let's dive into medication management at institutional pharmacies the medication order serves as a vital communication tool among Healthcare team members encompassing patient information medication details and the prescriber signature these orders come in various types including standing PRN stat emergency and investigational each with its specific purpose and urgency level for standing orders the patient receives a specific medication at specific intervals throughout the day with PRN orders the patient receives a medication as necessary stat requires a medication immediately an emergency order means that the medication is needed for a physician to respond to a medical emergency and investigational medication orders are used in research program facilities as crucial members of the healthcare team pharmacy technicians process medication orders to ensure medications are correctly handled and dispensed medication orders can arrive through various channels such as through pneumatic tubes delivery hand delivered by Hospital staff fax or electronically via computerized physician order entry or cpoe cpoe systems reduce errors and save valuable time after receiving the orders the next crucial step is order verification each order must be screened by the pharmacist for correct order entry potential interaction ction allergies drug utilization review and formulary utilization following order verification pharmacy technician begin the medication preparation process including counting out medications matching lot and UPC numbers and checking expiration dates next the focus shifts to dispensing medication orders different dispensing systems have been used the floor stock system for instance keeps medications readily available on each floor stocked by technicians with pharmacist checked supplies this system facilitates quick access but requires meticulous inventory and billing management another method the patient prescription stock system involves dispensing a 3-day supply to the floor after pharmacist verification though this method allows for regular access it is less efficient and can lead to medication wastage once opened amid these systems the unit dose system stands out for its precision and efficiency in this system medications are packaged individually for each dose required by the patient usually no more than a 24-hour Supply this method minimizes errors reduces waste and ensures precise tracking of medication administration technology has been used to ensure the accuracy in this process medical information systems streamline communication and automated dispensing cabinets like pixus and omnicell enhance efficiency Tech Che tech programs provide an additional layer of safety where one technition verifies the work of another under approved regulations pharmacists conduct thorough reviews of medication orders ensuring accuracy and adherence to protocols before dispensing pharmacy technicians work closely with Pharmacists and other healthc Care Professionals to expedite medication orders ensuring timely delivery to patients