NAPLEX Flashcards: Technology And Informatics

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Technology And Informatics, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for NAPLEX.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: Identify the safest action if the EHR allergy list conflicts with the patient interview.

Answer: Update and document allergies based on verified patient information. Patient-reported information takes precedence to ensure accurate allergy records and prevent adverse reactions from outdated data.

Flashcard 2: What is the primary purpose of a formulary file in a pharmacy benefit system?

Answer: Define coverage, tiers, and utilization rules for medications. Formulary files guide reimbursement and prescribing by outlining approved drugs and restrictions based on payer policies.

Flashcard 3: What is the primary purpose of NDC (National Drug Code) in pharmacy systems?

Answer: Unique identifier for a specific drug product and package. NDC enables precise identification and tracking of medications in inventory, billing, and safety systems across the supply chain.

Flashcard 4: What is alert fatigue in the context of pharmacy clinical decision support?

Answer: Desensitization from excessive alerts leading to overrides. Overwhelming users with frequent, non-critical alerts can lead to ignoring important warnings, compromising medication safety.

Flashcard 5: What is the best definition of a medication order set in an EHR?

Answer: Predefined group of orders for a condition or clinical scenario. Order sets streamline care by bundling evidence-based interventions, reducing variability and improving efficiency.

Flashcard 6: What does HIPAA primarily protect when you use pharmacy information systems?

Answer: Protected health information (PHI) confidentiality and privacy. HIPAA regulations ensure the security and proper handling of sensitive patient data in pharmacy systems to prevent breaches and unauthorized access.

Flashcard 7: What is the primary purpose of barcode medication administration (BCMA)?

Answer: Verify right patient, drug, dose, route, and time at administration. BCMA uses scanning technology to confirm the five rights, preventing administration errors and enhancing patient safety.

Flashcard 8: What is clinical decision support (CDS) in pharmacy technology?

Answer: Electronic alerts and guidance to improve medication-related decisions. CDS enhances safety by providing evidence-based recommendations during prescribing and dispensing to optimize patient outcomes.

Flashcard 9: What is the key difference between an e-prescription and a faxed prescription in workflow?

Answer: E-prescription is transmitted electronically into the pharmacy system. E-prescriptions integrate directly into digital workflows, reducing manual entry errors compared to faxed versions that require scanning or transcription.

Flashcard 10: What is the main function of a smart infusion pump drug library?

Answer: Dose error reduction via programmed limits and standardized concentrations. Drug libraries in smart pumps enforce safety parameters to alert users and prevent infusion-related adverse events.

Flashcard 11: What is the purpose of HL7 messaging in pharmacy and health informatics?

Answer: Standardized electronic exchange of clinical and administrative data. HL7 standards enable seamless communication between disparate health systems, supporting efficient data sharing for patient care.

Flashcard 12: Identify the most appropriate action after discovering an overridden ADC discrepancy.

Answer: Investigate, reconcile inventory, document, and report per policy. Thorough investigation of discrepancies upholds inventory accuracy, security, and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Flashcard 13: What is the primary informatics purpose of a medication reconciliation module?

Answer: Compare and resolve medication lists across transitions of care. Medication reconciliation identifies discrepancies to ensure accurate, continuous therapy and avoid omissions or duplications.

Flashcard 14: What is a computerized provider order entry (CPOE) system used for?

Answer: Electronic entry of medication and other orders by prescribers. CPOE reduces errors by allowing direct digital input, enabling real-time checks and integration with decision support tools.

Flashcard 15: Which DEA schedules require EPCS identity proofing and two-factor authentication?

Answer: Controlled substances in schedules II–V (EPCS). DEA mandates enhanced security measures for electronic prescribing of controlled substances to prevent fraud and ensure prescriber authentication.

Flashcard 16: Find the correct response to a high-severity interaction alert for a new order.

Answer: Assess clinical relevance and contact prescriber before dispensing. Evaluating alerts clinically and consulting prescribers ensures appropriate interventions without unnecessary delays in care.

Flashcard 17: What does FHIR primarily enable compared with older HL7 interfaces?

Answer: API-based, resource-oriented data exchange for interoperability. FHIR uses modern web technologies to provide faster, more flexible access to health data than traditional HL7 versions.

Flashcard 18: What does a PDMP (prescription drug monitoring program) primarily help detect?

Answer: Potential controlled-substance misuse or diversion patterns. PDMPs aggregate dispensing data to identify risky prescribing or patient behaviors, aiding in opioid crisis management.

Flashcard 19: Which option best prevents selection errors when multiple strengths appear in a drop-down list?

Answer: Use tall man lettering and require indication/strength confirmation. These measures enhance visual distinction and add verification steps to reduce look-alike/sound-alike medication errors.

Flashcard 20: What is the main function of DUR (drug utilization review) in dispensing systems?

Answer: Screen for interactions, duplications, contraindications, and dosing issues. DUR evaluates prescriptions against clinical criteria to identify and mitigate potential safety risks before dispensing.

Flashcard 21: Identify the best next step if a barcode scan fails at administration but the label matches.

Answer: Stop and resolve mismatch; do not bypass BCMA without verification. Resolving barcode mismatches prevents potential errors, maintaining the integrity of the medication administration process.

Flashcard 22: What is the minimum necessary standard under HIPAA in pharmacy informatics?

Answer: Access or disclose only the least PHI needed for the task. This HIPAA rule limits access to PHI to only what is essential for performing specific duties, thereby minimizing privacy risks.

Flashcard 23: What is the primary purpose of audit trails in pharmacy information systems?

Answer: Record user actions to support accountability, security, and investigations. Audit trails log activities to enable monitoring, detect anomalies, and ensure compliance with legal and ethical standards.

Flashcard 24: What is the main safety goal of a pharmacy automated dispensing cabinet (ADC)?

Answer: Secure, controlled storage and tracked dispensing on patient units. ADCs automate medication access with security features to minimize errors, theft, and diversion in clinical settings.

Flashcard 25: What does RxNorm provide that is useful for interoperability between health IT systems?

Answer: Normalized drug names and identifiers for clinical drugs. RxNorm standardizes drug nomenclature to facilitate accurate data exchange and reduce errors in electronic health records.