Can a pharmacy maintain one patient profile for all family members living at the same address with the same last name?

Maintaining a single patient profile for all family members living at the same address with the same last name may seem practical, but it does not fully comply with best practices in pharmacy management and patient confidentiality. Each patient is entitled to their own medical history and medication records, which means that combining profiles could lead to confusion regarding individual treatments and prescriptions.

In most cases, pharmacies are required to maintain separate profiles for each patient, even if they share an address or last name. This helps ensure accurate tracking of medications, allergies, and health conditions unique to each individual, protecting patient safety and complying with legal privacy standards.

Overall, it's critical that each patient's information is kept distinct to uphold the integrity of their healthcare records. This practice promotes better clinical decision-making and protects patient privacy.