The evolution of pharmacy is defined by its expansion beyond dispensing into a wide array of patient-centered services. From Medication Therapy Management and health screenings to “test and treat” programs, these services allow pharmacists to leverage their clinical expertise to directly improve public health. This quiz for PharmD students will test your knowledge of the purpose, components, and value of the key clinical services that are forging the future of the pharmacy profession.
1. “Medication Therapy Management” (MTM) is a service designed to:
- Increase the number of prescriptions a patient is taking.
- Optimize therapeutic outcomes for individual patients through improved medication use.
- Focus solely on dispensing medications as quickly as possible.
- Manage the pharmacy’s inventory.
Answer: Optimize therapeutic outcomes for individual patients through improved medication use.
2. The five core elements of MTM include the Medication Therapy Review (MTR), Personal Medication Record (PMR), Medication-related Action Plan (MAP), Intervention and/or Referral, and:
- Billing and Reimbursement.
- Documentation and Follow-up.
- Marketing and Promotion.
- Inventory Management.
Answer: Documentation and Follow-up.
3. The “Test and Treat” model is an advanced service where pharmacists:
- Use a CLIA-waived point-of-care test and, under a protocol, can initiate therapy for common conditions.
- Guess a patient’s diagnosis based on their symptoms.
- Only test for a condition but cannot provide any treatment.
- Only treat a condition after a physician has performed a test.
Answer: Use a CLIA-waived point-of-care test and, under a protocol, can initiate therapy for common conditions.
4. A key public health benefit of pharmacist-led immunization services is:
- Increased access to vaccinations for the community.
- The higher cost of vaccines at a pharmacy.
- The long wait times for an appointment.
- The limited types of vaccines available.
Answer: Increased access to vaccinations for the community.
5. A “brown bag review,” a common component of MTM services, involves the pharmacist reviewing:
- The pharmacy’s daily sales.
- All the medications a patient is currently taking, including prescriptions, OTCs, and supplements.
- A list of all recalled medications.
- The contents of a patient’s lunch bag for dietary analysis.
Answer: All the medications a patient is currently taking, including prescriptions, OTCs, and supplements.
6. The “Medication-related Action Plan” (MAP) is a patient-facing document that serves as a(n):
- Bill for the MTM service.
- “To-do list” to help the patient manage their health.
- Comprehensive list of all their medications.
- Letter to the patient’s physician.
Answer: “To-do list” to help the patient manage their health.
7. A “medication synchronization” program is a service that improves adherence and workflow by:
- Aligning all of a patient’s chronic medication refills for a single, convenient monthly pickup.
- Requiring patients to visit the pharmacy multiple times a month.
- Making the dispensing process more complex.
- Increasing the cost of medications for the patient.
Answer: Aligning all of a patient’s chronic medication refills for a single, convenient monthly pickup.
8. When a pharmacist helps a patient find a lower-cost alternative or enroll in a patient assistance program, they are providing a service that addresses which barrier to care?
- Transportation
- Health literacy
- Economic/Financial
- Language
Answer: Economic/Financial
9. The legal authority for a pharmacist to provide advanced services like “test and treat” is typically granted by a:
- Federal law that applies to all states.
- State-specific law, rule, or a collaborative practice agreement.
- Guideline from a pharmaceutical manufacturer.
- Hospital’s internal policy.
Answer: State-specific law, rule, or a collaborative practice agreement.
10. A pharmacist providing a blood pressure screening at a community health fair is an example of what type of service?
- A diagnostic service.
- A dispensing service.
- A public health and wellness service.
- A marketing service only.
Answer: A public health and wellness service.
11. The primary purpose of a “transition of care” service, such as post-discharge medication reconciliation, is to:
- Ensure the hospital is paid for the patient’s stay.
- Prevent medication errors and ensure continuity of care as a patient moves between healthcare settings.
- Enroll the patient in a new insurance plan.
