Can pharmacy professionals accept verbal prescriptions phoned in by someone calling on behalf of the prescriber (e.g., nurse, pharmacist, administrative assistant)?
Yes. Pharmacy professionals are authorized to accept verbal prescriptions under federal regulations. The regulations outline what practitioners can order verbally and the details which must be included on the written record of the transcribed prescription. However, the regulations do not address the workflow or operational aspects that might be encountered in practice.
Regardless of who performs the ‘task’ of phoning in the prescription, the receiving pharmacy professional is responsible for determining that it is valid and authentic. If there is uncertainty about whether a practitioner with prescribing authority has truly initiated and authorized the order (being communicated via an intermediary), the pharmacy professional should follow up with the prescriber directly. The decision as to what is sufficient to verify the legitimacy of the prescription, considering the circumstances at hand and the best interest of the patient, rests with the professional judgement of the registrant who should document their rationale.
Pharmacy professionals should be especially diligent when receiving verbal orders due to the increased potential for errors.[1] Prescribers should consult their regulatory body for guidance on issuing verbal prescriptions.