What action should a pharmacy technician take if they discover a prescription error?

When a pharmacy technician discovers a prescription error, the appropriate action is to report it to the pharmacist immediately. This is crucial because pharmacists have the necessary training and authority to assess the implications of the error and take the appropriate remedial steps. They can determine whether the medication needs to be re-dispensed, if the patient should be contacted, and how to prevent similar errors in the future.

In a pharmacy setting, patient safety is paramount, and addressing errors promptly helps to ensure that patients receive the correct medication and dosage, minimizing the risk of adverse effects. The technician's role in this scenario is to act as an alerting mechanism within a system that prioritizes accuracy and safety, and they should not attempt to handle the error independently, as they may lack the clinical judgment required to make those decisions.