Medication Dispensing
Process prescriptions and medication orders and dispense medication accurately. Resolve medication incidents including dispensing errors and near misses.
Type
Domain
Competency Area
Drug Compounding and Management
Levels
Process prescriptions and/or medication orders according to organisational guidelines
Identify required drugs and ingredients by the International Non- proprietary Name (INN), generic, common or brand names
Identify basic drug- related problems in prescriptions and/or medication orders
Prioritise the order in which prescriptions are processed
Enter prescription data accurately into patients’ medication records
Perform pharmaceutical calculations
Pack medications accurately according to prescriptions
Apply legible, comprehensible and complete labels to packed medicines
Replenish stock of pre- packed medication
Issue stocks to relevant locations
Identify and report medication incidents including near misses, dispensing errors, verifications and outcomes to supervisors
Check that medications and labels are prepared in accordance to prescriptions
Validate prescriptions in accordance to legal requirements and organisational guidelines
Identify invalid or deficit prescriptions
Seek rectification from prescribers on invalid or deficit prescriptions
Identify the prescribed drugs on prescriptions
Dispense prescriptions accurately
Compare patient’s medication history with current medication information
Identify common drug- related problems (DRP) in prescription
Liaise with prescribers to identify suitable alternative products where supply difficulties are apparent
Dispense medication or prescriptions accurately to the correct patients
Counsel patients on the correct use of medications including proper storage conditions
Check patients’ medication compliance
Verify patients’ occurrence of adverse drug reactions with the prescribed medications
Report to supervisors when problems or errors arise during dispensing processes
Manage medication incidents including near misses and dispensing errors
Verify feedback related to medication incidents including near misses and dispensing errors provided by patients and next-of-kins (NOKs) and other healthcare providers
Investigate feedback on medication incidents including near misses and dispensing errors under pharmacists’ supervision
Draft responses on medication incidents to feedback providers
Conduct risk-benefit assessments on drugs prescribed to patients
Provide evidence-based literature research to check for uncommon drug contraindications
Supervise dispensing and pre-packaging workflows to ensure junior staff maintain the standards required of them
Review dispensing workflows, taking into account feedback and complaints received
Prepare incident reports of medication incidents including near misses and dispensing errors, with verifications and outcomes, if any, for submission to pharmacists-in-charge
Review existing dispensing workflows to align standards and guidelines to best practices
Plan corrective actions based on feedback and complaints received on medication incidents including near misses and dispensing errors
Conduct workflow improvement projects for dispensing services
Implement corrective actions according to organisational guidelines
Communicate to stakeholders for the potential follow-up actions required to prevent medication incidents