Question

A patient calls the pharmacy asking why her heart medication is yellow instead of the usual white color. Upon investigation, you learn that the prescription was filled with 0.125 mg of digoxin instead of the 0.25 mg strength. Which of the following is the most appropriate action to take?

1) Tell the patient to double up the tablets, thereby taking 2 tabs daily
2) Ask the patient to bring the prescription back to the pharmacy so you can secretly exchange it for the correct dose
3) Explain the situation to the pharmacist, correct the error, and document the error per Walgreens procedures
4) Prepare a new prescription with the 0.25 mg strength and inform the patient that pharmacists are solely responsible for the accuracy of prescriptions

Answer 1

The most appropriate action when a prescription error is discovered is to explain the situation to the pharmacist, correct the error, and document it according to the pharmacy's procedures. Telling the patient to double the dose or secretly exchanging the medication can result in serious consequences. Following the correct protocol ensures patient safety and maintains professional standards.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a patient calls the pharmacy inquiring about the color change in their heart medication and it is discovered that the prescription was filled with a different dosage than prescribed, the situation must be handled with utmost care due to the risks associated with incorrect dosage of medication. Digoxin is a medication with a narrow therapeutic window, and dosing errors can have serious consequences. The most appropriate action to take is option 3: explain the situation to the pharmacist, correct the error, and document the error according to the pharmacy's procedure, which in this scenario, are the procedures of Walgreens. This step ensures patient safety, upholds professional accountability, and maintains the integrity of the pharmacy's operations.