Practice Details

Question 1

What is the ratio requirement of technicians to pharmacists in Iowa?

Answer 1

Unlike some other states, there is no ratio requirement in Iowa

Question 2

What information is required on a prescription label? Reference?

Answer 2

1. prescription serial number
2. name, telephone number, and address of the pharmacy
3. name of the patient (and species for veterinary prescriptions)
4. Name of prescriber
5. Date of dispensing
6. Directions for use, including precautions
7. Name, strength and quanity of the medication or product dispensed
8. If a brand medication is prescribed and a generic is lawfully dispensed (or vice versa), the brand and generic names should be included

Ref: IAC 657-6.10

Question 3

Who can receive verbal prescription orders at a pharmacy? Reference?

Answer 3

1. Pharmacists and pharmacist interns may receive verbal prescription orders.
2. At the discretion of the pharmacist, certified pharmacy technicians may receive verbal orders if proper training has been provided.

Ref: IAC 3.24

Question 4

Who can perform or receive prescription transfers? Reference?

Answer 4

1. Pharmacists and pharmacist interns may receive and perform prescription transfers.
2. A certified pharmacy technician may receive and perform prescription transfers for noncontrolled substances only.
3. IAC 6.9 and 3.22

Question 5

When must prescription counseling be performed? Reference?

Answer 5

1. Counseling must be provided for all new prescription medication orders AND changes in prescription orders (such as changes in medication, dose, or directions).
2. An offer to counsel does not fulfill this requirement.
3. IAC 6.14

Question 6

What information should be included in patient counseling? Reference?

Answer 6

1. Pharmacists may use their own professional judgment in counseling but should include information that will enhance or optimize therapy
2. If counseling is not practicable (patient or caregiver not present, etc.), alternative counseling (leaflets, pictographs, etc.) may be provided with the prescription with a way to contact the pharmacist for further instruction?
3. IAC 6.14

Question 7

Can a patient request a 90-day supply of medication if the patient’s prescription is authorized for a 30-day supply with 11 refills? Reference?

Answer 7

1. Yes.
2. Iowa code states that pharmacists can utilize their professional judgment to dispense multiple refills of a non-controlled prescription at one time, up to a 90-day supply, and not to exceed the total quantity authorized by the prescriber.
3. Controlled substances are limited to the authorized fill quantity on the prescription.
4. Iowa Code 155A.27

Question 8

Per General Pharmacy Practice regulations, what references must be included in a pharmacy reference library? Reference?

Answer 8

1. All pertinent Iowa laws, rules and regulations that impact the pharmacy’s practice
2. Patient information reference
3. Drug interactions
4. General information
5. Drug equivalency
6. Herbal or natural medications
7. Readily accessible telephone number for poison control center
8. Additional references to meet the needs of patients served
9. IAC 6.3 and IAC 7.3

Question 9

Per Hospital Pharmacy Practice rules/regulations, what references must be included in a pharmacy reference library? Reference?

Answer 9

1. All pertinent Iowa laws, rules and regulations that impact the pharmacy’s practice
2. Patient information reference
3. Drug interactions
4. General information
5. Drug equivalency
6. Injectable-drug compatibility
7. Drug identification reference
8. Readily accessible telephone number for poison control center
9. Additional references to meet the needs of patients served
10. IAC 6.3 and IAC 7.3

Question 10

Which references must be included per General Pharmacy Practice that are not included in Hospital Pharmacy Practice?

Answer 10

Herbal or natural medications (must be in General Pharmacy references)

Question 11

Which references must be included per Hospital Pharmacy Practice that are not included in General Pharmacy Practice?

Answer 11

1. Injectable-drug compatibility
2. Drug identification references
   (must be in Hospital Pharmacy references)

Question 12

What time period does a pharmacist have to notify the Board of Pharmacy of a name, address, or employment change? Is this different for technicians and pharmacy support persons? Reference?

