introduction to dispensing

8/13/2019 Introduction to Dispensing

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Mr. Haroon Rahim(Pharm-D, M.Phil, R-Ph & PhD Scholar)

Lecturer

Department of Pharmacy

Sarhad University of Science & Information Technology Peshawar


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Dispensing Dispensing is an important part of the practice of pharmacy,

in which the pharmacist or the pharmacy technician (under

the direct supervision of the pharmacist) interprets the

physician's requirements on the prescription and accordingly

supplies medicines for the treatment of his patient (s).

This usually involves interpreting a written prescription but

may, on occasions, also include taking instructions given by

word of mouth or by telephone from the physician.


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The various activities involved in Dispensing areReceiving and confirming orders

Checking prescription and interpretation

Verifying and consulting if required

Removing medicines for issue and assembling

Billing and counterchecking

Issuing medicines to the client with clear instructionsand counseling


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Dispensing modules for good pharmacy practice1. Dispensing environment

a) Prescription Counterb) Waiting Area

c) Requirements of a good dispensing environmentd) Barriers, noise and distractions that can affect dispensing2. Handling of Prescriptions

a) Receiving the prescriptionb) Reading the prescription and checking for

A. Legality

B. LegibilityC. Completeness and correctness

3. Processing a prescriptiona) Filling a prescriptionb) Removal of medicines from shelves.c) Assembling of medicines.d) Billing.e) Packing.f) Refilling a prescription

4. Other aspects of dispensinga) Dispensing errorsb) Role of pharmacists in promoting correct dispensingc) Refusal to dispense prescriptionsd) Alternatives to conventional prescriptions.


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DISPENSING ENVIRONMENT

1.1 Prescription counterIdeally the prescription counter should: Be accessible to the client

Preferably be separate and in a quite location. If there are other separate sections (e.g

cosmetics, general items, OTC section), it should be slightly away from them

Be calm. Orderly, attractive and marked with an identifying sign or symbol which can

be easily identified and seen from other parts of the pharmacy.

A different color, appearance, demarcation etc may be given to the prescription

section, to provide added emphasis.

Have a waiting area for clients who wait for their prescriptions to be dispensed or

filled


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1.2 Waiting areaWhat should and ideal waiting area provide?

Comfortable chairs/place to sit (especially for

elderly/disabled/sick patients to rest).

Current popular health magazines and

carefully selected material to good health, to

keep the client busy/occupied and prevent

boredom while waiting to receive medicines.

Pamphlets and posters related to public,

family and other individual health problems

prominently displayed (as the waiting area

could be used as a health education center)


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1.3 Requirements of a Good Dispensing Environment1. Be clean: To give a professional impression and outlook to the pharmacy.

2. Be organized: To provide for a safe and efficient working area. (Such that things are found

in the right place at the right times and there are minimum obstructions and hurdles).

3. Have sufficient space For easy movement of personnel in the pharmacy, and to prevent

congestion and physical contact among staff while working.

4. Temperature and humidity controlled As appropriate temperature and humidity arenecessary for stability of medicines till the expiry date.

5. No loud music playing, gossiping, talking, or television (e.g. a cricket match or a

movie) : To avoid distractions during dispensing.

6. Have medicines stored in an organized way on shelves in alphabetical order or usingthe method normally employed in that particular pharmacy: To ensure quick, but safe

selection of the correct medicines from the shelves to minimize dispensing errors.

BE CLEAN, GET ORGANISED!! GIVE THE PHARMACY A PROFESSIONAL

LOOK


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Maintaining a clean environment

requires A regular routine of cleaning shelves, medicines/products, and a daily

cleaning of floors. A regular schedule for checking, cleaning and defrosting

the refrigerator. Immediate wiping of accidental spills due to breakage, etc,

during dispensing.

Activity 1: Prepare separate SOPs for cleaning the floor, shelves,

refrigerator, drawers etc. Each SOP should define the periodicity with

which cleaning (of each) should be carried out and also assign the

responsibilities to the pharmacy staff.

