West Virginia MPJE (Pharmacy Jurisprudence) Practice Exam

Can a pharmacy technician in West Virginia enter a prescription into the pharmacy computer in a hospital/institutional or community setting?

1. Yes, under direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist

2. No, only pharmacists can enter prescriptions

3. Yes, but only in community settings

4. No, but they can check prescriptions

The correct answer is: Yes, under direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist

In West Virginia, pharmacy technicians are permitted to enter prescriptions into the pharmacy computer under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist. This allows for more efficient workflow in pharmacies, as technicians can handle tasks such as entering patient information and prescription details, thus freeing pharmacists to focus on clinical responsibilities and patient care. Direct supervision means that a pharmacist is available to provide oversight and guidance while the technician performs these tasks. This ensures that there is always a licensed pharmacist responsible for verifying the accuracy of the entered prescriptions and ensuring that all legal and professional standards are maintained. While it's true that only pharmacists can engage in certain critical tasks, such as final verification of medication orders and patient counseling, the involvement of technicians in data entry under supervision is an accepted practice that helps streamline operations in both community and institutional pharmacy settings.