Finally, persons authorized to prescribe cannot write prescriptions for themselves or members of their immediate families. FILLING PRESCRIPTIONS When you receive a prescription for filling, you should follow certain basic steps to make sure that the right patient gets the right medicine in the right amount in the right way. There are no shortcuts—in the pharmacy things are done right or not at all! Prescription Verification First of all, satisfy yourself that the prescription you have received is a bonafide one and that the person you have received it from is entitled to have it filled by your pharmacy. You don’t need to be tedious about verification. The simplest and best way is to ask for an ID card and verify the expiration date on the ID card. Study the prescription carefully and make sure that the drug prescribed is reasonable, that its amount or dosage is realistic in consideration of the patient’s age, and that the quantity of the medication is practical. A prescription calling for 1,000 tetracycline tablets or a pint of paregoric, for example, warrants further inquiry. If, in the process of verification, you feel that there is a discrepancy, an ambiguity, or an incompatibility, or for any reason you find it is necessary to consult the prescriber, never allow the patient to suspect that anything is amiss. You should never fill a prescription you do not completely understand or that you feel is incorrect. What appears to be an overdose may be the desired dose for a specific patient, but the prescriber will appreciate being called for verification. When you are sure you understand the prescription and are satisfied that it is in all respects correct, you should give its filling your undivided attention. Most mistakes are made when the person filling the prescription is either interrupted while doing so or is trying to accomplish more than one task at a time. During the process of filling a prescription, the label on the containers used in filling the prescription should be verified at least three times. Initially, the label should be read when the container is taken from the shelf. Then it should be read again when the contents are removed from the container. And finally, the container’s label should be read before it is returned to the shelf. By following these three verification steps for each prescription you fill, you will reduce the possibility of making a prescription error. Prescription Labeling Proper labeling of a prescription is as important as filling it correctly. It is reasonable to assume that if a great deal of accuracy is necessary to properly compound a prescription, it is just as important that the patient take the correct amount of medication in the right manner to receive its maximum benefits. Improperly written or misunderstood directions on a prescription label can be disastrous. Make sure all labels are typed clearly and their directions translated into simple layman’s language. Keep in mind that the prescription label serves two purposes. First and most important, it gives the patient directions pertaining to the medication; second, in case of misuse or error, it is the quickest means by which the contents of the prescription container, the person who wrote the prescription, and the person who filled it can be traced. Consequently, the following information, illustrated in figure 6-5, should always be on the label:  The name and phone number of the dispensing facility  A serialized number that corresponds with the number on the prescription form, (see figure 6-3)  The date the prescription is filled  The patient’s name  The directions to the patient, transcribed accurately from the prescription, in clear, concise layman’s language  The prescriber’s name and rate or rank  The initials of the compounder  Authorized refills, if any  The expiration date, if applicable  Name, strength, and quantity of medication dispensed NOTE: Pharmaceutical preparations should be identified and labeled with the generic name. However, trade or brand names may be used if the trade or brand name is actually on the container. Other information that may need to be attached to the prescription container are labels reading “Shake Well Before Using” or “For External Use Only.” “Poison” labels should be omitted when a preparation 6-23