- Provide the patient with a one-month supply of all their medications for free.
Answer: Prevent medication errors and ensure continuity of care as a patient moves between healthcare settings.
12. The “ECHO model” is often used to demonstrate the value of a new clinical service. A reduction in hospital admissions as a result of the service is what type of outcome?
- Economic
- Clinical
- Humanistic
- Educational
Answer: Economic
13. An improvement in a patient’s A1c or blood pressure reading is what type of outcome?
- Economic
- Clinical
- Humanistic
- Social
Answer: Clinical
14. A patient reporting a better quality of life and more confidence in managing their health is what type of outcome?
- Economic
- Clinical
- Humanistic
- Financial
Answer: Humanistic
15. “Deprescribing” is a clinical service focused on:
- Systematically stopping medications that are no longer beneficial or may be causing harm.
- Prescribing a medication for every symptom a patient reports.
- Switching all brand-name medications to generics.
- Ensuring patients never stop taking any medication.
Answer: Systematically stopping medications that are no longer beneficial or may be causing harm.
16. A pharmacist who creates and presents a “business plan” is performing a critical step in:
- The daily dispensing workflow.
- The development and implementation of a new, sustainable clinical service.
- Compounding a sterile product.
- Counseling a single patient.
Answer: The development and implementation of a new, sustainable clinical service.
17. “Telepharmacy” is a service delivery model that uses technology to:
- Provide pharmacist care to patients in remote or underserved areas.
- Make it more difficult for patients to speak with a pharmacist.
- Increase the number of in-person visits required.
- Fulfill a legal requirement for all pharmacies.
Answer: Provide pharmacist care to patients in remote or underserved areas.
18. A key leadership practice for successfully launching a new service in a pharmacy is to:
- Surprise the staff with the new workflow.
- Create a clear vision and ensure the entire team is trained and buys into the new service.
- Assume the service will be perfect from the first day.
- Ignore all feedback from staff and patients.
Answer: Create a clear vision and ensure the entire team is trained and buys into the new service.
19. Patient advocacy is a professional service where the pharmacist:
- Acts in the best interest of the patient to help them navigate the healthcare system.
- Follows all instructions from an insurance company without question.
- Only focuses on the cost of medications.
- Makes all healthcare decisions for the patient.
Answer: Acts in the best interest of the patient to help them navigate the healthcare system.
20. A pharmacist providing point-of-care testing for influenza is offering a service that can lead to:
- Faster diagnosis and more timely initiation of antiviral therapy.
- An increased use of antibiotics for viral infections.
- A delay in appropriate treatment.
- A guaranteed cure for the flu.
Answer: Faster diagnosis and more timely initiation of antiviral therapy.
21. The “marketing” of a new pharmacy service is primarily about:
- Using aggressive sales tactics to pressure patients.
- Communicating the value and benefit of the service to the target audience.
- Creating a fancy logo and brochure.
- Lowering the price to be the cheapest option.
Answer: Communicating the value and benefit of the service to the target audience.
22. A pharmacist’s patient counseling is a fundamental service that is designed to:
- Fulfill a legal requirement only.
- Ensure the patient understands how to use their medication safely and effectively.
- Make the dispensing process take longer.
- Be performed only by a pharmacy technician.
Answer: Ensure the patient understands how to use their medication safely and effectively.
23. The development of “specialty pharmacy” as a service model was driven by:
- A decrease in the number of patients with rare diseases.
- The increasing complexity and high cost of medications for conditions like cancer and multiple sclerosis.
- A desire to make all medications available in every community pharmacy.
- A reduction in the number of new drugs being developed.
Answer: The increasing complexity and high cost of medications for conditions like cancer and multiple sclerosis.
24. A “wellness service” in a community pharmacy might include:
- Smoking cessation counseling.
- Weight management programs.
- Diabetes prevention programs.
- All of the above.
Answer: All of the above.
