Actual prescriptions

[raindrop]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi there

I thought it'd be "fun" to see some poorly-written Rx's. These are actual Rx's I've received. I'm sure there are much "worse" ones out there!

What exactly does this Rx say?

Does this Xanax Rx have refills?

This one was a beauty! No quantity, no signature and look at the date! (I received this one last month)

If you've worked in a pharmacy, you can find at least 4 things wrong with this one:

If anyone has anymore to add, that'd be great! (Please remember to remove identifying info. I don't want any HIPAA lawsuits filed!)

 

[Darvocet]

i don't have any pictures sorry but i do have a question for you. how are you able to scan the scripts at work and put them online? or do you take them with you and scan them at home?


on a different note, you have to update your blog more often!!!

 

[Shmy2008]

I especially enjoy how neatly they wrote the actual "prescription" part on that Proventil script. Look how clearly I can &#*% up!

It's cute when nurses write scripts for doctors...

 

[28657]

It's cute when nurses write scripts for doctors...

Nurses aren't trained to know these things, so don't bash on them. It's not "cute". It's the physician's fault for having sloppy charting notes why the nurse couldn't copy it properly.

I had a nurse call in a script for Nortriptyline 75mg tid....well when the patient started having adverse effects the physician realized the pharmacy filled for the wrong medication. The physician ordered 25mg tid....he proceeded to blame the pharmacist for copying down the message wrong. Hmm.....who wants to bet that the physician's handwriting LOOKED like nortryptyline 75mg....and the nurse couldn't read the chicken scratch???

When you intern and take scripts over the phone, it's quite obvious when the nurse is making something up because she/he can't read the chart.....an obvious need for typed Rxs.

 

[Shmy2008]

Perhaps I should have been more clear...

Very obviously, the doctor didn't write the prescription, as the handwriting difference between the script and the signature are significantly different. Thus, the nurse was trying his/her hardest to make the script "neat" (the#1 complaint of pharmacists everywhere), when in actuality, the problem came with drug and dosage (not to mention legal issues with the doctor's address and phone not being on the prescription).

And lets remember... if doctors and nurses wrote perfect prescriptions all the time, robots could do the work of a pharmacist.

 

[28657]

And lets remember... if doctors and nurses wrote perfect prescriptions all the time, robots could do the work of a pharmacist.

Yes, GREAT idea...let's continue with the current practice of ****ty handwriting in hopes of creating "un-perfect" Rxs that the pharmacist can fix....all in an effort to keep robots from taking our jobs!!! You've really got something going there.

🙄

 

[Shmy2008]

Wow, it sure is fun to take things out of context, misconstrue them, and attempt to make a point.

I'll clarify again...

I believe I said "If doctors wrote perfect prescriptions...," not "If doctors provided perfectly handwritten prescriptions...." Via the use of computer programs (where the physician can choose a dose, frequency, and duration from a database of drugs and dosing regimens) and physician order entry, the doctor BELIEVES they are providing the best prescription for their patients, and they very frequently are doing just that. It is the purpose of the pharmacist to ensure the best possible therapeutic management of their patients, and part of that role includes interpreting prescription orders and ensuring the best medication regimens; in this case, the prescription itself is not perfect, thus requiring the intervention of the pharmacist. If every prescription was absolutely perfect every time (i.e. doctor chooses a drug from an approved computer program, chooses a dose from a list that meets patient-specific criteria, and then runs that choice through a program that checks that drug against the patient's other conditions, allergies, and medications, verifies that he/she has made an intelligent choice, hits the print button, signs the prescription as legibly (or illegibly) as possible, and hands the prescription to the patient), we would regress the profession about fifty years and our earning potential would decrease significantly. I'm not advocating for poorly-written prescriptions by any means; I'm advocating for the professionalization of the practice of pharmacy to a level that includes working with physicians to ensure the best possible care of our patients.