Prescription instructions
Create prescription instructions to use on prescription labels for consistent directions. Link to prescribed items to improve efficiency.
Before you start
Security
- Prescription Instruction List
- Prescription Instruction Setup
Important!
- Prescription instruction IDs cannot be modified once created.
Setup prescription instructions
Navigate to Lists > Prescription Instructions.
New instructions
- Click New.
- Enter an instruction ID, up to 7 alphanumeric characters, and press the Tab key.
- Enter an instruction Description.
- Enter Instruction details to display on prescription label. Press Ctrl + Enter to insert a return and move to the next line, if needed.
- There is a 30 character/space limit.
- You are limited to three lines of text.
- Tip: Choose descriptions which are easily connected to the prescription instruction ID. See additional notes for more details on instruction length.
- Example: PRED instruction ID for Prednisone Tapering Dose instruction.
- Click Spell Check to find and correct spelling errors.
- Click OK to save instruction and return to the prescription instruction list.
Update instructions
- To find an instruction to modify, do one of the following:
- Scroll through the list, which is sorted alphabetically by description.
- Use a search term in the Description field.
- Click Update.
- Modify the Description and/or Prescription instruction.
- Click Spell Check to find and correct spelling errors.
- Click OK to save instruction changes and return to the prescription instruction list.
Delete prescription instructions
- To find the instruction to modify, do one of the following:
- Scroll through the list, which is sorted alphabetically by description.
- Use a search term in the Description field.
- Click Delete.
- Click Yes or No to confirm.
- If the instruction is linked to an invoice item, a message displays. Click OK. To delete the instruction:
- Locate the related item(s).
- Remove the instruction from the Instructions tab of the Invoice Item Information window using Ctrl + D.
- Delete the instruction from the list.
How to use prescription instructions
Once set up, prescription instructions can be linked to invoice items to prepopulate the prescription label.
When making a label you can:
- Add an instruction at the time of use, if one is not linked.
- Change to a different instruction.
- Edit the linked instruction.
Additional information
General
- Linked instruction will prepopulate the prescription label when clicking RX buttons. The use of a prescription special action not required.
- Setting up prescription instructions is similar to setting up departing instructions:
- Create a list of instructions and then link a specific instruction to a prescription invoice item.
- You can still use departing instructions with prescription invoice items, even if the items have a prescription instruction.
- You can only use one prescription instruction per prescription invoice item.
- When creating a prescription label, instructions exceeding the printable space on the label will display a message and the instructions will turn red.
- This applies to instructions meeting the 3-line limit, but not using small font in prescription defaults.
- This applies to instructions meeting the 3-line limit, but not using small font in prescription defaults.
- Example instruction allowed on a prescription label without using the Small font setting:
- Give _ tablet(s) by mouth every 12 hours for _ days, _ tablet(s) every 24 hours for _ days, _ tablet(s) every other day until gone. Thirst/urination may increase.
- Example instruction allowed on a prescription label using the Small font setting:
- Give _ tablet(s) by mouth every 12 hours for _ days, then _ tablet(s) every 24 hours for _ days, then _ tablet(s) every other day until gone. Increased thirst and urination are common side effects. Please contact us if this is excessive.
- Instructions longer than printable length should be modified accordingly. The instruction will save to history as entered, but will be truncated on the label itself, if left unchanged.
Editing instructions
- Changes made to instructions in the list will only affect new use instances. It will not alter instructions linked to items that are already on patient visit lists, saved invoices, or in the patient’s history.
- Edit instruction as needed when making a labels per patient do not update the list entry.
Related reports
These Cornerstone reports provide information from the actions outlined in this article. Each report has its own security access under the Reports tab of the Security Setup window.
- Prescription Instructions Report
- Invoice Item Information Report: Displays items with Prescription label special actions
