CVS Data Accuracy and Detail 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a year-end inventory reconciliation, you find that shrinkage for a high-value OTC item is 15% above the expected rate. What does accurate data analysis suggest as the next step?
- Accept the variance as normal seasonal fluctuation
- Investigate the root cause — including potential theft, miscounts, or receiving errors — before adjusting inventory records (Correct answer)
- Write off the entire discrepancy immediately
- Increase the reorder point to compensate
Correct answer: Investigate the root cause — including potential theft, miscounts, or receiving errors — before adjusting inventory records
A 15% excess shrinkage rate is a signal that requires root-cause investigation; adjusting records without investigating perpetuates the underlying problem.
Question 2: A prescription printout shows 'Qty: 90' but the sig reads 'Take 1 tablet daily.' The days supply field was entered as 30. Which value is incorrect?
- The quantity of 90
- The days supply of 30 — it should be 90 days for 90 tablets at 1 per day (Correct answer)
- The sig — it should say twice daily
- Nothing; the values are consistent
Correct answer: The days supply of 30 — it should be 90 days for 90 tablets at 1 per day
90 tablets at 1 per day equals a 90-day supply; entering 30 days is incorrect and could trigger early refill rejection by the insurer.
Question 3: A pharmacy technician enters a prescriber's DEA number as BM3456789. The first letter 'B' indicates the prescriber type, and the second letter should match the prescriber's last name. The prescriber's last name is 'Martin.' Is this DEA number consistent?
- No — 'M' for Martin should be the second letter, not 'M' wait it is M — this is valid
- Yes — 'M' is the correct second letter for a prescriber named Martin (Correct answer)
- No — DEA numbers never include letters
- No — the number should have 7 digits after the letters, but only 7 are shown here — it's actually valid
Correct answer: Yes — 'M' is the correct second letter for a prescriber named Martin
The second letter of a DEA number corresponds to the first letter of the registrant's last name; 'M' correctly corresponds to 'Martin.'
Question 4: You are spot-checking price labels and notice the unit price on a shelf tag is $0.45/oz but the package price is $3.99 for a 10-oz product. Is there a discrepancy?
- No — $0.45 × 10 = $4.50, so the unit price overstates the value; flag it
- Yes — $0.45 × 10 = $4.50, but the package price is $3.99, so the unit price is higher than what the package implies; flag it (Correct answer)
- No — unit prices and package prices are calculated differently and never need to match
- Yes — the package should cost $0.45 total
Correct answer: Yes — $0.45 × 10 = $4.50, but the package price is $3.99, so the unit price is higher than what the package implies; flag it
The unit price of $0.45/oz implies $4.50 for 10 oz, but the package rings at $3.99; this discrepancy should be flagged and corrected to ensure accurate pricing communication.
Question 5: When a controlled substance is returned from a patient, which detail is most critical to record accurately in the log?
- The patient's ExtraCare card number
- The drug name, strength, quantity returned, and date of return (Correct answer)
- The cashier's personal employee PIN
- The store manager's approval signature color
Correct answer: The drug name, strength, quantity returned, and date of return
Controlled substance logs require precise documentation of drug identity, strength, quantity, and date to comply with DEA regulations and ensure accountability.
Question 6: A customer says their prescription was filled for 'Atorvastatin 20 mg' but their doctor ordered 'Atorvastatin 40 mg.' What is the immediate priority?
- Tell the customer that 20 mg is close enough
- Pull the original prescription and dispensing record immediately to verify the correct strength (Correct answer)
- Advise the customer to double the tablets to get 40 mg
- Ask the customer to return tomorrow when the pharmacist is in
Correct answer: Pull the original prescription and dispensing record immediately to verify the correct strength
A strength discrepancy is a potential dispensing error; the original records must be checked immediately to determine what occurred and ensure patient safety.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the purpose of a 'five-rights' check (right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time) in a pharmacy accuracy workflow?
- It is a sales upselling checklist
- It is a structured verification framework that ensures every dispensed medication matches the prescriber's exact intent (Correct answer)
- It is a shipping checklist for mail-order parcels
- It is a compliance form required only for controlled substances
Correct answer: It is a structured verification framework that ensures every dispensed medication matches the prescriber's exact intent
The five-rights framework is a systematic accuracy tool used across pharmacy and healthcare to catch errors before medication reaches the patient.
CVS Data Accuracy and Detail 5
During a year-end inventory reconciliation, you find that shrinkage for a high-value OTC item is 15% above the expected rate.
What does accurate data analysis suggest as the next step?