When a customer wants a prescription filled, a sales associate receives the member's card and prescription and logs the request in a prescription log which contains the member's number, drug name, date and time. The member card and prescription are passed on to a Pharmacy Tech (PT). Note: At Paisano, a prescription is for only one medication. If a patient comes in with a single slip that has 3 medications listed, that would be treated as 3 prescriptions.

The prescription validation process uses the member's card, prescription, and the data in the client profile filing cabinet to validate the prescription. The prescription itself typically includes the patient's name, date of birth, date prescribed, prescriber, medication name, form (e.g. tablet, capsule, injectable, etc.), dosage (mg), quantity, start and end dates, number of refills, and frequency (e.g. twice a day). The validation includes things such as checking that the patient's name and birth date are consistent with the customer's profile and that the medication name and units are all valid. There is a drug facts binder which includes manufacturer information about the medication such as usage, active ingredients, and warnings. Some drugs come in multiple forms each having specific characteristics: form type, dosage, shelf life, directions, storage, and side effects.

The PT may use the binder to review the recommended dosing amounts. If the prescription is valid, it is next checked for availability. However, if there were issues with the prescription the customer is notified and asked to return to their physician to resolve the issue.

Next, the medication is then checked for availability. The PT checks that the medication, in the particular form that is required in the prescription, is available by checking the inventory spreadsheet which lists the medication quantity on hand(QOH) for each medication. If it is available, the available prescription is then given to the pharmacist.