Dispensing
There are three steps to dispensing: reviewing the prescription, preparing and dispensing the medication, and finally, delivering the medication.
- Review prescription
- Ensure prescription is unambiguous
- Check suitability of medication choice, route, dose, frequency and timing
- Consider interactions, potential side effects, patient age, weight and allergies
- Where information is available consider comorbidities, current clinical state including test results and vital signs
- Contact prescriber for discrepancies or concerns
- Prepare and dispense medication
- Ensure correct product selection (medication, dosage form, strength), check expiry date
- Product label should contain patient, medication, strength and form and (when dispensing for patient use) directions including ancillary labels
- Deliver medication
- Ensure timely delivery of medication to a designated area
