PTCB Question of the Day

Answer

4. Perform a clinical review of prescription orders.

The following actions CAN legally be performed by a pharmacy technician:

• Receive and enter paper or faxed prescription orders
• Receive refill requests from patients
• Receive a refill authorization from a prescriber or their agent (given that there are no changes to the prescription)
• Enter prescription orders and insurance information into the pharmacy software system
• View and enter patient data
• Act as a cashier
• Count or measure out drug products in order to prepare a prescription order
• Manage pharmacy inventor
• Load drug-dispensing devices (e.g., Pyxis machines) or automated dispensing robots
• Distribute or deliver medications
• Prepare sterile IV admixtures and nonsterile compounds under the supervision of a pharmacist

The following actions MUST be performed by a licensed pharmacist:

• Provide medication counseling or give medical advice to patients
• Perform a clinical review of prescription orders
• Perform clinical interventions (e.g., drug interaction, prescription alteration)
• Perform a drug utilization review

In most cases, only pharmacists are allowed to transfer prescriptions from one pharmacy to another. Most states also require immunizations to be performed by pharmacists, although some states are allowing specially trained technicians to immunize patients.