Prescriptions

The Prescriptions module is where doctors create and manage medication orders for patients. This is where you prescribe drugs, document dosages, and track medication dispensation.

Understanding Prescriptions

A Prescription is a doctor's order for medication. Each prescription can contain multiple medications (called "prescription items"). For example, a single prescription might include:

• Amoxicillin 500mg capsules
• Ibuprofen 200mg tablets
• Cough syrup

SLOW DOWN

Important Rule: Prescriptions can only be created from Finalized Visits. If you can't create a prescription, check that the visit is marked as "Finalized".

The Prescriptions Page

When you open the Prescriptions section, you'll see all medication orders that have been created.

What You'll See:

1. Color-Coded Rows: Each prescription is color-coded by status:

   • Gray: Draft (not yet finalized)
   • Blue: Issued (sent to pharmacy/patient)
   • Green: Dispensed (medication given to patient)
   • Red: Cancelled (prescription voided)

2. Key Information Displayed:

   • Patient Visit (patient name + visit date)
   • Prescribing Doctor
   • Current Status

3. Status Legend: At the top of the table, a color guide helps you understand what each status means.

Finding Prescriptions

Quick Date Filters (Tabs at Top):

• Today: Prescriptions created today
• Last 3 Days: Recent prescriptions
• This Week: Prescriptions from this calendar week
• This Month: Prescriptions from this month
• All: Every prescription in the system

Tip: By default, you'll see "Today's" prescriptions. Click other tabs to see older ones.

Search Options:

• Patient Name: Find prescriptions for a specific patient
• Doctor Name: See what medications a doctor prescribed
• Status: Find all "Draft" or "Issued" prescriptions

Creating a New Prescription

Step 1: Start from a Visit (Recommended)

The easiest way is to create a prescription directly from a visit:

1. Open a Finalized visit
2. Click "Select Action" button
3. Choose "Create Prescription"
4. The system automatically links to that visit!

Step 2: Manual Creation

If starting from the Prescriptions module:

1. Click New Prescription
2. Select the Visit:
   • Search by patient name or visit date
   • Select the correct visit
3. Select Prescribing Doctor
4. Choose Status (usually start with "Draft")

Step 3: Add Prescription Details

Status Options:

• Draft: Working on it, not ready (default)
• Issued: Sent to pharmacy/patient
• Dispensed: Medication was given
• Cancelled: Prescription won't be filled

Notes Field:

• Add any special instructions
• Example: "Patient allergic to penicillin"
• Or: "Call if side effects occur"

Adding Medications (Prescription Items)

Once you have a prescription created, you can add individual drugs to it.

How to Add Medications:

From Prescription View Page:

1. Open the prescription
2. Look for the "Prescription Items" section/tab
3. Click "Add Drug"

Filling Out Medication Details:

Drug Selection:

• Start typing the drug name
• Select from the dropdown list
• Auto-fill: Drug name automatically appears when you select a code

Medication Details:

• Dosage: How much per dose (e.g., "500 mg", "1 tablet")
• Route: How to take it:
  • Oral (by mouth)
  • IV (intravenous)
  • IM (injection in muscle)
  • Topical (on skin)
  • Inhalation (breathed in)

Frequency & Duration:

• Frequency: How often to take:
  • Once daily
  • Twice daily
  • Every 8 hours
  • As needed (PRN)
• Duration (Days): How many days to take it
• Quantity: Total pills/tubes/bottles to dispense

Special Instructions:

• Example: "Take with food"
• Or: "Avoid alcohol while taking"
• Or: "Shake well before use"

Viewing Prescription Items

Medications Table Shows:

• Drug name
• Dosage amount
• Route (with colored badge)
• Frequency (with colored badge)
• Duration in days
• Quantity to dispense

You Can:

• Add as many medications as needed
• Edit any medication details
• Remove medications if needed
• Print the full prescription list

Understanding Prescription Statuses

Status	What It Means	When to Use
Draft	Still being written, not finalized	When doctor is deciding on medications
Issued	Prescription given to patient/pharmacy	When patient leaves with prescription
Dispensed	Medication was given to patient	When pharmacy fills the prescription
Cancelled	Prescription won't be filled	If medication not needed or error found

Workflow: Draft → Issued → Dispensed

Actions You Can Take

On Each Prescription:

