Basics of prescribing and

medication orders

Prepared By: Liew Yee Kwan

 Prescription Writing
All prescriptions must include the following information
Name and IC No/ Registration No
Age of patient
Approved name of drugs (in generic form / without abbreviations)
Route of administration / dosage form
Dosage strength of drug required
Frequency of administration or dosing interval
Duration of therapy
Date and Signature of prescriber
 Name of prescriber (Written in block letter/stamped)
Diagnosis
Approved Specialist Stamp for List A / A* drug
 Common Problems with Prescriptions
• Patient Details
• Incomplete / Unsuitable Prescription
• Route / Dose / Frequency / Duration
• Signature / Countersignature / Doctor’s Stamp
• Wrong patient
• Unclear Writing / Illegibility
• Polypharmacy
• Cancellation
• Patient requesting for medication
 Ordering Syrup
• Not in ml (except for Syr Benadryl, Mixt Expectorant)
• Not in mg/kg
• Please order in calculated dose (mg).
• Please state the weight of patient for the pharmacist to
countercheck.
• Please round off the dose if it can be given in tablet or capsules.
 Ordering External Preparation
• Please state strength, dose, frequency and duration for
antibiotic cream, ointment and ear drop, lotion/cream,
glycerin, etc.
• Eg. EBB 12.5%(child <12yr) & 25%(adult >12yr), strength
of BVC
 Prescription Error
Prescription error
• “A prescribing error occurs when, as a result of a prescribing
decision or the prescription-writing process, there is an
unintentional, significant reduction in the probability of
treatment being timely or effective, or increase in the risk
of harm when compared to generally accepted practice”

• Unclear prescriptions or error in prescriptions will lead to:

- Medication errors
- Dosing errors
- Polypharmacy
Medication Error Reporting
System (MERS)
NCC MERP Index for Categorizing
Medication Errors
 1.Date/ Time
Type of facility
Location
2.Error
Description 3. Process

4. Reach patient/
result on patient 4.2 Error Outcome
Category

5.Contributing
factor
Category in initial
error, also involved,
detected

9.Patient’s
particulars 10.Product involved

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11. Relevant
12.
materials eg.
Recommendations,
Product label,
procedures,
copy of
investigational
prescription
reports
Reporter’s
details

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