chapter 3 pharmacy settings for technicians copyright © 2004 by elsevier inc. all rights reserved

Chapter 3Chapter 3

Pharmacy Settings for Pharmacy Settings for TechniciansTechnicians

Copyright © 2004 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


IntroductionIntroduction

• Vocation of pharmacy technician Vocation of pharmacy technician began as a clerk with minimal tasks began as a clerk with minimal tasks that related to understanding that related to understanding medicinesmedicines

• Each of America’s 50 states has not Each of America’s 50 states has not standardized the qualifications and standardized the qualifications and job descriptions for the pharmacy job descriptions for the pharmacy techniciantechnician


Introduction Introduction (continued)(continued)

• Each state’s Board of Pharmacy Each state’s Board of Pharmacy determines what standards are and determines what standards are and how they must be met by technicianshow they must be met by technicians

• Technicians throughout the United Technicians throughout the United States will become respected as States will become respected as pharmacy paraprofessionalspharmacy paraprofessionals


• Historically, technicians have answered Historically, technicians have answered to a variety of titles like the following:to a variety of titles like the following:

– Pharmacy clerkPharmacy clerk

– Pharmacist assistantPharmacist assistant

– Pharmacy aidPharmacy aid

– Pharmacy technicianPharmacy technician

– Pharmacy helperPharmacy helper


Historic Data Historic Data (continued)(continued)

• Job responsibilities are billing, Job responsibilities are billing, ordering, stock clerk, typist, phone ordering, stock clerk, typist, phone receptionist, troubleshooter, cashier, receptionist, troubleshooter, cashier, and errand runnerand errand runner


Current QualificationsCurrent Qualifications

• Each state has own Board of Pharmacy Each state has own Board of Pharmacy overseen by the National Association overseen by the National Association Boards of PharmacyBoards of Pharmacy

• Board of Pharmacy registers technicians Board of Pharmacy registers technicians and licenses pharmacists. Also provides and licenses pharmacists. Also provides consumers with a way to complain or report consumers with a way to complain or report any problems or illegal actions they have any problems or illegal actions they have experienced in a pharmacyexperienced in a pharmacy

• Board of Pharmacy reviews and updates Board of Pharmacy reviews and updates current rules and regulations pertaining current rules and regulations pertaining to pharmacy practice; expands use of to pharmacy practice; expands use of technicians in the pharmacy fieldtechnicians in the pharmacy field


Nonjudgmental DutiesNonjudgmental Duties

• Technicians perform many types of Technicians perform many types of nonjudgmental dutiesnonjudgmental duties

• Nonjudgmental means final approval Nonjudgmental means final approval for any task completed in a pharmacy for any task completed in a pharmacy setting; must be checked and approved setting; must be checked and approved by a pharmacistby a pharmacist

• Limits technicians from interpreting Limits technicians from interpreting scientific studies, counseling patients, scientific studies, counseling patients, conferring with other medical personnelconferring with other medical personnel


Inpatient Setting RequirementsInpatient Setting Requirements

• Inpatient pharmacy refers to hospitals Inpatient pharmacy refers to hospitals in which patients stay overnight or in which patients stay overnight or longer, depending on the procedures longer, depending on the procedures they requirethey require

• Inpatient pharmacies traditionally have Inpatient pharmacies traditionally have different types of stock than outpatient different types of stock than outpatient pharmaciespharmacies



• Stat (emergency) Orders–Technicians Stat (emergency) Orders–Technicians must be able to react in a moment’s must be able to react in a moment’s notice when stat orders are receivednotice when stat orders are received

• Stat doses are to be delivered within Stat doses are to be delivered within 15 minutes to the stations requesting 15 minutes to the stations requesting them (ER, OR, ICU, CCU)them (ER, OR, ICU, CCU)



• Inpatient pharmacy requires the Inpatient pharmacy requires the ability to prepare parenterals, ability to prepare parenterals, hyperalimentations, and chemotherapyhyperalimentations, and chemotherapy

• Technicians are required to help the Technicians are required to help the pharmacist answer phones, prepare pharmacist answer phones, prepare first doses, load medication drawers first doses, load medication drawers (24-hour supply), prepare unit dose (24-hour supply), prepare unit dose medicationsmedications



• Two reasons for repackaging Two reasons for repackaging medications:medications:

– The drug companies do not have The drug companies do not have the medication available in unit dosethe medication available in unit dose

– The hospital has chosen to prepare The hospital has chosen to prepare its own medication for cost-saving its own medication for cost-saving reasonsreasons



• Common job descriptions of inpatient Common job descriptions of inpatient technicians: Refer to list and technicians: Refer to list and descriptions on page 31descriptions on page 31

• Inventory technician, Robot filler, IV Inventory technician, Robot filler, IV technician, Chemotherapy technician, technician, Chemotherapy technician, Anticoagulant technician, Clinical Anticoagulant technician, Clinical technician, Supervisory techniciantechnician, Supervisory technician


Outpatient Settings RequirementsOutpatient Settings Requirements

• Outpatient pharmacy–difficult task Outpatient pharmacy–difficult task due to front-line interaction with due to front-line interaction with patients on a daily basispatients on a daily basis

• Job tests communication skills Job tests communication skills and stress leveland stress level

