Pharmacy Technician Communication and Operations Review

A comprehensive set of question-and-answer flashcards covering pharmacy communication, workflow, inventory management, storage requirements, recalls, and reference materials based on the lecture notes.

What communication technique is most appropriate when a pharmacy technician explains a medication-related process to a patient with limited medical knowledge?

Use plain language and explain concepts clearly.

When is it appropriate for a pharmacy technician to use medical terminology?

When communicating with a health care provider or insurance company.

Based on professional standards, regardless of what factors should a pharmacy technician treat patients with respect and dignity?

Sexual orientation, age, race, religion, gender identity, and medical conditions.

If a patient asks a clinical question requiring professional judgment, what action should the pharmacy technician take?

Refer the clinical question to the pharmacist.

How is clinical empathy described in a professional pharmacy setting?

Understanding and sharing a patient's feelings while maintaining professionalism.

Which specific behavior demonstrates empathy when interacting with a patient?

Actively listening and acknowledging the patient's emotions.

Who holds the ultimate responsibility for final product verification before a prescription is released?

The pharmacist.

What is the intake area's primary role in a pharmacy?

It is generally the first point of contact between the patient and the pharmacy.

What is the primary purpose of maintaining a clean and structured intake area?

To facilitate a positive first impression.

Why must written prescriptions be scanned promptly at the intake area?

To prevent callbacks and delays.

Which pharmacy area is designated to be as free from distractions as possible?

The processing area.

What is the purpose of using separate bins or totes for prescriptions in different processing stages?

To prevent mislabeling.

The processed prescriptions area, where verified medications await pickup, is also known as what?

Will call.

If a computer alert indicates that pharmacist verification has not occurred during checkout, what is the required action?

The prescription should be returned to the pharmacist.

What must occur if insurance information is added or changed after the initial processing of a prescription?

A new label must be printed and the pharmacist must verify the prescription again.

According to the lesson, which two items are acceptable patient identifiers at the time of pickup?

Name and address.

Which area is designed for the pharmacist to provide private patient education?

The consulting area.

In an institutional pharmacy, where are prepared medications placed for final verification and distribution to hospital floors?

The ward boxes area.

To what tasks is "technician check technician" (TCT) generally limited?

Automated dispensing machine refills and unit dose batching.

Where do technicians in an institutional setting access prepackaged medications for order fulfillment?

Pullout shelves or carousel.

What is the specific purpose of an aseptic suite?

Preparation of sterile IV medications.

What is the purpose of the anteroom located outside an aseptic suite?

Proper garbing before entering the aseptic area.

What is the primary function of a medication-filling robot?

Preparing and packaging medications for delivery.

In inventory management, what does the Reorder Point (ROP) represent?

The predetermined minimum stock level that triggers a reorder.

Which parameter determines the specific amount of medication that should be ordered?

ROQ (Reorder Quantity).

What is the best practice to prevent drug diversion during the ordering process?

The person receiving the shipment should ideally be different from the person who placed the order.

Which inventory system ensures that products with earlier expiration dates are dispensed first?

FIFO (First-In, First-Out).

What physical observations during stocking should be reported to a pharmacist immediately?

A product with a broken seal or a change in color.

What is a potential negative consequence of maintaining excessive inventory?

Medications may expire and capital may become tied up.

What is the definition of Wholesale Acquisition Cost (WAC)?

The manufacturer's list price before discounts and rebates.

What is the definition of Actual Acquisition Cost (AAC)?

The price actually paid by the pharmacy after applicable discounts and rebates.

Which pricing term represents the maximum reimbursement amount established by a payer for certain generic medications?

MAC (Maximum Allowable Cost).

What system is used for the secure electronic ordering of CII controlled substances?

Controlled Substance Ordering System (CSOS).

What is the general pharmacy room-temperature range?

$$20^{\circ}\text{C}-25^{\circ}\text{C}$$

What is the general pharmacy refrigerator temperature range?

$$1.7^{\circ}\text{C}-7.8^{\circ}\text{C}$$

At what temperature should a pharmacy freezer be maintained?

$5^{\circ}\text{F}$ or lower.

How often should refrigerator and freezer temperatures be documented?

Twice daily.

Which medication must be dispensed in its original manufacturer's amber bottle to protect it from light?

Sublingual nitroglycerin.

Which specific medication is identified as requiring refrigeration?

Latanoprost ophthalmic drops.

What information is most critical for identifying the specific batch of medication affected by a recall?

The lot number.

Which recall classification is used for products that present the greatest potential danger to health?

Class I.

What characterizes a Class II recall?

A temporary or reversible risk of adverse effects, or a small possibility of serious adverse effects.

Which program is used by health care professionals to report adverse medication effects to the FDA?

MedWatch.

Which form is used for the disposal of expired controlled substances?

DEA-41.

Which federal agency enforces the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regarding hazardous waste?

EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).

What characterizes P-listed hazardous medications?

Acutely hazardous medications where even empty containers are considered hazardous.

Which hazardous waste list includes many chemotherapy drugs?

U-listed.

What is the specific exception to the rule against flushing medications down the toilet?

Used fentanyl patches.

Which reference is used to determine therapeutic equivalence between generic and brand-name drugs?

Orange Book.

Which resource is used for identifying medication pricing (AWP, WAC, etc.)?

Red Book.

Which reference provides international travel recommendations and is updated every two years?

Yellow Book.

Which resource identifies medications based on physical characteristics like shape, color, and imprint?

Micromedex IDENTIDEX (or Ident-A-Drug).

Which resource provides data on parenteral medication compatibility and stability?

Handbook on Injectable Drugs.

Which publication focuses specifically on medication error prevention and near misses?

ISMP Medication Safety Alert!