PCTB Exam Study Notes Chapter 1

Questions and Answers

What is Chapter 1 about?

Assisting the Pharmacist in Serving Patients

What is the purpose of prescriptions and medication orders?

They are both means of communication between a prescriber (usually physician) and a medication dispenser (usually pharmacist).

What is a medication order?

A written request from a prescriber or a transcription of a verbal or telephone order in an inpatient facility.

What is a prescription?

A written request from a prescriber or a transcription of a verbal or telephone order in an outpatient facility. Signup and view all the answers

How many years are prescriptions required to be maintained in the pharmacy?

2 years Signup and view all the answers

What are generic names?

Nomenclature for drugs, medications, and other chemical compounds that do not change. Signup and view all the answers

What are brand names?

Trademarks used by pharmaceutical companies to identify their particular medication formulas. Signup and view all the answers

What are legend, legacy, and prescription drugs?

Meds that must be prescribed by someone with prescription authority and dispensed by legally qualified pharmacies. Signup and view all the answers

What are over-the-counter drugs?

Drugs that may be purchased without a prescription as long as they are properly labeled for home use. Signup and view all the answers

What are prescription abbreviations or sig codes used for?

Used in prescriptions and medication orders that are based on Latin. Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'aa' means _____

of each Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'ac' means _____

before a meal Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'AD' means _____

right ear Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'AS' means _____

left ear Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'AU' means _____

both ears Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'bid' means _____

twice a day Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'Buccal' refers to _____

cheek/gum Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'c' means _____

with Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'ung' means _____

ointment Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'u.d.' means _____

as directed Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'gr' means _____

grain Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'pulv' means _____

powder Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'Cap' means _____

capsule Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'g/Gal' means _____

gallon Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'gm/GM/g' means _____

gram Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'gtt' means _____

drop Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'hs' means _____

at bedtime Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'ic' means _____

Intra Cardiac Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'im' means _____

Intra Muscular Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'KG/Kg' means _____

kilogram Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'L' means _____

liter Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'LB/Lb' means _____

pound Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'ML/mL' means _____

milliliter Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'NG/ng' means _____

Naso Gastric Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'OD' means _____

Right eye Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'OS' means _____

Left eye Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'OU' means _____

both eyes Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'OZ/oz' means _____

ounce Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'pc' means _____

after a meal Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'po' means _____

orally Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'top' means _____

topical Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'sig' means _____

write on label Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'sol' means _____

solution Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'mEq' means _____

milliequivalent Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'DW' means _____

distilled water Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'pr' means _____

rectally Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'prn' means _____

as needed Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'pv' means _____

vaginally Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'q' means _____

every Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'qAM' means _____

every morning Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'qD' means _____

every day Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'qH/qh' means _____

every hour Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'qHS/qhs' means _____

every bedtime Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'QID/qid' means _____

four a day Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'qOD' means _____

every other day Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'qPM' means _____

every evening Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'QS' means _____

quantity sufficient Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'qWK' means _____

Every Week Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'ODT' means _____

on the tongue Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'SL' means _____

sub-lingual Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'SQ' means _____

sub-cutaneous Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'stat' means _____

immediately Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'TDS/tds' means _____

3 times a day Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'TID/tid' means _____

3 a day Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'INj/inj' means _____

injection Signup and view all the answers

The abbreviation 'IV/iv' means _____

intravenous Signup and view all the answers

What information is usually included in medication order requirements?

Patient's name, hospital identification #, location of the patient's room and bed, generic drug name, brand name, route of administration, site of administration, dosage form, dose and strength, frequency, and instructions. Signup and view all the answers

In what order do you complete medication orders?

Complete the most urgent orders first. Signup and view all the answers

What are the steps for processing medication orders on the computer?

Identify the patient, compare med order with patient profile, enter drug into system, verify correct dose, enter schedule, enter comments, verify prescriber's name, fill and label medication. Signup and view all the answers

What should you ask if you have served a patient before?

Ask for some sort of identifying information, such as date of birth, address, or phone number. Signup and view all the answers

What information do you need to gather from a new patient?

Name, address, phone number, insurance info, date of birth, drug allergies, current prescriptions and OTC meds, significant health conditions. Signup and view all the answers

What types of prescription can outpatient pharmacies receive?

They may receive prescriptions in paper copy, over the phone, by fax, or through electronic transmission. Signup and view all the answers

What is Coordination of Benefits?

The process by which a health insurance company determines if it should be the primary or secondary payer of medical claims for a patient who has coverage from more than one health insurance policy. Signup and view all the answers

What does Medicare Part A cover?

It covers inpatient hospital stays, including a semi-private room, food, and tests. Signup and view all the answers

What does Medicare Part B cover?

Coverage includes most medically necessary doctors' services, preventive care, durable medical equipment, and outpatient services. Signup and view all the answers

What does Medicare Part C do?

Combines parts A and B and may have prescription drug benefits. Signup and view all the answers

What is Medicare Part D?

Prescription Drug Coverage. Signup and view all the answers

What are some possible computer error messages?

REFILL TOO SOON, DRUG-DRUG or DRUG-ALLERGY INTERACTION, NON-FORMULARY/DRUG NOT COVERED, MISSING/INVALID ID. Signup and view all the answers

What should be included on drug labels?

Directions for use, dosage, route, frequency/time of day, and indication. Signup and view all the answers

What are the steps to check out a patient?

