Question

question 98

a pharmacy technician should identify which of the following as the appropriate action when a medication recall notice is received at the pharmacy?

• discard all recalled stock immediately and update the computer system.
• return the recalled medication to the shelf and place a note on the bottle.
• quarantine the recalled product, notify the pharmacist, and follow the pharmacys recall protocol.
• continue dispensing the medication until the pharmacist reviews the notice.

Explanation:

Analyze the scenario and options

Using the Drug Recall Procedures knowledge point

• When a medication recall notice is received, the immediate priority is to prevent any further dispensing or administration of the affected product to ensure patient safety.
• The standard procedure involves immediately removing the recalled medication from active inventory, placing it in a designated, secure holding area (quarantining it) to prevent accidental use, notifying the pharmacist in charge, and following the specific manufacturer or regulatory instructions for return or disposal.
• Let's evaluate the given options:

1. Discard all recalled stock immediately and update the computer system. — Incorrect. Recalled stock should not be thrown away immediately in standard trash; it must be quarantined and processed according to specific disposal or return instructions.
2. Return the recalled medication to the shelf and place a note on the bottle. — Incorrect. Leaving recalled medication on active dispensing shelves poses a severe risk of accidental dispensing.
3. Quarantine the recalled product, notify the pharmacist, and follow the pharmacy's recall protocol. — Correct. This aligns perfectly with standard safety and regulatory guidelines.
4. Continue dispensing the medication until the pharmacist reviews the notice. — Incorrect. Dispensing must stop immediately to protect patients.

Answer:

• (A) Discard all recalled stock immediately and update the computer system.
• (B) Return the recalled medication to the shelf and place a note on the bottle.
• (C) Quarantine the recalled product, notify the pharmacist, and follow the pharmacy's recall protocol. (Correct answer)
• (D) Continue dispensing the medication until the pharmacist reviews the notice.