While the pharmacist is away (not inside the pharmacy), only _____ medications that the pharmacist has already checked and which do not require patient counseling can be dispensed.

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The situation hinges on safe delegation of dispensing when the pharmacist isn’t on the premises. Only refills that the pharmacist has already reviewed and that do not require patient counseling can be dispensed. Once the pharmacist has checked the original prescription, verified its safety for the patient, and provided any necessary counseling at that time, ongoing refills can be prepared and labeled by staff without the pharmacist present, as long as no additional counseling is needed.

New prescriptions require the pharmacist to review and counsel before dispensing, so they can’t be given out when the pharmacist is away. Compounded medications also need direct pharmacist supervision. Over-the-counter products don’t involve a prescription that has been pre-checked by the pharmacist for a specific patient, so they don’t fit the scenario described.