The Pharmacy Technician 4E Chapter 2 The Pharmacy Technician

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The Pharmacy Technician 4E

• Chapter 2
• The Pharmacy Technician

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Chapter Outline

• The Pharmacy Technician
• Personal Standards
• Training Competency
• Certification

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Pharmacy Technician

• A pharmacy technician, also called the pharmacy
  assistant.
• Works in a pharmacy.
• Works under the direct supervision of a licensed
  pharmacist.
• Assists in pharmacy activities that do not
  require the professional judgment of a
  pharmacist.

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Pharmacist

• The pharmacist provides
• The final check on the original prescription with
  the medication bottle and label.
• Patient counseling - has the regal
  responsibility.

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Pharmacy Technicians Role

• Originally, many pharmacy techs were trained as
  medics in the military.
• Returned after service to take positions in
  hospitals.
• In community pharmacy, the pharmacy tech evolved
  from clerk or cashier to a pharmacists
  assistant.
• A pharmacy technician assists the pharmacist with
  routine functions.
• Leaves professional decision making and judgment
  calls to the pharmacist.

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Pharmacy Technicians Role

• Receiving prescriptions
• Using computer
• Inventory control
• Taking patient information
• Filling prescriptions
• Ordering
• Compounding
• Working with a team of health care professionals

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Evolution of the Pharmacy Technicians Role

• Without pharmacy technicians, pharmacists would
  not have sufficient time for the duties involved
  in pharmaceutical care.
• Pharmacy technicians do not have the skill or the
  training or the legal accountability to do them.
• Pharmaceutical Care functions include
• Counseling patients and reviewing medication
  profiles.
• Monitoring for side effects and adverse
  reactions.
• Screening patients for disease.
• Discussing cost-effective drug therapy options
  with the prescriber.

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Pharmacy Technicians

• As of 2008, there are 326,300 Pharmacy
  Technicians employed in the U.S.
• By 2018, the demand will increase by 31.

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Work Environments and Conditions

• Employment for Pharmacy Technicians
• Community pharmacies (i.e., drugstores) are the
  most common workplace.
• Hospital pharmacies are the second most common
  work place.
• Others
• Home healthcare and long-term care facilities .
• Specialized area of practice (e.g., nuclear
  pharmacy) with additional training.
• Mail order and internet Rx.
• Pharmaceutical wholesale.

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The Pharmacy Technicians

• Scope of practice
• What individuals may and may not do in their
  jobs.
• Pharmacists dispense, counsel, and advice
  physicians on drug related issues.
• Pharmacy Tech assist pharmacists in areas where
  pharmacists skills or expertise is not required.
• Job Description is written a document that
  states the specific responsibilities and tasks
  for pharmacy technicians which differs by
  settings.

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Personal Standards

• Dependable
• Performing the job as required.
• Showing up on time.
• Do what is required.
• Detail oriented
• Drugs are dangerous substances if not properly
  handled.
• Small mistake can lead to death of a person.
• Trustworthy
• Confidentiality of patient information.
• Access to habit forming drugs/drug with abuse
  potential.
• Access to expensive drug products.

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Personal Standards

• Health
• Has to be in good health or ease of making
  mistakes, contracting diseases.
• Hygiene
• Deals with several people, patients and customers
• Professional image.
• Appearance
• White lab jacket, grooming, badge, etc.

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Characteristics

• A successful pharmacy technician must possess a
  wide range of skills, knowledge, and aptitudes.
• Broad knowledge of pharmacy practice that
  includes
• Good Mathematics and problem solving skills
• Language and medical terminology - excellent
  communication skills
• Computer skills
• Interpersonal skills - dedication to providing a
  critical healthcare service to customers and
  patients
• high ethical standards, willingness to follow
  instructions
• eagerness to learn

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Characteristics

• A successful pharmacy technician must possess a
  wide range of skills, knowledge, and aptitudes.
• Good research skills.
• Ability to perform accurately and calmly in
  hectic or stressful situations.
• Ability to multi-task or work on several projects
  at the same time.

