The central pharmacy verification (CPV) is a program designed to protect patient safety by reducing or eliminating the chances of drug errors due to a patient receiving the wrong medication from the wrong place. Central pharmacy verification is a process that are intended for both pharmacies and prescribers. It involves verifying that the prescription has been dispensed correctly, according to nationally accepted standards.
Central pharmacy verification process
Step 1: The prescription is filled in local pharmacy
Step 2: The pharmacist reviews the original written order form for accuracy
Step 3: If prescriptions were issued on two different days, then they need to be verified at Central Pharmacy Verification Unit (CPU) prior dispensing them.
Step 4: The CPU verifies the order through the written order, and working chart is prepared.
Step 5: The CPU faxes the working chart to local pharmacy for dispensing.
Step 6: Local pharmacy dispenses medications according to the working chart.
Step 7: The patient receives medications from local pharmacy, then returned original prescriptions to local pharmacist as per drop box system (at some locations) or at time of pick up.
Step 8: Local pharmacist faxes copies of original prescription to CPU and retain a copy for their records.
Step 9: CPU faxes original prescription back to local pharmacy and pays for medications.
Step 10: CPU sends back the original prescription to local pharmacist and retained a copy for their records.
Central Pharmacy Verification (CPV) is a process that involves verifying that the prescription has been dispensed correctly and according to the national standard. Under this procedure a patient’s medication history is checked against the order, and if an error has occurred, then an appropriate action is taken immediately. The process of CPV can be refined more closely, but it basically starts with the pharmacist verifying the order form and then checking it against the patient’s historic profile. A new working chart is prepared for each new order.
If the order is different, then the working chart is revised, and the process starts again. The prescription verification begins with a pharmacist reading the original prescription and then comparing it to the incoming prescription. If there are any discrepancies an error report is generated directly to a central database, which notifies senior management with immediate action required, such as advising area pharmacists to use caution when issuing prescriptions that day or reviewing related orders, etc.