Allison Benz, R.Ph.
Assistant Director of Enforcement

Approximately 27% of the 71 errors which resulted in disciplinary orders may have been detected (and thus prevented) if a pharmacist had verbally counseled a patient or patient’s agent. For example, errors involving the "wrong directions" can generally be detected if the pharmacist will be on the alert when reading the label directions to the patient. In addition, approximately 58% of the 71 errors may have been detected if the dispensing or consulting pharmacist had looked inside the prescription container and compared the contents to the drug name on the prescription label, before giving the prescription container to the patient or patient’s agent. Accordingly, the Board encourages pharmacists to read the drug name on the label and look inside the prescription container, before giving the medication to the patient/patient’s agent. Pharmacists are also encouraged to review errors that may have occurred in the pharmacy, evaluate their practice setting, and then make any changes necessary to prevent errors from occurring in the future.