25. A key challenge to the financial sustainability of many advanced pharmacy services is:
- A lack of evidence showing they are effective.
- A lack of consistent and adequate reimbursement from payers.
- A refusal by pharmacists to provide the services.
- The simplicity of the services being offered.
Answer: A lack of consistent and adequate reimbursement from payers.
26. The “forging ahead” mindset encourages pharmacists to:
- Focus only on the traditional dispensing role.
- Be innovative and develop new services to meet the evolving needs of healthcare.
- Resist all changes in the profession.
- Wait for other professions to solve healthcare problems.
Answer: Be innovative and develop new services to meet the evolving needs of healthcare.
27. A sterile compounding service provided by a pharmacy is a highly specialized service governed by:
- The DEA.
- USP <797> standards.
- The FDA’s MedWatch program.
- The principles of marketing.
Answer: USP <797> standards.
28. A pharmacist providing services to a “geriatric” population must be sensitive to:
- The challenges of polypharmacy.
- The increased risk of adverse drug events.
- The potential for cognitive and physical impairments.
- All of the above.
Answer: All of the above.
29. The use of a “Health Information Exchange” (HIE) can enhance a pharmacist’s services by:
- Providing a more complete and accurate patient record for making clinical decisions.
- Limiting the pharmacist’s access to patient data.
- Making the medication reconciliation process more difficult.
- It is not relevant to pharmacy services.
Answer: Providing a more complete and accurate patient record for making clinical decisions.
30. The ultimate goal of all clinical pharmacy services is to:
- Increase the pharmacy’s profit margin.
- Improve patient health outcomes.
- Make the pharmacist’s job easier.
- Replace the need for physicians.
Answer: Improve patient health outcomes.
31. When a pharmacist provides services to address “health disparities,” they are:
- Focusing on creating equitable care for all patients, especially those from disadvantaged populations.
- Ignoring the social factors that affect health.
- Treating all patients in exactly the same way, regardless of their needs.
- Making healthcare more expensive for minority populations.
Answer: Focusing on creating equitable care for all patients, especially those from disadvantaged populations.
32. The service of “medication reconciliation” is most critical during:
- A routine refill pickup.
- Transitions of care, such as hospital admission or discharge.
- The sale of an OTC product.
- The annual inventory count.
Answer: Transitions of care, such as hospital admission or discharge.
33. A “collaborative practice agreement” is a legal framework that can enable a pharmacist to provide advanced services like:
- Initiating or adjusting medication therapy under a protocol with a physician.
- Selling lottery tickets.
- Managing the pharmacy’s finances.
- Supervising construction in the pharmacy.
Answer: Initiating or adjusting medication therapy under a protocol with a physician.
34. The use of “Clinical Decision Support” (CDS) in the EHR is a technology that supports a pharmacist’s services by:
- Providing real-time alerts for potential drug interactions or safety issues.
- Making clinical decisions for the pharmacist.
- Slowing down the order verification process.
- Replacing the need for a pharmacist’s judgment.
Answer: Providing real-time alerts for potential drug interactions or safety issues.
35. A “harm reduction” service in a community pharmacy might include:
- Providing naloxone to prevent opioid overdose deaths.
- Offering sterile syringes to people who inject drugs to prevent the spread of infectious disease.
- Providing education on safer use practices.
- All of the above.
Answer: All of the above.
36. A pharmacist’s service in an “oncology” setting is highly specialized and focuses on:
- Managing the complex medication regimens of cancer patients.
- Minimizing the side effects of chemotherapy.
- Providing supportive care.
- All of the above.
Answer: All of the above.
37. The “human factors” of a service design are important because they:
- Ensure the service is designed to be easy to use and safe for both the patient and the provider.
- Are not a consideration in service development.
- Focus only on the aesthetics of the service.
- Guarantee the service will be profitable.
Answer: Ensure the service is designed to be easy to use and safe for both the patient and the provider.
