Anatomy of a Prescription: How is a Prescription Written?

Summary

Dr. Eric Bricker's 'Healthcare Z' video delves into the anatomy of a prescription, highlighting seven critical components: medication name, dose, quantity per intake, route, frequency, dispense number, and refills. He emphasizes the importance of patient awareness to prevent errors, citing a 1 in 5 chance of mistakes in handwritten prescriptions and a 1.7% to 24% dispensing error rate at pharmacies. The video urges patients to verify information with their doctors and pharmacists to ensure accuracy and safety in medication use.

Takeaways

• 📝 A prescription has seven parts: medication name, dose, quantity per dose, route of administration, frequency, number of dispense, and refills.
• 🔍 The dose is crucial as not all medications come in all doses, and doctors may need to look up the correct dosage.
• 💊 The number of pills taken at a time must be specified, as different medications have different dosage forms.
• 🚶 Route of administration is important; most are oral (PO), but topical medications require different instructions.
• 🕒 Frequency details how often the medication should be taken, which can vary from once to multiple times a day.
• 🗑 The number of dispense indicates how many pills are provided for the duration of the prescription, typically a one-month supply.
• 🔄 Refills specify whether a patient can get additional supplies without a new prescription from the doctor.
• 🚫 'Do not substitute' allows the doctor to ensure the patient receives the brand name medication instead of a generic alternative if specified.
• ✍️ Prescriptions also include patient details like name, date of birth, and the date the prescription was written.
• 🧐 Errors are common in prescriptions; one in five handwritten prescriptions contains an error, and there's a 1.7 to 24% rate of dispensing errors at pharmacies.
• ⚠️ Patients should understand the basics of their prescription to verify accuracy with the label on the medication bottle and reduce the risk of mistakes.

Q & A

What is the main topic of Dr. Eric Bricker's video?

The main topic of Dr. Eric Bricker's video is the anatomy of a prescription, discussing the various parts and potential for errors in the prescription process.

How many parts does Dr. Bricker mention are there in a prescription?

Dr. Bricker mentions that there are seven parts to a prescription.

What is the first part of a prescription that Dr. Bricker discusses?

The first part of a prescription that Dr. Bricker discusses is the name of the medication.

Why is the dose of the medication important according to Dr. Bricker?

The dose of the medication is important because not all medications come in all doses, and doctors may need to look it up or risk getting it wrong.

What does Dr. Bricker say about the number of pills taken at a time?

Dr. Bricker says that the number of pills taken at a time needs to be specified, as it can vary depending on the medication and dosage.

What is the abbreviation Dr. Bricker mentions for 'by mouth'?

The abbreviation Dr. Bricker mentions for 'by mouth' is 'PO', which stands for 'per oral'.

What is the abbreviation for 'twice a day' that Dr. Bricker discusses?

The abbreviation for 'twice a day' that Dr. Bricker discusses is 'BID'.

What does Dr. Bricker say about the number of pills dispensed for a one-month supply?

Dr. Bricker says that for a one-month supply, if you're taking a pill twice a day, you should be dispensed 60 pills.

What is the significance of the 'do not substitute' box on a prescription?

The 'do not substitute' box on a prescription indicates that if a brand name medication is prescribed and a generic exists, the pharmacist is not allowed to switch to the generic if this box is checked.

What is the estimated rate of dispensing errors at the pharmacy according to Dr. Bricker?

According to Dr. Bricker, the estimated rate of dispensing errors at the pharmacy is between 1.7% to 24%.

Why is it important for patients to understand the basics of their prescription, as suggested by Dr. Bricker?

It is important for patients to understand the basics of their prescription to verify the information with the bottle and label they receive, reducing the risk of errors and ensuring the correct medication and dosage.