Kansas Pharmacy Professionals – What Are the Most Common Pharmacy Errors?

Pharmacists rely on the assistance of pharmacy technicians to ensure prescriptions are filled accurately and timely for patients.  Pharmacy technicians have close contact with patients and they are often the only people that patients end up speaking with, unless a patient specifically asks to speak with a pharmacist.  All pharmacy technicians are supposed to ask patients if they have any questions for the pharmacist about the medication they have been prescribed.  This routine ensures that both pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are providing patients with an opportunity to find out more about the medication that is being taken. 

This is only one example of how pharmacy staff members work together to provide the best care possible for patients.  When certain standards or protocols are not followed, patients are at risk for suffering harm, as described below.

Common Errors Made By Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians

Pharmacy errors made by both pharmacists and pharmacy technicians include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Dispensing the wrong medication to patients (i.e., by failing to confirm that the patient’s name is correct, that the patient’s date of birth is correct, and/or that the patient’s address and phone number are correct);
  • Dispensing the wrong dose of a particular medication;
  • Dispensing expired medication (i.e., failing to look at the medication’s expiration date);
  • Failing to consult with patients if there is a potential drug interaction, or drug side-effects that the patient needs to be aware of;
  • Failing to ask a patient if he or she has questions about the medication being prescribed; and
  • Failing to follow-up with the prescribing physician if information seems unclear about a particular patient’s medication.

Oftentimes, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who make any of the errors above, do so without any negative consequence to a patient.  For example, if the wrong medication is dispensed, the patient will likely figure this out if his or her name is not actually on the prescription bottle.  However, even if the error is minor and is not likely to lead to any significant harm to patients, the potential for significant harm is enough to take every step possible to prevent any of the above errors from occurring.

It is important to understand that everyone will make a mistake at some point, and making a mistake does not in itself mean that you may be at risk for losing your Kansas professional license.  However, it is also important to have an understanding of what your rights and obligations are as a Kansas pharmacist or pharmacy technician.  With the assistance of an experienced Kansas professional license defense attorney, you will know how to address pharmacy errors and will know what action you need to take to avoid the potential loss of your professional license.

Contact Danielle Sanger of the Sanger Law Office Today to Schedule Your Free Consultation

If you are a Kansas pharmacist or pharmacy technician and your license is at risk or you are facing other disciplinary action, you should seek the advice of an experienced Kansas professional license defense attorney as soon as possible.  With your career at stake, you need an advocate by your side to help you keep your Kansas professional license.  As former Assistant Attorney General of Kansas, Danielle Sanger of the Sanger Law Office provides her clients with the best representation possible.  Danielle Sanger devotes the same amount of close attention and dedication to each and every client to ensure she is able to reach the best resolution possible that prevents the loss of a professional license.  To schedule your free consultation with Danielle Sanger, contact the Sanger Law Office today by calling (785) 979-4353.

 


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