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Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act
(HIP AA) - 1996

• Refers to privacy and security of patient health
  related data.
• Made health care providers responsible for the
  privacy and security of all identifiable patient
  health information
• Called Protected Health Information PHI.
• Apply to various formats including
• Electronic data, computer files, electronic
  transmission.
• Paper and hard copy documents.
• Oral communication, or billing and claims.

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Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act
(HIP AA)- 1996

• NO casual discussion with anyone about a patient
  data.
• Includes patients family member, Patients
  friends, etc. without the patients permission/
  after signing a waiver.
• NO discussion regarding topics including
  Medications and Health issues.
• Making sure files and documents are securely
  stored where no unauthorized person can access
  them.

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Education and Licensing Requirements

• In the past, on-the-job training (training in the
  workplace) was sufficient for the tech working in
  a pharmacy.
• Now, formal technician training programs train
  pharmacy technicians for their expanded roles.
• Initially centered in hospitals, now many
  programs are offered by community colleges and
  vocational and technical schools.

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Education and Licensing Requirements

• ASHP (American Society of Health-System
  Pharmacists)
• Developed a model curriculum to meet the needs of
  all practice settings.
• In some states pharmacy technicians must be
  certified to practice.
• 250 accredited schools and institutions by ASHP.
• Performance review
• A performance review by an employer based on the
  job description.
• An employer is legally responsible for pharmacy
  tech performance and competency.

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Evolution of the Pharmacy Technicians Role

• The essential differences in the duties of a
  pharmacist and a technician involve
• Accountability and legal responsibility.
• Making decisions about the patients healthcare.
• Most state boards of pharmacy recognize the
  existence and importance of the pharmacy
  technician.
• Each state board of pharmacy regulates
• The activities of pharmacy technicians.
• The ratio of pharmacy techs to pharmacists .

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Competency

• Being qualified and capable and done in various
  ways.
• Testing written test or/and practical
  demonstration to show competency.
• Performance is evaluated by an employer.
• Includes performance reviews, comments by your
  supervisor, and complaints.

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Competency

• Continuing Education
• An instructional program on new drugs and other
  pharmacy practice to keep knowledge updated.
• Probation Period
• The time the pharmacy tech is expected to learn
  certain skills sets and is usually 6 months.
• Leads to either permanent employee or dismissal
  from the job.

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Certification

• A legal proof or a document that an individual
  meets certain standards provided by a neutral
  professional organization.
• Two certification bodies
• PTCB (Pharmacy Technician Certification Board)
  offers a National Examination to become a CPhT
  (Certified Pharmacy Technician).
• ICPT (Certification of Pharmacy Technicians)
  offers a National Examination to become ExCPT.

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As of 2010, PTCB certified 363,000 pharmacy
technicians.
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Certification

• Certification must be renewed
• Every 2 years just like the pharmacist license
• Certifications require continuing Education, 20
  contact hours
• Of these, one hour in pharmacy law every 2 years.
  

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The Pharmacy Technician Exam (PTCE)

• Length 90 minutes, all multiple questions,
  computerize test.
• To take the examination, a pharmacy tech must
• Complete high school or have a GED.
• NEVER have been convicted of a felony.
• Tests in areas of
• Assisting the pharmacist in serving patients
  (66).
• Medication distribution (22).
• Inventory control systems of pharmacy operations
  (12).
• Score 650 out of 900 points.

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The Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy
Technicians (ExCPT)

• Contains 110 multiple choice questions.
• To take the examination, a pharmacy tech must
• Complete high school or have a GED.
• NEVER been convicted of a felony.
• Must be 18 years old.
• Test areas
• Regulations and technician duties (25).
• Drugs and drug products (23).
• Dispensing process (52).

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Pharmacy Technician ExaminationContact
Information

• ExCPT

• PTCE

• 2536 S Old Hwy 94, Suite 224
• St. Charles, MO 63303
• [phone]

• 2215 Constitution Ave, NW
• Washington, DC 20037
• [phone]

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Terms to Remember

• Certification
• Competent
• Confidentiality
• Inventory
• Personal inventory
• Professionals
• Scope of practice
• Technicians