App Tests Pharmacy Students' Sig Code Skills

A new mobile app called RXpert helps pharmacy students improve their speed and accuracy with sig codes through a fill-in-the-blank game.

App creator Steven Pettit, PharmD, founder of The Pharmacy School, told Pharmacy Times that the app can help prepare both pharmacy students and technicians. The RXpert app was launched on August 4, 2015, and is free through iTunes and Google Play.

Dr. Pettit described it as “a truly unique career-prep education game that prepares users to interpret doctors’ difficult handwriting and shorthand.”

In the game, students see pharmacy sig codes displayed and various words such as “for pain,” “every 72 hours,” “apply” or “mouth,” scrolling below.

For example, the sig code may be “iii po QDaily” and the fill-in-the-blank portion would be “Take _ tablet(s) _ _ every day.” Among the answer choices, the player would correctly select 3, by mouth, and every day.

Players have up to 30 seconds to select the right choices for the blanks, and at the end, they get a score based on their accuracy and speed. Scores can then be shared on Facebook and Twitter.

Players can also choose between easy and expert settings.

While the app is free, it does also offer paid add-ons for players who would like even more of a challenge. Players can buy packs of 20 handwritten prescriptions so that they can test themselves both on physicians’ handwriting and shorthand.