What should providers do if there is a technological failure when querying the VPMS?

Continuing with the prescription process when there is a technological failure while querying the Vermont Prescription Monitoring System (VPMS) is the correct action to take in this scenario. This response acknowledges the potential urgency and necessity of patient care. Healthcare providers have a responsibility to ensure that patients receive their medications in a timely manner, and delays due to technical issues should not compromise patient care.

In practice, while querying the VPMS is an important step in ensuring safe and responsible prescribing, a technological failure may not warrant halting the entire prescription process. Providers can still evaluate a patient's needs based on their clinical judgment and available medical information.

In contrast to this approach, completely avoiding the query, alerting the Board immediately, or waiting for the technology to be restored could lead to increased delays in patient care, hinder timely treatment, or create unnecessary barriers that do not align with patient-centered care principles. Thus, proceeding with the prescription process is consistent with the need to prioritize patients despite any technological obstacles encountered in querying the VPMS.