Verify patient identity and info, offer patient counseling, provide HIPAA literature, obtain necessary signatures. Signup and view all the answers

What is Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy?

A safety strategy to manage serious risks associated with a medicine while enabling patient access. Signup and view all the answers

What are Medication Guides?

Information provided with restricted-use drugs to help patients avoid serious side effects. Signup and view all the answers

What types of questions may legally be answered by a pharmacist?

General drug info, availability and cost, storage instructions, calculations, and laws. Signup and view all the answers

What types of questions can only a pharmacist answer?

Alternative therapies, drug allergies, dose or administration, side effects, and non-FDA approved uses. Signup and view all the answers

What is the American Drug Index?

An alphabetized index of drugs containing information on generic names, brand names, chemical names, manufacturers, and more. Signup and view all the answers

What is Mosby's Drug Consult?

A general drug information guide organized by generic drug names, providing complete monographs. Signup and view all the answers

What does The Physician's Desk Reference contain?

Package inserts from most manufacturers, giving information on effects, indications, and more. Signup and view all the answers

What is Pharmacist's Pharmacopeia?

Instructions on compounding, as well as strength, quality, and purity standards. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by Extended Stability of Parenteral Drugs?

Data on the stability of IV solutions stored longer than 24 hours. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Orange Book?

A publication by the FDA that lists approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Red Book?

The leading resource for information on drug pricing. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Horizontal Laminar Airflow Workbench?

Equipment that moves filtered air from the back of the hood to the front while pulling contaminated air through a filter. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Vertical Laminar Airflow Workbench?

Equipment used during preparation of potentially harmful drugs that moves HEPA-filtered air down into the workspace. Signup and view all the answers

What does HEPA stand for?

High-Efficiency Particulate Air. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Assisting the Pharmacist

Chapter 1 focuses on the pharmacy technician's role in patient care.

Prescriptions and Medication Orders

Serve as a communication link between prescribers (usually physicians) and dispensers (usually pharmacists).

Medication Orders

Written requests from a prescriber in inpatient settings, commonly found in hospitals.

Prescriptions

Written requests in outpatient facilities, especially for patients who self-administer medications at home.

Record Keeping

Federal law mandates prescriptions be archived for a minimum of 2 years.

Drug Nomenclature

Generic Names: Unchanging identifiers for drugs and chemicals.
Brand Names: Pharmaceuticals' trademarks for specific medication formulas.

Drug Classifications

Legend Drugs: Require a prescription and must be dispensed by licensed pharmacies.
Over-the-Counter Drugs: Available without a prescription as long as they bear appropriate labeling.

Prescription Abbreviations

Common sig codes used in prescriptions rooted in Latin.

Key Abbreviations

aa: Of each
ac: Before meals
bid: Twice daily
qAM: Every morning
prn: As needed

Medication Order Requirements

Essential components include patient name, identification number, drug information, dosage, administration route, and physician's details.

Processing Medication Orders

Identify patients, verify allergy information, enter order details into the system, and label medications accurately.

Outpatient Pharmacy Protocols

Verify prior patient interaction and gather comprehensive data for new patients, including contact info and health history.

Coordination of Benefits

Important in determining primary and secondary payers when multiple insurance plans are involved.

Medicare Overview

Part A: Covers inpatient hospital services.
Part B: Covers outpatient services, requiring a monthly premium.
Part C: Combines Parts A and B with possible prescription benefits.
Part D: Provides prescription drug coverage.

Computer Error Messages

Common issues include refill errors, drug interactions, and invalid identification.

Labeling Rules

Avoid using abbreviations on labels meant for patient use; abbreviations reserved for prescriptions and orders.

Drug Labels Essential Information

Should outline directions, dosage, frequency, duration, and indication.

Patient Checkout Procedures

Confirm patient identity, offer counseling, comply with HIPAA regulations, and manage patient acknowledgment of privacy policies.

Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy

A strategy to manage risks associated with medications while ensuring patient access to necessary drugs.

Medication Guides

Required for restricted-use drugs, providing crucial information on side effects and administration.

Pharmacist vs. Technician Responsibilities

Technicians can answer general inquiries, while pharmacists handle complex questions regarding drug interactions and patient-specific concerns.

Drug Information References

Primary references are original research articles; secondary are scholarly indexes; tertiary includes daily-use sources for general information.

Drug Indices and Guides

American Drug Index: Comprehensive drug nomenclature.
Mosby's Drug Consult: Organized by generic names with detailed information.
Physician's Desk Reference: Package inserts with drug effects, indications, and dosage.

Airflow Workbenches

Horizontal Laminar AirFlow: Moves filtered air forward, critical area is behind sterilized objects.
Vertical Laminar AirFlow: Protects compounders from harmful drugs, critical area is above sterilized objects.

HEPA Filters

High-Efficiency Particulate Air filters that ensure cleanliness in compounding environments.

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Prepare for the PCTB exam with these study notes focusing on Chapter 1, which emphasizes assisting pharmacists in serving patients. The flashcards cover key concepts like prescriptions and medication orders, enhancing your understanding of pharmacy communication. Ideal for students and professionals wanting to master essential pharmacy knowledge.