PTCB

Comprehensive study of ptcb covering fundamental concepts and advanced applications.

Pharmacy Law and RegulationsMedication Order Entry and Fill ProcessPharmaceutical Calculations
Sterile and Non-Sterile CompoundingMedication Safety and Error PreventionInventory Management and Pharmacy Operations
Communication and Customer ServiceHandling Insurance and BillingManaging Controlled Substances
Active Review and Practice QuestionsTime Management and Test-Taking SkillsStress Reduction and Exam Day Preparation
Pharmacy Law and Reg...Medication Order Ent...Pharmaceutical Calcu...Sterile and Non-Ster...Medication Safety an...Inventory Management...Communication and Cu...Handling Insurance a...Managing Controlled ...Active Review and Pr...Time Management and ...Stress Reduction and...
Advanced Topics

Medication Safety and Error Prevention

Keeping Patients Safe

Medication errors can cause serious harm. Pharmacy technicians play a crucial role in preventing mistakes and ensuring every prescription is correct.

Types of Errors

  • Wrong drug or dosage
  • Incorrect labeling
  • Confusing similar drug names

Preventing Mistakes

  • Double-check everything: Names, dosages, and instructions.
  • Use tall man lettering for look-alike/sound-alike drugs (e.g., hydrOXYzine vs. hydrALAZINE).
  • Report errors or near-misses so systems can improve.

Real-World Application

A technician catches a mix-up between two drugs with similar names, preventing a potentially harmful mistake.

Examples

  • A technician notices a prescription says 'mg' instead of 'mcg' and asks the pharmacist to verify.

  • Using barcode scanning to confirm the correct medication is being dispensed.

In a Nutshell

Safety checks by pharmacy technicians can save lives and prevent harm.

Key Terms

Tall Man Lettering
Using uppercase letters to highlight differences in look-alike drug names.
Near-Miss
An event that could have led to an error but was caught in time.
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Inventory Management and Pharmacy Operations