What are part fills in pharmacy practice?

Part fills in pharmacy practice refer to the dispensing of a small portion of a prescription at one time, with the intention to dispense the remaining quantity at a later date. This practice can be particularly useful in managing a patient’s medication regimen, allowing for better adherence and ensuring that patients have access to their medication while still managing supply constraints or the cost implications of large quantities.

For example, if a patient is prescribed a medication that they may not need to take in its entirety right away, a part fill allows them to receive just what they need initially, while the pharmacy retains the prescription for future dispensing. This is especially relevant in scenarios where a full supply may not be necessary immediately or when a patient needs to be monitored for responses to the medication before committing to a larger quantity.

The other options do not accurately capture the concept of part fills:

• Large quantities dispensed at once suggests a full fill, which is not the same as part fills.

• Refills for chronic medication refer specifically to the process of obtaining additional medications after the initial fill and do not inherently involve dispensing small portions over time.

• Over-the-counter medications being part of this definition does not apply, as part fills are specific to prescription medications and not typically used in the context of OTC products