In the Summer 2016 issue of Pharmacy Connection, we outlined two cases that demonstrated the importance of speaking with the patient and gathering the indication for use prior to dispensing a drug.
As
a pharmacist, when dispensing medications you must review each
prescription for a medication that a patient is taking for the first
time to ensure that the medication is the most appropriate for the
specific patient and the dose and instructions for use are correct.
In
a large number of cases, this cannot be accomplished unless you are
aware of the indication for use. The optimal dosage regimen will often
be determined by the clinical purpose of the drug.
Read the full article now, "Focus on Error Prevention: Determining the Clinical Purpose of a Prescription," including three important recommendations.