• View: See full prescription details
• Edit: Update prescription information
• Delete: Remove prescription (goes to trash)

On Prescription Items (Medications):

• Edit: Change dosage, frequency, etc.
• Delete: Remove a medication from prescription

Bulk Actions (Multiple Prescriptions):

1. Check boxes next to prescriptions
2. Choose:
   • Delete Selected: Move to trash
   • Restore Selected: Bring back from trash
   • Force Delete: Permanently remove

How It Connects to Other Modules

Important Relationships:

• Visits: Every prescription must come from a patient visit
• Patients: Shows which patient gets the medication
• Drug Database: Pulls from approved medication list
• Billing: May generate pharmacy charges
• Medical Records: Becomes part of patient medication history

Best Practices for Prescribing

Do:

1. Always link to a visit - medical necessity documentation
2. Use approved drug codes - ensures correct medication
3. Be specific with instructions - prevents medication errors
4. Update status promptly - especially from Draft → Issued
5. Double-check allergies - before prescribing
6. Include duration clearly - "Take for 7 days" not "Take until finished"

Don't:

1. Don't prescribe without a visit - breaks continuity of care
2. Don't use vague dosages - "Take as directed" is not enough
3. Don't forget to sign/issue - Draft prescriptions don't get filled
4. Don't skip patient instructions - improves medication compliance
5. Don't forget drug interactions - check if patient on other meds

Common Tasks & How-to's

How to prescribe antibiotics:

1. Create prescription from visit
2. Add Drug: Search "Amoxicillin"
3. Dosage: "500 mg"
4. Route: "Oral"
5. Frequency: "Three times daily"
6. Duration: "7 days"
7. Quantity: "21 capsules"
8. Instructions: "Take until finished, even if feeling better"

How to issue a prescription to patient:

1. Open the Draft prescription
2. Click Edit
3. Change status from "Draft" to "Issued"
4. Save
5. Print or send to pharmacy

How to mark as dispensed:

1. Open Issued prescription
2. Click Edit
3. Change status to "Dispensed"
4. Save
5. Document any dispensing notes

How to cancel a prescription:

1. Open the prescription
2. Click Edit
3. Change status to "Cancelled"
4. Add note explaining why
5. Save

How to add PRN (as needed) medication:

1. Add drug as usual
2. For Frequency: Select "As needed (PRN)"
3. In Instructions: Specify when to take
   • Example: "Take 1 tablet every 6 hours as needed for pain"

How to prescribe topical medication:

1. Add drug (cream/ointment)
2. Route: Select "Topical"
3. In Instructions: Specify application details
   • Example: "Apply thin layer to affected area twice daily"

Quick Reference Guide

What you want to do	Steps to follow	Important Notes
Prescribe medication	New Prescription → Select Visit → Add Drugs	Visit must be Finalized
Change prescription	Edit → Update details → Save	Can't edit if Dispensed
Print prescription	View → Print page	Includes all medications
Find today's prescriptions	Click "Today" tab	Default view
Check medication list	Open prescription → Items tab	See all drugs prescribed

Troubleshooting

If "Create Prescription" is missing from visit:

• Visit status might not be "Finalized"
• Change visit status first, then try again
• You might not have permission to prescribe

If drug not in dropdown:

• Medication might not be in system database
• Contact pharmacy to add to drug list
• Can manually type in emergency (but not recommended)

If can't change prescription status:

• Check you're in Edit mode
• Verify you have permission
• Some status changes might be restricted (like Dispensed → Draft)

If prescription items won't save:

• Check all required fields are filled
• Make sure drug code is valid
• Duration must be at least 1 day
• Quantity must be at least 1

Time-Saving Tips

1. Start from visit - fastest way to create
2. Use frequent drugs list - they appear first in search
3. Save common instructions as templates
4. Bulk update statuses at end of clinic day
5. Use Today filter for current work
6. Print multiple prescriptions at once for pharmacy

Medication Safety Checklist

Before issuing any prescription, verify:

• ✓ Correct patient
• ✓ Correct drug and dosage
• ✓ No known allergies
• ✓ Clear instructions
• ✓ Appropriate duration
• ✓ No dangerous interactions
• ✓ Status updated from Draft
• ✓ Patient understands how to take

Remember: A clear prescription prevents medication errors and keeps patients safe!