LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Recall the parts of a prescription, authorized prescribers and how prescriptions are written, filled, verified, labeled, and filed.

The most important tool used by the pharmacy is the prescription. A prescription is a written or computerized order from a healthcare provider (prescriber) directing the pharmacy to compound and dispense a drug or medication for a patient to use.

Of special importance is your understanding and conformance to the following protocols:

All information pertaining to a prescription is confidential and should not be divulged to any persons not specifically involved in the treatment.

No prescription or any of its parts may be applied or transferred to any person other than the patient specified.
To fill a prescription correctly, you must thoroughly understand the prescription writing and filling process. Because regulations and policies governing pharmacies sometimes change, it is important for you to be familiar with pharmacy policies in the Manual of the Medical Department (MANMED), NAVMEDP-117. The MANMEDis the basic guide to pharmacy operations.

PARTS OF THE PRESCRIPTION
Currently, there are two standardized forms used for prescriptions: the DoD Prescription, DD Form 1289 (fig. 6-3) and the Polyprescription, NAVMED 6710/6 (fig. 6-4). Information placed on these forms must be either typewritten or legibly handwritten in ink or indelible pencil. In addition to these two forms, many of today's fixed medical facilities (e.g., naval hospitals and medical clinics) now have automated pharmacy systems that allow healthcare providers to enter prescription requests into computers in their offices instead of handwriting prescriptions. Prescriptions, written or computerized, have, for the most part, the same information requirements. The only major difference is that automated prescriptions do not require the prescriber's signature.

DD 1289 is used extensively for outpatient prescriptions. For this reason, the key parts of DD 1289 will be discussed in the following sections. See figure 6-3 for examples of specific block entries.

Patient Information Block
In the patient information block, located at the top of the DD1289, the patient's full name and date of birth are required. At most medical facilities, however, additional patient information is added to this block. This additional information usually includes the patient's duty station; social security number with family member prefix; rate; and branch of service.

Medical Facility and Date Block
The medical facility block, located below the patient information block, should contain the name of the medical facility or ship where the prescription was written. Completion of this block is important if the source of the prescription needs to be traced.

The date block, located to the right of the medical facility block, should contain the date in which the prescription was written.

Prescription Block
The large block in the center of the DD 1289 is the prescription block. It contains four parts: the superscription, the inscription, the subscription, and the signa.

SUPERSCRIPTION.-The superscription "Rx" means "take" or "take thou" or, in effect, "I want this patient to have the following medication."

INSCRIPTION.-The inscription is that part of the prescription that lists the names and quantities of the ingredients to be used. This part of the prescription is of utmost importance, since the spelling of many unrelated drugs is similar. Whenever there is doubt as to the drug or the amount listed in the inscription, the individual filling the prescription should always verify the inscription with the prescriber.

NOTE: The drug should be written generically, and the dosage size or strength written metrically.

SUBSCRIPTION.-The subscription follows the inscription and is that part of the prescription that gives directions to the compounder.

Figure 6-3.-DOD Prescription form.

SIGNA.-The signa, not to be confused with the prescriber's signature, is the part of the prescription that gives the directions for the patient. This portion is preceded by the abbreviation "Sig."

Prescriber Signature Block
Finally, the prescriber signature block, located at the bottom of the form, must contain a legible signature of the prescriber, as well as the prescriber's full name, rank, corps, and service, stamped, typed, or handprinted. Mimeographed, preprinted, or rubber-stamped prescriptions may be used, but signatures must be original and in the handwriting of the prescriber. Facsimiles are not acceptable.