38. The service of providing “drug information” to other healthcare providers is a traditional and vital role for pharmacists, showcasing their expertise as:
- Medication experts.
- Business managers.
- Dispensing technicians.
- Financial analysts.
Answer: Medication experts.
39. A pharmacist providing a “Pain Management” consultation service would focus on:
- Recommending opioid therapy for all patients.
- A multimodal approach including both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies to improve function and quality of life.
- The sale of OTC analgesics only.
- Referring all patients with pain to a specialist.
Answer: A multimodal approach including both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies to improve function and quality of life.
40. The development of a successful new service requires a pharmacist to have skills in:
- Leadership and communication.
- Business planning and marketing.
- Clinical therapeutics.
- All of the above.
Answer: All of the above.
41. The use of “analytics and reporting systems” supports clinical services by:
- Allowing pharmacists to track outcomes and demonstrate the value of their interventions.
- Making it more difficult to identify eligible patients.
- Increasing the administrative burden without providing any useful information.
- Focusing only on dispensing metrics.
Answer: Allowing pharmacists to track outcomes and demonstrate the value of their interventions.
42. Which of the following is an example of a service that addresses a “Social Determinant of Health”?
- A pharmacist connecting a patient who cannot afford food with a local food bank.
- A pharmacist counseling on a complex drug interaction.
- A pharmacist verifying the dose of a medication.
- A pharmacist compounding an IV admixture.
Answer: A pharmacist connecting a patient who cannot afford food with a local food bank.
43. The service of “patient counseling” is an application of which core professional skill?
- Communication.
- Inventory management.
- Sterile compounding.
- Financial accounting.
Answer: Communication.
44. A key leadership practice when managing a team that provides multiple clinical services is to:
- Ensure the workflow is efficient and that staff are properly trained and empowered.
- Micromanage every task.
- Focus only on the financial performance of the services.
- Avoid seeking feedback from the team.
Answer: Ensure the workflow is efficient and that staff are properly trained and empowered.
45. The service of providing care to a patient with a “disability” requires the pharmacist to:
- Use a one-size-fits-all approach.
- Adapt their communication and service delivery to meet the individual’s needs.
- Assume the patient’s caregiver will handle everything.
- Focus only on the disability and not the patient as a whole person.
Answer: Adapt their communication and service delivery to meet the individual’s needs.
46. A “consultant pharmacist” primarily provides services to:
- Individual walk-in patients.
- Institutions like long-term care facilities, performing medication regimen reviews.
- Pharmaceutical manufacturers.
- Government regulatory agencies.
Answer: Institutions like long-term care facilities, performing medication regimen reviews.
47. The “negotiation” skills of a pharmacist are often used when providing the service of:
- Advocating with an insurance company for coverage of a needed medication.
- Dispensing a routine refill.
- Compounding a topical cream.
- Taking a patient’s blood pressure.
Answer: Advocating with an insurance company for coverage of a needed medication.
48. The “human resources” aspect of service delivery involves:
- Ensuring you have the right people with the right skills to provide the service effectively.
- The financial projections for the service.
- The marketing plan for the service.
- The clinical protocol for the service.
Answer: Ensuring you have the right people with the right skills to provide the service effectively.
49. A service that is truly “patient-centered” is one that is designed:
- Around the needs and preferences of the pharmacist.
- To be as profitable as possible.
- With the patient’s needs, values, and goals as the primary focus.
- To be as fast as possible, regardless of the patient’s understanding.
Answer: With the patient’s needs, values, and goals as the primary focus.
50. The continuous development of new pharmacy services is essential for:
- Maintaining the status quo of the profession.
- The ongoing advancement and relevance of the pharmacy profession in a changing healthcare system.
- Making the pharmacist’s job easier.
- Reducing the need for interprofessional collaboration.
Answer: The ongoing advancement and relevance of the pharmacy profession in a changing healthcare system.
I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.
Mail- Sachin@pharmacyfreak.com