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Last modified: October 2, 2024

Product substitution tool

Overview

Use the product substitution tool to replace at-risk products in patient plans. Products are considered at-risk when they’re no longer in our catalog, are on a long-term backorder, or have limited stock and won’t be replenished. The product substitution tool can help ensure that patients can order the products they need.

Tip!

While the product substitution tool helps swap products in active plans, the Plan optimization tool helps to find alternative products that can improve adherence or increase accessibility for your patients.

Navigating to the product substitution tool

Products appear in the product substitution tool when they pose a risk to patient adherence. Only those that have been recommended or ordered in the last three months are displayed.

Warning!

Some products don’t have curated substitutions, so the tool defaults to keyword-based search results. This may result in substitutions that aren’t direct ingredient matches.

To go to the Product substitution tool:

  1. In the lower-left hand corner, select your name to open the avatar menu.
  2. Select Product substitution. 
Finding the product substitioner tool

Note:

A red circle with a number inside indicates how many at-risk products require your attention.

Substituting at-risk products 

At-risk products are unavailable because they’re back ordered, out of stock, or discontinued. To ensure patient adherence isn’t impacted, consider substituting at-risk products with suggested alternatives.

Tip!

The product subtitution tool can also be accessed from the product display page for an affected item. Click the View plans button on the product display page when you see a warning.

Substituting at-risk products with a similar product

Products can be substituted with similar products curated by Fullscript’s integrative medical advisory team

To substitute an at-risk product with a similar product in the Product substitution tool, find the product you’d like to swap out, then:

  1. Click Add substitutes.
    Add substitutes button

Note:

In the case of discontinued products, the button will say Swap instead of Add substitutes.

  1. Select the plan or plans you’d like to update using the checkboxes.
  2. Click the Select bulk substitutes button.
    Select bulk substitutes button.
  3. Choose from the suggested products in the drawer and click Select next to those products you’d like to use as a substitutes.

Tip!

You can select up to three products, except in the case of Discontinued products, where you may only choose one. If you’d like to choose a different product, click Choose another product above the suggested products.

  1. Click Next.
    Click Next
  2. Click the chevron ( ) to open the dosage instructions tool for each product.
    Click the chevron to open the dosage instructions tool
  3. Optionally, click the Email patients their updated plan checkbox to notify them of your changes.
  4. Click Update plan to confirm the updated dosage instructions.
    Updating dosage instructions and clicking Update plan.

Note:

You can select up to three possible substitutions.

Substituting at-risk products with a product from the catalog

To substitute an at-risk product with another product from the catalog, find the product you’d like to swap out, then:

  1. Click Add substitutes.
    Add substitutes button
  2. Select the plan or plans you’d like to update using the checkboxes.
  3. Click the Select bulk substitutes button.
    Select bulk substitutes button
  4. Click Choose another product, linked above the suggested products.
    Click choose another product
  5. You can now choose substitutes from the catalog, similarly to when you’re using the Smart product comparisons tool. Add up to three possible substitutes, then click Next when you’re ready.
    Choose alternatives from the catalog, then click next.
  6. You’ll now be given an opportunity to update the dosage instructions. Click the chevron ( ) to open the dosage instructions tool for each product.
    Click the chevron to open the dosage instructions tool.
  7. Optionally, click the Email patients their updated plan checkbox to notify them of your changes.
  8. Click Update plan to confirm the updated dosage instructions.
    Updating dosage instructions and clicking Update plan.

Editing a past substitution

To update a completed product substitution, go to the patient’s profile and locate the plan where you added the substitution. Once you’ve found the plan:

  1. Click the Edit ( ) button.
    The edit button over a patient plan.
  2. Scroll down to the product with the substitution.
  3. Click the More options ( ) button.
  4. Click Edit substitutes.
    Edit substitutes.
  5. In the product substitutions drawer, click Select to add a substitute, or Remove if you’d like to remove a substitution.
    Removing a previously applied substitute.
  6. When you’re done, click Save.

The patient experience

Substituted product email sent to patients (optional)

Providers can notify patients affected by a product substitution. To do so, click the Email patients their updated plan checkbox before you click Updated plan when completing a substitution.

The Email patients their updated plan checkbox.
The Email patients their updated plan checkbox.

Replacement alerts in plans

In patient plans, a banner is displayed underneath products that have been given a substitute. Patients will still see the original product, and can click the View substitute button to reveal the alternate product.

The Substitute option available banner.
The Substitute option available banner.

Swap alert in past orders

Patients who’ve ordered a product in the past will see a swapped product banner in their order history, at the bottom of any affected order. The original product is displayed, and the swapped product is mentioned and linked to.

A product swap banner in the patient's order history.
A product swap banner in the patient’s order history.
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