An Overview Of The Prescription Medication Process
Do you want to learn more about the prescribing medication process? Watch our video to receive an overview of the prescription medication process.
Learn More:
Who Should You Call When Prescription Medications Cause Issues?
Issues That Can Arise With Prescription Medications
Video Transcript
TImestamps
0:00 Intro
0:18 An Overview Of The Prescription Medication Process: Process Of Prescribing Medication
2:03 What Things Can Go Wrong
2:55 Helpful Videos
We can think about the prescription medication or medication prescribing process as a series of steps or milestones.
0:18 An Overview Of The Prescription Medication Process: Process Of Prescribing Medication
First, you have to order the medication. You have to write the prescription. You can do that in different ways today, but in ordering or writing that prescription, you then have to document that ordering of the prescription, and you can document it either manually or digitally or electronically if you will.
Once you’ve written your order and documented your order, then there has to be a transcribing process, a translational process because in at least the United States, one professional orders and documents the prescription, but another professional transcribes that order and dispenses that order.
So when we move from ordering and documenting, which typically starts with a physician or a physician extender in some states, then the transcribing of that order is typically done by a professional, that in most jurisdictions, is known as a pharmacist, and that pharmacist not only interprets or transcribes the order, but they have to do that in a way that then enables them to dispense the medication. And once the medication is dispensed, then it can be administered either by the individual for whom the medication is intended or by a caregiver and then ultimately, this whole process and its end result should be monitored.
2:03 What Things Can Go Wrong
So whether it be the ordering or the documenting or the transcribing or the dispensing or the administration or the ultimate monitoring, things can go wrong at each of those steps, and we just want to give some brief examples of what can go wrong.
So obviously, a prescriber can write a prescription for the wrong medication or they can write a prescription for the wrong dose of the medication or they can write a prescription for the wrong route by which the medicine is to be administered. Those are some examples of things that can go wrong at the ordering stage, that’s not all, but just an example. Then we come to the documentation of the prescription. What can go wrong there?
Now that we’ve described the medication prescribing process, I would invite you to look at a series of short videos that will follow this video to explain in more detail what some of the challenges are and what some of the things that could go wrong at each of the stages of the prescription medication process that I just went through.
The Importance of Acting Quickly
Medical malpractice claims are governed by a strict statute of limitations. If you have been harmed by a medication mistake, you have a short amount of time in which to file a claim. If you miss this narrow window of opportunity, you could forever miss your chance to receive compensation for your injuries.
Although taking on a doctor, hospital, or nursing home can seem daunting, speaking up for yourself could also mean giving a voice to others who have been harmed due to medication errors. Tragically, some medication mistakes happen because of bad policies in doctors’ offices and hospitals. In many cases, it takes just a single patient to stand up and bring attention to bad practices. Your case could be the one necessary to bring about an important change that saves lives and prevents others from experiencing life-threatening injuries.
Contact Our Nationwide Medication Error Attorneys today if you have been catastrophically injured due to a medication error.
Drug mix-ups and medication mistakes have become more common in recent years. As the baby boomer generation nears retirement age, a growing number of people are turning to pharmaceuticals to treat medical conditions, extend their lifespan, and improve their quality of life. Unfortunately, this has led to an increase in medication errors.
If you or a loved one has been injured due to a doctor or pharmacist’s medication-related negligence, don’t wait to seek help.