DISPENSING

AND MEDICATION
COUNSELING
PHARMACEUTICAL CARE 4

APHA- THE PHARMACIST PRACTICE

ACTIVITY CLASSIFICATION IN 1998
ASIDE FROM PREPARING AND DISPENSING OF
MEDICATION, PHARMACISTS ACTIVITIES
INCLUDES MANY TASKS THAT INVOLVE
PATIENT INTERACTION SUCH AS:
1. Interviewing the patient
2. Obtaining patient information
3. Educating the patient
4. Providing verbal and written information
5. Discussing, demonstrating, face-to -face
patient contact, and patient counseling
2

Dispensing refers to the pharmacists

function of taking an order or
prescription, preparing the drug/s
according to the instructions of a
physician or dentist and delivering it
to the patient or client with proper
instructions.
3

Receive the prescription

Read and analyze the prescription
Number and date the prescription
Prepare the label
Compound and package the drug product
Recheck the label of the product vs. the Rx
Record and file the prescription
PROVIDE PATIENT COUNSELING
Deliver the product
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PATIENT Medication Counseling

It is a two-way communication process
whereby drug- and health-related
information is provided by a pharmacist to
the patient during
the dispensing of (initial or re:ill)
medications in a drugstore or outpatient
pharmacy setting
discharge of a patient from the hospital
the review of medications of a patient
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Important role of PaCent Counseling

To improve the quality of life and
To provide quality care for patients

PaCent Counseling Improves

PaCent Care
Reduces errors in using medication
Reduces noncompliance
Reduces adverse drug reactions
Improves outcomes
Increases satisfaction with care
Assists with self-care
Can provide referral for assistance with non-drug
related situations
Reduces health care costs to individual, government and
society
Is an integral part of providing patient-centered
pharmaceutical care

Contents of Medication Counseling

1. The medications trade name, generic name, common
synonym, or other descriptive name(s) and, when
appropriate, its therapeutic class and efficacy.
2. The medications use and expected benefits and action.
This may include whether the medication is intended to
cure a disease, eliminate or reduce symptoms,
arrest or slow the disease process, or prevent the
disease or a symptom.
3. The medications expected onset of action and what to
do if the action does not occur.

Contents of Medication Counseling

4. The medications route, dosage form, dosage, and
administration schedule (including duration of therapy).
5. Directions for preparing and using or administering the
medication. This may include adaptation to ]it patients
lifestyles or work environments.
6. Action to be taken in case of a missed dose.
7. Precautions to be observed during the medications use
or administration & the medications potential risks
in relation to bene]its.

Contents of Medication Counseling

8. Potential common and severe adverse effects that may

occur, actions to prevent or minimize their occurrence,

& actions to take if they occur, including notifying the
prescriber, pharmacist, or other health care provider
9. Techniques for self-monitoring of the
pharmacotherapy.
10. Potential drug-drug (including nonprescription),
drug.
food, and drug-disease interactions or
contraindications.
11. The medications effect on radiologic and laboratory
procedures (e.g., timing of doses and potential
interferences with interpretation of results).

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Content of Medication Counseling

12.Prescription re]ill authorizations and the process
for obtaining re]ills.
13. Instructions for 24-hour access to a pharmacist.
14. Proper storage of the medication.
15. Proper disposal of contaminated or discontinued
medications and used administration devices.
16. Any other information unique to an individual
patient or medication.

*These points are applicable to both Rx and OTC drugs.

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Additional Content of Medication Counseling

These may be appropriate when pharmacists are involved in collaborative
disease management for specified categories of patients. Depending
on the patients disease management or clinical care plan, the
following may be covered:

1. The disease state: whether it is acute or chronic and

its prevention, transmission, progression, and
recurrence.
2. Expected effects of the disease on the patients
normal daily living.
3. Recognition and monitoring of disease
complications.
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