What is the best strategy when dealing with unreadable physician handwriting?

In situations where physician handwriting is unreadable, the most effective strategy is to communicate directly with the physician to seek clarification. This approach ensures that there is no misunderstanding regarding the orders, which is critical for maintaining patient safety and ensuring that the correct actions are taken. By asking the physician to provide verbal clarification at the moment, you minimize the risk of errors that could occur from misinterpretation of illegible handwriting.

Utilizing a magnifying glass may not effectively resolve issues with clarity, as the fundamental problem is the illegibility of the handwriting itself, not the size of the text. Ignoring the handwriting can lead to serious consequences, as proceeding without understanding the orders could compromise patient care. Likewise, waiting for a physician to clarify orders without timely intervention can delay necessary treatments or interventions, which can be detrimental to patient outcomes. Therefore, direct verification from the physician is the best practice in such a situation.