A Peek Behind The Pharmacy Counter

There’s a lot that goes on behind the counter at the pharmacy to keep you safe, but sometimes these safety checks can cause delays in filling your prescription. While it might be frustrating to wait, here’s a peek at some of the important things that pharmacists and pharmacy staff do to make sure everything is just right:

1. Clarifying Prescriptions with the Doctor: If there’s any ambiguity in your prescription—like unclear dosing instructions, drug interactions, or missing information—the pharmacy staff needs to contact your doctor to clarify. This step ensures that you get the right medication, in the right dose, at the right time. It’s all about avoiding potential errors, but it can take some time to reach the doctor and get an answer.
2. Drug Interaction Checks: Pharmacists use specialized software to check for interactions between your new prescription and any other medications you’re taking. If there’s a potential issue, the pharmacist might need to review your entire medication profile, consult with your doctor, or suggest an alternative. This process can take a bit longer, but it’s crucial for preventing harmful interactions.
3. Insurance and Prior Authorization: Sometimes, your insurance company requires additional information before they’ll cover a medication, or they may need to authorize a particular treatment. The pharmacy often has to go back and forth with your doctor and the insurance company to get this sorted out. While it’s frustrating to wait, this process ensures that your medication is covered and affordable.
4. Double-Checking High-Risk Medications: For certain medications—especially those that have a higher risk of causing side effects or require precise dosing—pharmacists perform extra checks. This might involve verifying the dose, reviewing your health history, or even consulting with another pharmacist. These double-checks are all about minimizing risks, but they can add some time to the process.
5. Compounded Medications: If your prescription requires a custom formulation (like a liquid version of a medication that’s usually a tablet), the pharmacist might need to prepare it from scratch. Compounding takes time because it involves carefully measuring, mixing, and sometimes even flavoring the medication to suit your needs.
6. Addressing Allergy Concerns: If you have a known allergy or sensitivity, the pharmacist will carefully review your prescription to make sure it doesn’t contain any problematic ingredients. This might involve checking inactive ingredients or contacting your doctor to suggest a different medication. It’s a thorough process that prioritizes your safety.
7. Handling Controlled Substances: Prescriptions for controlled substances, like certain pain medications, require additional steps and documentation to ensure they’re dispensed safely and legally. This might involve verifying the prescription’s authenticity, checking state databases, and ensuring that the dosage is appropriate.
8. Medication Synchronization: If you’re managing multiple medications, the pharmacy might work to synchronize your refills so that you can pick them all up at once. While this helps simplify your routine, it can take extra time to coordinate everything behind the scenes.
9. Counseling and Education: Before you leave the pharmacy, your pharmacist might take extra time to go over how to take your medication, potential side effects, and any other important information. This counseling session is essential for ensuring you use the medication correctly, but it can add a few minutes to the process.
10. Medication Shortages and Substitutions: If your prescribed medication is out of stock or in short supply, the pharmacy might need to work with your doctor to find an alternative. This could involve getting a new prescription, checking with different suppliers, or even compounding the medication in-house.

While it might seem like your prescription is just sitting there, I want you to know that these safety checks are all about making sure you get the best possible care. The next time there’s a delay, remember that the pharmacy team is working hard behind the scenes to keep you safe and healthy.