank space above the speaker on our reader so that the Spoken Rx tag touches its surface. And finally, let's press the large oval READ button in the middle of our row of three buttons to begin the scan.

Reader: Patient Jane Jacobson. Medication, ibuprofen, 800 milligrams tablet. Instructions, take one tablet by mouth three times a day with food.

Ricky: Fantastic. We just heard a great deal of information from our prescription label with just one press of a button. But what happens if we've missed something? Or we'd like to review a specific piece of info? We can use the arrows to the left and right of our READ button to review specific items. Let's try it. First, we'll press our left arrow.

Reader: Medication, ibuprofen, 800 milligrams tablet.

Ricky: Great. Now let's try the right arrow.

Reader: Instructions, take one tablet by mouth three times a day with food.

Ricky: Perfect. We can use this same concept to move through all available information about a prescription. And when we're ready to scan another one, our Stand Alone Reader is always ready. We'll just place our Spoken Rx tag against the surface of the reader. Press the oval READ button. And the scan will begin. This is fantastic. But what happens when something doesn't work as it should? For example, perhaps we've forgotten to place our prescription on the reader before beginning the scan. Or maybe something isn't working correctly with our Spoken Rx tag. When the reader isn't able to complete a scan, this is what we'll hear.

Reader: Warning, unable to read label. It is very important that you do not make guesses as to the contents or directions for this prescription. If you continue to have difficulties, contact a caregiver to read this prescription or contact your pharmacy.

Ricky: All that makes perfect sense. As our reader just said, we can get visual assistance to read the prescription if it's not being read by Spoken Rx. And we can contact the pharmacy to get a new Spoken Rx tag with the info we need. All right. We've learned a lot about how our reader works. And we've even learned what happens when it doesn't. Here are just a few final tips that will keep you scanning efficiently. When using the reader with batteries, you'll receive a helpful beep every few minutes, reminding you to turn the reader off when you're not using it anymore.

Also, the reader can be customized to speak slower, faster or even in a different language if you've selected that option with your pharmacy team. If you'd like to learn more about your reader, including customizing how it sounds, just press and hold the large oval READ button for 1, 2, 3.

Reader: Spoken Rx users guide.

Ricky: We can move through information in the guide with the left and right arrow keys just as we do with prescription information. And when we're ready to return to scanning, we'll press the oval READ button to pause the user's guide. And then we'll press it one more time to begin a scan. This guide is also available in the resources section for this workshop on the Hadley website.

Now that you're set up with a Spoken Rx service, and you've learned how to use your Spoken Rx Stand Alone Reader, you have everything you need to take your medications confidently, safely and independently.