Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT) Practice Exam

Which of the following may be performed only by a pharmacist?

1. Accepting a call from a wholesaler about an order

2. Accepting a return call from a prescriber's office clarifying a prescription

3. Calling a prescriber on behalf of a patient to request refills

4. Calling an insurance company to verify a patient's eligibility

The correct answer is: Accepting a return call from a prescriber's office clarifying a prescription

The action that may be performed only by a pharmacist is accepting a return call from a prescriber's office to clarify a prescription. This task requires clinical judgment and understanding of the medication being prescribed, including potential drug interactions, appropriate dosages, and the nuances of patient history that a pharmacist is trained to evaluate. Pharmacists possess the expertise needed to communicate effectively with prescribers about any aspects of the prescription that may need clarification or may pose a concern for patient safety. The other options involve more routine tasks that do not require advanced clinical knowledge or judgment from a pharmacist. For instance, accepting a call from a wholesaler about an order involves basic logistical communication. Calling a prescriber on behalf of a patient to request refills may be appropriate for pharmacy technicians, as long as they follow proper protocol and the pharmacist has authorized the refill. Similarly, contacting an insurance company to verify eligibility primarily involves administrative duties rather than clinical decision-making.