Question 36

Next step is to tell pharmacist patient skipping doses

Informing the pharmacist that the patient is skipping doses is crucial in addressing the alert regarding drug underutilization. This action allows for a review of the patient's adherence to the prescribed medication regimen.

A) tell pharmacist patient taking too many

This option is incorrect because the alert indicates underutilization, not overutilization. Suggesting that the patient is taking too many doses contradicts the information presented by the DUR alert, which implies the patient may not be taking the medication as prescribed.

B) tell pharmacist patient skipping doses

This option is correct as it directly addresses the issue of drug underutilization. By notifying the pharmacist that the patient might be skipping doses, it opens the opportunity for further investigation and potential counseling to improve adherence to the medication regimen.

C) refuse fill

Refusing to fill the prescription does not address the underlying issue of underutilization. This option fails to provide support to the patient and does not facilitate a solution to the problem highlighted by the DUR alert.

D) continue filling

Continuing to fill the prescription without addressing the alert is inappropriate in this context. It ignores the warning about drug underutilization and does not take steps to ensure the patient is adhering to their medication schedule.

Conclusion

The correct action is to inform the pharmacist about the possibility of the patient skipping doses, as highlighted by the drug underutilization alert. This proactive approach allows for better management of the patient's medication adherence while the other options either misinterpret the situation or neglect the necessary follow-up. Addressing adherence issues is essential for the effective management of the patient's health.