negative, and two or more medications are often administered to achieve a greater therapeutic effect. Information Concerning Drug Contraindications, Adverse Reactions, and Interactions Descriptions of drug contraindications, adverse reactions, and interactions may be found in several publications, most notably the Physicians’ Desk Reference. However, the most important location for finding this information is the manufacturer’s package insert and associated literature that accompanies each drug. PRESCRIPTIONS LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Recall the p a r t s o f a p re s c r i p t i o n , a u t h o r i z e d prescribers and how prescriptions are written, filled, verified, labeled, and filed. The most important tool used by the pharmacy is the prescription. A prescription is a written or computerized order from a healthcare provider (prescriber) directing the pharmacy to compound and dispense a drug or medication for a patient to use. Of special importance is your understanding and conformance to the following protocols:  All information pertaining to a prescription is confidential and should not be divulged to any persons not specifically involved in the treatment.  No prescription or any of its parts may be applied or transferred to any person other than the patient specified. To fill a prescription correctly, you must thoroughly understand the prescription writing and filling process. Because regulations and policies governing pharmacies sometimes change, it is important for you to be familiar with pharmacy policies in the Manual of the Medical Department (MANMED), NAVMED P-117. The MANMED is the basic guide to pharmacy operations. PARTS OF THE PRESCRIPTION Currently, there are two standardized forms used for prescriptions: the DoD Prescription, DD Form 1289 (fig. 6-3) and the Polyprescription, NAVMED 6710/6 (fig. 6-4). Information placed on these forms must be either typewritten or legibly handwritten in ink or indelible pencil. In addition to these two forms, many of today’s fixed medical facilities (e.g., naval hospitals and medical clinics) now have automated pharmacy systems that allow healthcare providers to enter prescription requests into computers in their offices instead of handwriting prescriptions. Prescriptions, written or computerized, have, for the most part, the same information requirements. The only major difference is that automated prescriptions do not require the prescriber’s signature. DD 1289 is used extensively for outpatient prescriptions. For this reason, the key parts of DD 1289 will be discussed in the following sections. See figure 6-3 for examples of specific block entries. Patient Information Block In the patient information block, located at the top of the DD 1289, the patient’s full name and date of birth are required. At most medical facilities, however, additional patient information is added to this block. This additional information usually includes the patient’s duty station; social security number with family member prefix; rate; and branch of service. Medical Facility and Date Block The medical facility block, located below the patient information block, should contain the name of the medical facility or ship where the prescription was written. Completion of this block is important if the source of the prescription needs to be traced. The date block, located to the right of the medical facility block, should contain the date in which the prescription was written. Prescription Block The large block in the center of the DD 1289 is the prescription block. It contains four parts: the superscription, the inscription, the subscription, and the signa. SUPERSCRIPTION.—The superscription “Rx” means “take” or “take thou” or, in effect, “I want this patient to have the following medication.” INSCRIPTION.—The inscription is that part of the prescription that lists the names and quantities of the ingredients to be used. This part of the prescription 6-20