A prescription (℞) is a health-care program implemente by a physician or other qualified healthcare practitioner in the form of instructions that govern the plan of care for an individual patient. Prescriptions may include orders to be performed by a patient, caretaker, nurse, pharmacist or other therapist. Prescriptions are often written, though they may be typed into a computerized physician order entry system or issued verbally to the patient, a nurse, a pharmacist or other therapist. Prescriptions have legal implications, as they may indicate that the prescriber takes responsibility for the clinical care of the patient and in particular for monitoring efficacy and safety.