What aspects are typically evaluated during prescription audits?

During prescription audits, the primary focus is on accuracy and compliance with legal standards. This involves a thorough review of the prescriptions to ensure that they are filled correctly, accurately reflecting the physician's intent, and conforming to state and federal regulations governing prescription medications. Accuracy is crucial, as even minor errors in dosage or medication can significantly impact patient safety and treatment outcomes. Compliance with legal standards ensures that the pharmacy operates within the law, which includes verifying that proper protocols for prescribing, dispensing, and record-keeping are followed.

Evaluating accuracy ensures that the right patient receives the correct medication at the appropriate dose, which is essential in preventing adverse drug events. Compliance checks help identify any potential breaches in regulatory guidelines, which could lead to legal ramifications for the pharmacy and harm to patients.

While the other options—patient satisfaction, drug efficacy, cost efficiency, inventory management, and pharmacist credentials—are important in their respective contexts, they are not the primary focus of a prescription audit. A prescription audit is fundamentally about validating the accuracy of prescriptions and the legal compliance related to their dispensing.