Answer 12

1. Pharmacists, technicians and pharmacy support persons each have 10 days to notify the Board of Pharmacy of changes in employment, name, or address.
2. IAC 2.15, IAC 3.13, IAC 5.14

Question 13

There are six (6) kind of parties with responsibilities outlined in Chapter 6. List those parties.

Answer 13

1. owner
2. pharmacist-in-charge
3. staff pharmacist
4. pharmacist interns
5. pharmacy technicians
6. pharmacy support persons

Question 14

How long is the owner registration with the Board of Pharmacy valid?

Answer 14

The owner does not need to be registered with the Board of Pharmacy

Question 15

How long is the PIC registration with the Board of Pharmacy valid?

Answer 15

1. Renew annually on Dec 31

Question 16

How long is the staff pharmacist registration with the Board of Pharmacy valid?

Answer 16

1. Renew every 2 years on June 30

Question 17

How long is the pharmacist interns registration with the Board of Pharmacy valid?

Answer 17

1. Renew every 2 years on June 30 (exception: Licenses issued between April 1 and June 29 will last until 3rd June 30th) reference: IAC 2.11

Question 18

How long is the pharmacy technician registration with the Board of Pharmacy valid?

Answer 18

1. Renew every 2 years on last day of birth month

Question 19

How long is the owner registration with the Board of Pharmacy valid?

Answer 19

1. Renew every 2 years on last day of birth month

Question 20

List three (3) responsibilities of the PIC

Answer 20

1. Establish and maintain effective controls against diversion
2. Maintain records for prescriptions
3. Ensure legal operation of pharmacy - including meeting all inspection and other requirements of state and federal laws, rules and regulations

Question 21

List three (3) responsibility of the owner

Answer 21

1. Immediate notice to Board: Immediately notify the Board if theft of controlled substance is suspected to be from a registrant with the BOP
2. Immediate notice to DEA: Immediately notify the Des Moines DEA Field Office for theft of controlled substance, regardless of who is suspected
3. Timely submission of Report: Form 106 submitted within 14 days

Question 22

List two (2) responsibilities of staff pharmacists

Answer 22

1. Perform all functions in practice of pharmacy

2. Delegate functions to interns, technicians and pharmacy support persons as appropriate

Question 23

List eight (8) responsibilities of Pharmacy Technician

Answer 23

1. Accept prescription refills communicated to the pharmacy by prescriber or prescriber’s office
2. Contact prescriber to obtain refills
3. Process patient information (including allergies and disease states)
4. Enter prescription and patient information into computer
5. Inspect medication supplies
6. Affix required prescription labels, pre-pack, or label multi-dose/single-use packages
7. Compounding
8. Accept new prescription orders from prescribers

Question 24

List three (3) responsibilities a pharmacist intern can have under supervision of a licensed pharmacist, that a technician cannot perform

Answer 24

1. Verification of accuracy, validity and appropriateness of filled prescriptions or medication orders
2. Review and assess patient records
3. Patient counseling
4. Administration of vaccines per IAC 39.10

Question 25

List some examples of roles that fit description of pharmacy support persons (hint: 5)

Answer 25

1. Delivery person 2. Billing Clerk 3. Data Process Support 4. Clerk 5. Programming Personnel

Question 26

List eight (8) responsibilities/functions of a pharmacy support person

Answer 26

1. Sales transactions 2. Prepare deliveries 3. Process wholesale medication orders 4. Affix price stickers to bottles 5. File hard-copy prescription records 6. Update patient demographic information (excludes allergies/disease states) 7. Receive patient request for refill (cannot process the refill) 8. Perform inventory control

Question 27

How many fills of a non-controlled substance can be authorized on a single prescription? After what time period from date prescription is issued does it expire?

Answer 27

12 fills in 18 months

Question 28

How many fills of a CS III-V can be authorized on a single prescription? After what time period from date prescription is issued does it expire?

Answer 28

5 fills in 6 months