What should a pharmacy technician always check before filling a prescription?

Before filling a prescription, it is essential for a pharmacy technician to check the availability of the medication in inventory. This step is crucial because even if a prescription is valid and the patient needs the medication, it cannot be dispensed if the pharmacy does not have it in stock. Ensuring that the medication is available allows for a smooth process in providing the necessary treatment to the patient without unnecessary delays. This is part of the technician's responsibility to maintain workflow and customer satisfaction in the pharmacy.

Other considerations, while important, focus on different aspects of service. Checking pharmacy hours ensures the service is available to the patient, reviewing insurance coverage is necessary for billing purposes, and verifying dosage instructions contributes to correct dispensing and patient safety. However, none of these steps can precede the fundamental requirement of having the medication available to fulfill the prescription.