Question

question 92

a pharmacy technician is checking a completed prescription before placing it in the will-call bin. which of the following represents the best practice for verifying the prescription was filled correctly?

• compare the label to the original prescription to verify drug name, strength, quantity, and directions.
• compare the label to the previous refill bottle if available.
• count the tablets again to verify the quantity without checking the label.
• ask the patient to verify the medication when they pick it up.

Explanation:

Analyze the verification process

Using the Prescription Verification knowledge point

To ensure patient safety and accuracy in the pharmacy workflow, a completed prescription must be verified against the original source document (the original prescription written by the prescriber). This verification process requires confirming that the critical elements on the prepared prescription label—specifically the drug name, strength, quantity, and directions—match the original order exactly.

Evaluate the given options

• Option 1: Comparing the label to the original prescription to verify drug name, strength, quantity, and directions is the gold standard for verification because it directly validates the filled medication against the prescriber's original intent.
• Option 2: Comparing to a previous refill bottle is unreliable, as the previous bottle could contain errors or outdated information.
• Option 3: Counting tablets without checking the label ignores critical parameters like drug name, strength, and directions.
• Option 4: Asking the patient to verify the medication shifts the clinical and technical responsibility of verification from the trained pharmacy staff to the patient, which is unsafe.

Answer:

• (A) Compare the label to the original prescription to verify drug name, strength, quantity, and directions. (Correct answer)
• (B) Compare the label to the previous refill bottle if available.
• (C) Count the tablets again to verify the quantity without checking the label.
• (D) Ask the patient to verify the medication when they pick it up.