No, one just learns to decipher by context. The only part of a physician’s handwriting that is generally completely illegible is the signature, and the prescriber’s name and DEA # is usually pre-printed on the prescription pad.
If there’s any doubt about the prescription itself, (or on a patient’s order sheet in their hospital chart) the physician gets a call to clarify. If there are enough interrupting calls or delays in carrying out orders, physicians usually clean up their writing.
The quietest, most self-effacing nurse on our unit slapped a “Grinch” nametag on me. If it had been anyone else, I probably would have hit back, but since it was Donna, I ruefully laughed and apologized for my extreme grumpiness.
I worked in the hospital where most of “Regarding Henry” was filmed- never did see the end product, even though several of my patients were extras.