6 Dispensing a Prescription

Outcome:

Medication is safely, accurately and appropriately dispensed to the correct patient according to name, brand, strength, quantity and formulation with accurate instructions as intended by the prescriber.

Potential Risks:

Inappropriate and/or inaccurate dispensing may lead to individual patient harm and/or harm to the health and safety of the public.

 

EPA Template

Element Performance Criteria Description
Prescription Review - Prescription is checked for legality, validity and completeness according to all relevant jurisdictional requirements:

- Ensure prescription fulfils PBS requirements (if applicable)
- Ensure prescriptions for S4s, S8s and Monitored Medicines comply with the Medicines and Poisons (Medicines) Regulation 2021
- Q Script check performed (if applicable)

Clinical Reasoning Individualised assessment of the clinical appropriateness and safety of the prescribed medication in the context of the specific patient including the feasibility of use:

- Consider the personal characteristics, preferences, values, beliefs and cultural and linguistic diversity of the individual

Clinical Review Clinical review of prescription for appropriateness:

- Indication
- Contraindications
- Dose (considering individual patient factors such as age/weight, renal/hepatic function, severity of disease, etc)
- Drug interactions
- Allergies and ADRs

Dispensing Procedure Applies a disciplined and systematic process to dispense prescription:

- Prescription details are accurately entered into the dispensing software
- Accurate selection of product to be dispensed
- Dispensing label and relevant ancillary labels are appropriately attached to the product in a manner that complies with the legal requirements and professional conventions
- Prescription paperwork is assembled correctly OR e-Prescription processed appropriately
- Maintains records of dispensed medicines consistent with legal requirements and professional conventions

Checking Process Checks are carried out at the appropriate stages dispensing process:

- Final check of dispensed product is performed ensuring the dispensing reflects the intentions of the prescriber

- Patient name and address
- Medication/strength/formulation/quantity
- Dosage instructions and duration of use
- Number of repeats (if applicable) and dispensing interval (where required)
- Date of prescribing
- Prescribing doctor
- Use of dispensing bar-code scanner

- Product and paperwork are stored appropriately, considering patient privacy, prior to patient collection

Handing out Patient receives correct medication and associated paperwork:

- Confirmation of patient details, using multiple open-ended questions, to ensure correct patient receives dispensed product

Collaboration and Agency  - Clarification is sought for any concerns identified and any changes to the prescription are documented appropriately

- Identify and acknowledge any professional or personal limitations and seek support where necessary

- Prescription is dispensed in a timely manner

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School of Pharmacy Preceptor Handbook Copyright © 2023 by The University of Queensland is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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