2. • Any written order on order sheet by a practitioner, physician,
dentist, nurses or any other professional related to health care for
dispensing of medicine to a patient is medication order.
• The order can be implemented by various ways of communication
such as written documents, direct contact, telephonic talks and other
methods.
• The prescription is generally issued as written, electronic or verbal
communication.
3. Medication orders must contain:
• Patient name
• Medication name
• Strength
• Dose and dosage form
• Time of administration
• Frequency
• Route of administration
• Quantity
• Prescriber name and signature
• Refill details
• Date
• Maximum daily dosage.
4. Interpretation of medical orders
Medication orders written on ‘physician order sheets’
Nursing staff checks the nursing drug station, provides the list of available
medicine and if not available transcribes medication order to pharmacy.
Drawback
• Misinterpretation by nursing staff can happen due to use of abbreviation by
prescriber
• Use of same order sheet multiple times
• If newly marketed drug is prescribed by physician, drug misinterpretation can
take place
• Diagnostic findings and pathological tests gives hint for suggested
medications
5. Abbreviations used in prescriptions
hs: at bedtime
ac: before meals
pc: after meals
int: between meals
ad: right ear
al : left ear
od: right eye
os : left eye
sl: sublingual
bid: twice a day
prn: as needed
q : every
q3h:. every 3 hours
tid : three times a day
INTERPRETATION
6. Communication with prescriber
• Establish professional relationship and proper communications which may
make provision of good health care
• Study of patients medical history helps to understand patients problem and
grounds behind prescribing the medication
• Review of physician order sheet W.R.T allergies, need of drugs, route of
administration and dose prescribed helps in understanding of medication
order.
• Changes in prescription over telephonic conversation shall be mentioned in
prescription
• Therapeutic drug monitoring i.e. pharmacist gathers information and discuss
with prescriber
7. Communication with patient
• Interview of patient medication history gives sufficient
facilitate rational prescribing of drugs
information to
• Verbal, non verbal communication and interview, gives adequate information
• Monitoring of drug therapy facilitates direct contact with patient, resolves
any problems related to dose, adverse drug reactions if any, need of drug,
drug interactions etc.
• Therapeutic drug monitoring helps in review of patients demography,
allergies and correct dosage.
• Patient discharge counselling, an important part should include instructions
of therapy continuation, its importance and refilling.
