West Virginia MPJE (Pharmacy Jurisprudence) Practice Exam

May a pharmacy technician in West Virginia call a physician for refill authorization in a hospital/institutional or community setting?

1. Yes, if the pharmacist is unavailable

2. Yes, but the pharmacist must handle any changes or professional consultation

3. No, pharmacists must make all calls

4. Only in community settings

The correct answer is: Yes, but the pharmacist must handle any changes or professional consultation

The correct answer is that a pharmacy technician in West Virginia may call a physician for refill authorization, but the pharmacist must handle any changes or professional consultation. In West Virginia, pharmacy technicians are permitted to perform certain tasks under the supervision of a pharmacist. This includes contacting a physician to obtain refill authorizations for prescriptions. However, the expectation is that while technicians can initiate the communication, any clinical decisions, changes to medication regimens, or professional consultative responsibilities must be undertaken by the pharmacist. This structure ensures that patients receive professional oversight for any changes in their medication therapy, which is essential for patient safety. The other options suggest different scopes of responsibility or restrictions that do not align with the practice standards set out in West Virginia. For example, stating that a pharmacist must make all calls ignores the role of technicians in this capacity, while limiting the ability to community settings does not reflect the comprehensive guidelines that apply to both hospital/institutional and community pharmacies.