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According to the Free Dictionary, a medical prescription is "an order (often in written form) by a qualified health care professional to a pharmacist or other therapist for a treatment to be provided to their patient."
Prescriptions may list a drug regimen or particular procedures that will then be carried out by another doctor, technician, nurse, caregiver or pharmacist. After receipt of the prescription, a copy of the directive is kept on file for tracking, patient history and legal reasons.
A prescription may be issued on paper using a "script," or by electronic means. Prescriptions may also be issued to medical personnel over the phone. -
When a doctor fills out a prescription, she lists several different items that act to specify treatment and avoid potential mistakes. The form always includes the medical practitioner's pre-printed name and address, along with any applicable licensing identification numbers.
There will be fields for the date, a signature line, and potentially some boxes at the bottom with other options, such as whether the pharmacist can substitute a cheaper generic version for the original drug. Of course, there is a blank for the patient's name.
The doctor will fill out exactly what drug she is requesting, plus dosage information and quantity. There will also usually be a directive as to the number of refills allowed.
For prescriptions pertaining to items such as eyeglasses or contacts, the optometrist may use a different pad that has blanks for magnifying power and further information that can be used by an eyeglass manufacturer to craft the product. -
Old prescriptions may be saved by the pharmacy or destroyed after fulfillment, but they're usually not given back to the patient. Often, recorded prescriptions prove useful for archival and tracking purposes.
Since some doctors are allowed to prescribe very addictive or potentially dangerous substances, government agencies such as the DEA may check with dispensing pharmacies in an effort to monitor who's writing out scripts for what. These efforts often cut down on unscrupulous medical personnel who write scripts for pay, as well as forged prescriptions.
