prescription /priskrip″shən/ , an order for medication, therapy, or therapeutic device given by a properly authorized person, which ultimately goes to a person properly authorized to dispense or perform the order. A prescription is usually in written form; can be e-mailed from a secure encrypted computer system, written, phoned, or faxed; and includes the patient’s name and address, the date, the ℞ symbol (superscription), the medication prescribed (inscription), directions to the pharmacist or other dispenser (subscription), the acceptability of dispensing a generic, directions to the patient that must appear on the label, prescriber’s signature, and in some instances, an identifying number.