Activity 2: Prepare a work chart to be signed by the person doing the

cleaning and the person supervising, on the completion of work


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Working in a clean and an organized environment in a pharmacy, aids

in accuracy while dispensing, and also gives a professional look to the

pharmacy. Presence of a separate prescription counter and waiting area

can further Highlight professionalism and competence of thepharmacist. Pharmacists handle medicines, and a slight dispensing

error could result in serious consequences i.e. health -wise for the

patient, and for the pharmacy a loss of reputation. Thus a good

dispensing environment is recommended for every pharmacy.

Advantages of a good dispensing enviromentI. Reduces dispensing errors.II. Reduces fatigue among pharmacy staff.

III. Enhances services.IV. Improves the image of pharmacyV. Increases clientsVI. Increases speed.VII.Creates a professional image


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2) HANDLING PRESCRIPTIONS2.1 Receiving the Prescription

As clients come into the pharmacy, they must be made to feelattended to and comfortable by :

Friendly gestures. A smile.

Eye-to-eye contact.

A friendly welcome.

Courtesy. Feeling of caring .

2.2 Communication should be initiated in such a mannerthat it encourages the client to convey his/her needs byproducing a prescription or by asking for other productsor advice

U i i h i i h


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Upon receiving the prescription, the

pharmacist should confirm

Whether the client is the patienthimself or has come on the

patient's behalf.

The relation of the client with

the patient. The client may politely be

requested to wait, while the

pharmacist reviews the

prescription for: Legality and completeness of

prescription.

Therapeutic aspects

Appropriateness for the individual

Excuse me sir!Is this yourmedicine

For whommedication is

prescribed

It is

prescribed forme

No


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2.2 Reading the Prescription and Checking for

Completeness and Correctness

While reading and checking the

prescription, the pharmacist Should

Be alert, and concentrate on the

prescription.

Not be distracted.

Not engage in talking or chatting.

Engage/ use his professional/

experience in assessing the

prescription.


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After receiving the prescription, it is important for the

pharmacist to read the prescription to verify whether

It is legal and complete with respect to the various parts of the

prescription, and therefore

It can be dispensed as such, or not.

Legality

A prescription is legal when :

It is written (can also be typed) by a R.M.P.

Signed by the R.M.P.

Has all the information required to be contained with respect to parts

of prescription


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Legibility

Handwritten names of patients and medicines are often

difficult to read. In case of illegibility of name, age, etc,

ask the patient for the correct spelling tactfully. For

example the pharmacist may askExcuse me thefirst name is

Jame or Jane

Always use excuse me or please etc and be polite


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b) The dosage form, the dosage and the quantity to be

dispensed have to be legible so that dispensing becomeseasier for the pharmacist.

The instructions written for administration should state

clearly what the physician expects from the patient so that

the pharmacist can counsel the patients efficiently.

All terminology, including units of measures (metric,

apothecary or English) and Latin abbreviations should be

properly interpreted


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Completeness and correctness The prescription serves as a vehicle for communication from the licensed

practitioner to the pharmacist about the pharmaceutical care of the patient.

Details to be checked for

i) Physician's details.

ii) Patient's details.

iii) Check the product details

Checking the product details will include checking :

Name of the product.

Dosage form.

Strength/ potency of the medicine.

Total amount to be dispensed and its availability

Dosage and directions for use.

Frequency of administration


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General dispensing procedure1. Work on your own place.

2. Wear freshly laundered overall coat.

3. Provide yourself with a clean glass-cloth, a duster

and either sponge.4. Work in a clean and tidy manner.

5. Read the prescription carefully, make sure youunderstand it and that it is legally correct.

6. If necessary, find out the formula of the prescriptionin an appropriate source of information.


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7. Check the doses of internal preparations.

8. Find, from an appropriate source, if any ingredient isa poison.

9. Conform that there are no pharmaceutical ortherapeutic incompatibility in the preparation.

10. if you are unsure of correct method of preparationrefer to your practical notebook.

11. Look up the storage conditions for the preparations.

12. Work out the calculations.13. Check the calculations.


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14. Collect the correct container and closure.

15. If necessary, trim the label to fit the container but do notremove the name of suppliers.

16. Write the main label and collect any special labels that

are required.

17. Make the preparation, pack it in the containers and

polish the label.

18. Check the label and fix them to the container.

19. Check the finished preparation.20. Wrap the container and write the patients name and

address on the wrapper.

21. Make the appropriate records.

introduction to dispensing

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