Medical prescription
Medical prescription is a health-care program implemented by a physician or other qualified health care practitioner in the form of instructions that govern the plan of care for an individual patient. The term often refers to a health care provider's written authorization for a patient to purchase a prescription drug from a pharmacist.
Definition[edit | edit source]
A medical prescription is an order (often in written form) by a qualified health care provider to a pharmacist or other therapist for a treatment to be provided to their patient. A prescription is part of a health care provider's treatment plan for the patient and the specifics of the prescription can include the following information: the identity of the patient, an instruction from the prescriber directing the pharmacist on what medication to dispense, and directions on use.
History[edit | edit source]
The concept of prescriptions dates back to the beginning of history. So long as there were medications and a method for prescribing them, there have been people who require written instructions for medication. The first recorded prescriptions were etched on a clay tablet in Mesopotamia around 2100 BC.
Types of Prescriptions[edit | edit source]
There are two types of prescriptions in the United States: written prescriptions and electronic prescriptions.
Written Prescriptions[edit | edit source]
A written prescription is a document that a healthcare provider gives to a patient to present to a pharmacist to obtain the medication that the healthcare provider has decided to prescribe for the patient.
Electronic Prescriptions[edit | edit source]
An electronic prescription is one that a healthcare provider enters into an electronic system and sends directly to a pharmacy, rather than giving the patient a paper prescription to take to the pharmacy.
Prescription Writing[edit | edit source]
Prescription writing is something that physicians and other healthcare providers do every day. It’s important to write prescriptions in a clear, concise way to avoid any confusion or mistakes when the prescription is filled.
Legal and Regulatory Issues[edit | edit source]
In many jurisdictions, it is regulated and requires a medical prescription for sale. The regulation of drugs varies by jurisdiction. In some countries, such as the United States, they are regulated at the national level by a single agency. In other jurisdictions they are regulated at the state level, or at both state and national levels by various bodies.
See Also[edit | edit source]
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