Study 4 Prescription Intake and Processing with 12 free online flashcards. Review key terms, definitions, and concepts with this interactive flashcard deck.
What is the technician’s role when prescription information is unclear?
Technicians enter and process orders, document work, and refer clinical, legal, or unclear issues to the pharmacist; they must not guess or make unauthorized changes.
What information should be identified on a typical prescription?
Confirm the patient, prescriber, medication, directions (SIG), quantity, refills, dates, and any additional instructions. Requirements vary by jurisdiction and prescription type.
What details make up a prescription’s SIG?
The SIG includes dose, route, frequency or timing, duration if specified, and any special instructions.
How many tablets are needed for 1 tablet twice daily for 7 days?
For 1 tablet per dose, 2 doses per day, and 7 days, the calculated quantity is 14 tablets: 1×2×7=14. Follow pharmacy procedure and refer uncertainty.
What must be checked for an oral-liquid prescription?
Verify both the concentration and the volume instructions. Electronic-prescribing certification requirements specify milliliters (mL), not cc, for oral-liquid volume.
What must be matched when selecting a drug product?
Match the ingredient, strength, dosage form, route, and package or concentration to the prescription; similar names and adjacent strengths can cause selection errors.
How should decimal medication amounts be written safely?
Use a leading zero for amounts below one, such as 0.5 mg, and do not use a trailing zero, such as 0.50 mg.
Does electronic prescribing remove the need to check an order?
A received electronic message still requires careful patient and order matching; electronic format does not eliminate incomplete or inconsistent information.
What should happen when a drug or SIG is unclear?
Pause processing and alert the pharmacist for review and, if needed, prescriber clarification. Do not resolve unclear directions by assumption.
How should a quantity or days’ supply conflict be handled?
Recheck the arithmetic and units. Refer unresolved discrepancies rather than silently revising the prescription.
How should an insurance rejection be handled?
Identify whether the rejection concerns eligibility, coordination of benefits, coverage, prior authorization, quantity limits, refill timing, or claim data. Correct verified administrative errors; refer clinical or override decisions.
What should a technician do about concerns with a controlled-substance prescription?
Technicians should promptly escalate concerns or unusual circumstances; determining validity and legitimate medical purpose is the dispensing pharmacist’s responsibility.