• High volume of interacting on the High volume of interacting on the telephone, taking in refill prescriptions, telephone, taking in refill prescriptions, answering insurance questionsanswering insurance questions



• Computer skills are needed to access Computer skills are needed to access patient informationpatient information

• Stock must be ordered in a timely Stock must be ordered in a timely mannermanner

• Billing to insurance companies Billing to insurance companies and knowing the various rules, and knowing the various rules, regulations, and special codes regulations, and special codes for each prescription is importantfor each prescription is important



• Job descriptions of Outpatient Job descriptions of Outpatient Technicians–refer to page 32Technicians–refer to page 32

• Insurance billing technician, Retail Insurance billing technician, Retail technician, Stock inventory technician, technician, Stock inventory technician, Technician recruiter, and Technician Technician recruiter, and Technician trainertrainer


Home Health Setting RequirementsHome Health Setting Requirements

• A home health pharmacy fits somewhere A home health pharmacy fits somewhere between an inpatient and an outpatient between an inpatient and an outpatient pharmacypharmacy

• Technicians process medications for Technicians process medications for patients on a weekly or monthly basispatients on a weekly or monthly basis

• There are no patients, doctors, nurses, There are no patients, doctors, nurses, or other health care providers in this or other health care providers in this pharmacypharmacy



• Home health pharmacies are basedHome health pharmacies are basedaway from hospital sites and are not away from hospital sites and are not open to the publicopen to the public

• Couriers deliver medications to the Couriers deliver medications to the home health clientshome health clients

• Medications are packaged in cardboard Medications are packaged in cardboard blister packsblister packs



• Home health nurses provide services Home health nurses provide services in the home setting and receive supplies in the home setting and receive supplies from the pharmacy, or patient’s family from the pharmacy, or patient’s family may pick up or have supplies deliveredmay pick up or have supplies delivered


Mail Order Pharmacy/E-PharmacyMail Order Pharmacy/E-Pharmacy

• These types of pharmacies provide These types of pharmacies provide for common acquired illnesses of for common acquired illnesses of older peopleolder people

• Large buildings in industrial areas Large buildings in industrial areas that are used to process new or refill that are used to process new or refill prescriptionsprescriptions

• New area of pharmacy that is steadily New area of pharmacy that is steadily growinggrowing


National CertificationNational Certificationfor Techniciansfor Technicians• Pharmacy Technician Certification Pharmacy Technician Certification

Board (PTCB) administers the Board (PTCB) administers the certification exam three times certification exam three times a year in all 50 statesa year in all 50 states

• Four major societies developed Four major societies developed guidelines to gauge technicians: guidelines to gauge technicians: ASHP, APhA, ICHP, MPAASHP, APhA, ICHP, MPA


National CertificationNational Certificationfor Techniciansfor Technicians• The following are goals for pharmacy The following are goals for pharmacy

technicians:technicians:

– To work more effectively with pharmacistsTo work more effectively with pharmacists

– To provide greater patient care and servicesTo provide greater patient care and services

– To create a minimum standard of knowledgeTo create a minimum standard of knowledge

– To help employers determine knowledge baseTo help employers determine knowledge base


National CertificationNational Certificationfor Techniciansfor Technicians• Not all states’ requirements for Not all states’ requirements for

technicians are standardizedtechnicians are standardized

• Most, if not all, require technicians Most, if not all, require technicians to have a high school diplomato have a high school diploma

• Technicians who have successfully Technicians who have successfully passed the 140-question exam can use passed the 140-question exam can use the title Certified Pharmacy Technician the title Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) behind his/her name(CPhT) behind his/her name


Technician DutiesTechnician Dutiesand Qualificationsand Qualifications• Refer to Box 3.1 for duties of a Refer to Box 3.1 for duties of a

certified techniciancertified technician

• Refer to Box 3.2 for characteristics Refer to Box 3.2 for characteristics of a certified technicianof a certified technician


Opportunities for TechniciansOpportunities for Technicians

• Proper educational training Proper educational training (AS or BS in computer science) (AS or BS in computer science) can lead to writing software or can lead to writing software or supplying supportsupplying support

• Can also write curriculums, articles, Can also write curriculums, articles, and books for technician trainingand books for technician training

• Completion of training programs Completion of training programs offers degrees, such as certificates, offers degrees, such as certificates, diplomas, AA, AS, BA, or BSdiplomas, AA, AS, BA, or BS


Opportunities for TechniciansOpportunities for Technicians

• Nontraditional technician jobs Nontraditional technician jobs (refer to descriptions on page 34)(refer to descriptions on page 34)

• Pharmacy business management Pharmacy business management operatorsoperators

• Computer support technicians, Computer support technicians, Software writer, Authors, Poison Software writer, Authors, Poison control call center operator, Nuclear control call center operator, Nuclear pharmacy technician, Director/Instructor pharmacy technician, Director/Instructor in training programin training program


Incentive ProgramsIncentive Programs

• Pharmacies sometimes have incentive Pharmacies sometimes have incentive programs for employees who want to programs for employees who want to further their career in pharmacyfurther their career in pharmacy

• Reimbursement of tuition costs or Reimbursement of tuition costs or pay incentives are givenpay incentives are given

• Reimbursement for passing the PTCB Reimbursement for passing the PTCB examinationexamination

chapter 3 pharmacy settings for technicians copyright © 2004 by elsevier inc. all rights reserved

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