During the medication fill process, what should be referred to first?

The prescription should be referred to first during the medication fill process because it contains crucial information that dictates how the medication is prepared and dispensed. The prescription outlines the medication details, dosage, frequency, and specific instructions from the prescriber. It serves as the foundation for the entire filling process, ensuring that the right medication is provided to the patient according to the healthcare provider's directives.

While the label, computer screen, and pharmacist are also important in the workflow, they rely on the accuracy and completeness of information presented in the prescription. The label is typically created based on the information from the prescription, and the computer screen may include additional data or checks pertinent to the filling process. The pharmacist acts as a final checkpoint, but they need to refer back to the prescription to verify that all aspects of the medication fill are correct. Therefore, starting with the prescription ensures that the entire process is grounded in the initial order from the prescriber.