From Raleigh to Charlotte, it seems that the new mega drugstores are popping up on every major intersection. Rite-Aid, CVS and Walgreens are everywhere and they just don’t dispense drugs anymore. The local pharmacy has morphed into the big box store arena.
The latest technology that now drives the medical community offers some great benefits. Doctors can e-prescribe and send in electronic prescriptions where pharmacists can fill them quickly. Paper prescriptions are almost obsolete, reducing or eliminating the wait time at the store, and the pharmacist no longer has to decipher the doctor’s handwriting to ensure that you get the correct medication.
However, the conversion to the digital age presents some other dilemmas. Pharmacists are under more pressure to fill prescriptions faster and in greater quantities. And that can contribute to errors. With the passing of the corner drug store, the personal relationships that pharmacists had with patients and doctors also disappeared. You are now just a name going to the drive-through window to pick up your prescription.
The North Carolina Board of Pharmacy (NCBOP) was created to protect the public health, safety and welfare in pharmaceutical matters. The role of the Board is to:
- Set standards for academic and practical experience programs before licensing a pharmacist to practice in the state
- Deliver permits to operate pharmacies
- Renew licenses and permits
The NCBOP can do its part to ensure that practitioners are qualified and that they deliver high-quality service, but human error is always a concern. If you think your medical complications may be related to an incorrect prescription, call a North Carolina pharmaceutical malpractice attorney. He or she can review your case and advise you as to the best legal course of action that may be available to recover any possible damages.