National Competency Standards Framework for Pharmacists in ...

Standard 4.3 Dispense prescribed medicines
Performance Criteria
3 Considers factors likely to
compromise product efficacy
and stability when repackaging
medicines out of their original
containers/packaging.
4 Applies legible, comprehensible
and complete labels to
dispensed medicines.
5 Incorporates relevant cautionary
and advisory directions into
the labelling of dispensed
medicines consistent with
legal requirements and
professional conventions.
6 Ensures dispensed medicines
and the applied labels directly
correlate to the prescribed
medicines and dosing regimen.
7 Accepts responsibility for
ensuring dispensed medicines
are issued (and administered
for supervised dosing in the
pharmacy) to the correct
consumer.
8 Takes prompt action to
minimise the impact of
dispensing errors and reduce
the risk of recurrence.
Element 2 – Manage records
1 Completes prescription records
for dispensed medicines,
including controlled substances,
consistent with legal
requirements.
2 Maintains accurate and
up‐to‐date consumer
medication records
consistent with professional
standards and conventions.
3 Accurately records details of
medication incidents (including
‘near misses’) including the
actions taken to minimise their
effects and prevent recurrence.
Evidence Examples
• Ability to describe factors (e.g. light sensitivity, deliquescence) relevant
to specific products that affect the advisability of or container/packaging
selection for product repackaging.
• Ability to produce labels in which the type face is large enough and dark
enough to be easily read, instructions are expressed in readily understandable
English, are adapted to meet specific consumer needs (e.g. poor sight) and
include all the information specified by the prescriber.
• Ability to select a site for the label that does not cover important information
provided by the sponsor company such as expiry date, batch number,
storage requirements or dosing information.
• Ability to use ancillary labels or cautionary and advisory statements as
specified in legislation, the Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary and
Handbook (APF) and otherwise as considered appropriate.
• Ability to use the prescription as the primary source for checking that both the
label and dispensed medicine exactly correlate to the prescribed medicines.
• Ability to demonstrate a rigorous and systematic process for checking
medicines dispensed by others, including non-pharmacists.
• Ability to demonstrate the use of a checking process of consumer/dosing
details with those on the prescription at the time prescription medicines,
including those for which there is supervised dosing (e.g. methadone),
are supplied.
• Ability to describe the steps necessary to minimise the impact of dispensing
errors on consumers and minimise the risk of recurrence.
• Ability to describe the recording requirements for prescription medicines,
including controlled substances.
• Ability to demonstrate maintenance of prescription records that include
prescription annotations and comply with legal requirements.
• Ability to describe and/or demonstrate compliance with professional
conventions in relation to maintenance of consumer medication records.
• Ability to promptly access additional guidance from professional guidelines
and standards.
• Ability to describe appropriate recording and response requirements for
dispensing errors such as provided in Procedure to follow in case of a
dispensing error (Pharmaceutical Defence Limited).
• Ability to demonstrate compliance with workplace procedures for
documenting and responding to medication incidents.
2
The Competency Standards
Element 3 – Assist consumer understanding and adherence
1 Liaises with the consumer/carer
to clarify their information needs.
• Ability to communicate with consumers/carers to confirm their knowledge
and understanding of their disease/condition and medications and clarify the
level, type and form of information required.
National Competency Standards Framework for Pharmacists in Australia 2010 45