The Pharmacy The Pharmacy Technician 4ETechnician 4E

Chapter 2Chapter 2The Pharmacy TechnicianThe Pharmacy Technician

Chapter OutlineChapter Outline

The Pharmacy TechnicianThe Pharmacy Technician Personal StandardsPersonal Standards Training & CompetencyTraining & Competency CertificationCertification

Pharmacy TechnicianPharmacy Technician

A pharmacy technician, also called the A pharmacy technician, also called the pharmacy pharmacy assistantassistant. . Works in a pharmacy.Works in a pharmacy. Works Works under the direct supervision under the direct supervision of a licensed of a licensed

pharmacist.pharmacist. Assists in pharmacy activities Assists in pharmacy activities that do not require that do not require

the professional judgment the professional judgment of a pharmacist. of a pharmacist.

PharmacistPharmacist

The pharmacist provides The pharmacist provides The The final check final check on the original prescription with on the original prescription with

the medication bottle and label.the medication bottle and label. Patient counseling - Patient counseling - has the regal responsibility.has the regal responsibility.

Pharmacy Technicians RolePharmacy Technicians Role

Originally, many pharmacy techs were trained as Originally, many pharmacy techs were trained as medics in the medics in the militarymilitary. .

Returned after service to take positions in Returned after service to take positions in hospitals. hospitals.

In community pharmacy,In community pharmacy, the pharmacy tech the pharmacy tech evolved from evolved from clerkclerk or or cashiercashier to a to a pharmacist’s pharmacist’s assistant. assistant.

A pharmacy technician assists the pharmacist with A pharmacy technician assists the pharmacist with routine functions.routine functions. Leaves professional decision making and Leaves professional decision making and

judgment calls to the pharmacist.judgment calls to the pharmacist.

Pharmacy Technicians RolePharmacy Technicians Role

Receiving prescriptionsReceiving prescriptions Using computerUsing computer Inventory controlInventory control Taking patient informationTaking patient information Filling prescriptionsFilling prescriptions OrderingOrdering CompoundingCompounding Working with a team of health care professionalsWorking with a team of health care professionals

Evolution of the Pharmacy Technician’s Evolution of the Pharmacy Technician’s RoleRole

Without pharmacy technicians, pharmacists would not have Without pharmacy technicians, pharmacists would not have sufficient time for the duties involved in sufficient time for the duties involved in “pharmaceutical care.” “pharmaceutical care.” Pharmacy technicians do not have the skill or the training or Pharmacy technicians do not have the skill or the training or

the legal accountability to do them. the legal accountability to do them.

Pharmaceutical Care Pharmaceutical Care functions include:functions include: Counseling patients and reviewing medication profiles.Counseling patients and reviewing medication profiles. Monitoring for side effects and adverse reactions.Monitoring for side effects and adverse reactions. Screening patients for disease.Screening patients for disease. Discussing cost-effective drug therapy options with the Discussing cost-effective drug therapy options with the

prescriber.prescriber.

Pharmacy TechniciansPharmacy Technicians

As of 2008, there are As of 2008, there are 326,300 326,300 Pharmacy Technicians Pharmacy Technicians employed in the U.S.employed in the U.S.

By 2018By 2018, the demand will increase , the demand will increase by 31%.by 31%.

Work Environments and ConditionsWork Environments and Conditions Employment for Pharmacy Technicians Employment for Pharmacy Technicians

Community pharmacies (i.e., drugstores) areCommunity pharmacies (i.e., drugstores) are the the most common workplace.most common workplace.

Hospital pharmacies are Hospital pharmacies are the second most common the second most common work place.work place.

OthersOthers Home healthcare and long-term care facilities .Home healthcare and long-term care facilities . Specialized area of practice (e.g., nuclear pharmacy) Specialized area of practice (e.g., nuclear pharmacy)

with additional training.with additional training. Mail order and internet Rx.Mail order and internet Rx. Pharmaceutical wholesale. Pharmaceutical wholesale.

The Pharmacy TechniciansThe Pharmacy Technicians

Scope of practiceScope of practice What individuals may and may not do in their What individuals may and may not do in their

jobs. jobs. Pharmacists Pharmacists dispense, counsel, and advice dispense, counsel, and advice

physicians on drug related issues.physicians on drug related issues. Pharmacy TechPharmacy Tech assist pharmacists in areas where assist pharmacists in areas where

pharmacists skills or expertise is not required. pharmacists skills or expertise is not required. Job Description Job Description is written a document that states is written a document that states

the specific responsibilities and tasks for pharmacy the specific responsibilities and tasks for pharmacy technicians which differs by settingstechnicians which differs by settings..

Personal StandardsPersonal Standards DependableDependable

Performing the job as required.Performing the job as required. Showing up on time.Showing up on time. Do what is required.Do what is required.

Detail orientedDetail oriented Drugs are dangerous substances if not properly Drugs are dangerous substances if not properly

handled.handled. Small mistake can lead to death of a person.Small mistake can lead to death of a person.

TrustworthyTrustworthy Confidentiality of patient information.Confidentiality of patient information. Access to habit forming drugs/drug with abuse Access to habit forming drugs/drug with abuse

potential.potential. Access to expensive drug products.Access to expensive drug products.

Personal StandardsPersonal Standards

HealthHealth Has to be in good health or ease of making mistakes, Has to be in good health or ease of making mistakes,

contracting diseases.contracting diseases. Hygiene Hygiene

Deals with several people, patients and customersDeals with several people, patients and customers Professional image.Professional image.

AppearanceAppearance White lab jacket, grooming, badge, etc.White lab jacket, grooming, badge, etc.

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

A successful pharmacy technician must possess a wide A successful pharmacy technician must possess a wide range of skills, knowledge, and aptitudes.range of skills, knowledge, and aptitudes.

Broad Broad knowledgeknowledge of pharmacy practice that includes: of pharmacy practice that includes: Good Mathematics and problem solving skillsGood Mathematics and problem solving skills Language and medical terminology - excellent Language and medical terminology - excellent

communicationcommunication skills skills Computer skillsComputer skills Interpersonal skills - dedication to providing a critical Interpersonal skills - dedication to providing a critical

healthcare service to healthcare service to customers and patientscustomers and patients high high ethicalethical standards, willingness to standards, willingness to follow follow

instructionsinstructions eagernesseagerness to learn to learn

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

A successful pharmacy technician must possess a wide range of skills, knowledge, and aptitudes.

Good Good researchresearch skills.skills. Ability to perform accurately and calmly in hectic Ability to perform accurately and calmly in hectic

or or stressful situationsstressful situations.. Ability to Ability to multi-taskmulti-task or work on several projects at or work on several projects at

the same time.the same time.

Health Insurance Portability & Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIP AA) - 1996Accountability Act (HIP AA) - 1996

Refers to Refers to privacyprivacy and and security of patient health security of patient health related data.related data. Made health care providers responsible for the Made health care providers responsible for the

privacy and security of all identifiable patient privacy and security of all identifiable patient health information health information

Called Called Protected Health Information – PHI.Protected Health Information – PHI. Apply to various formats includingApply to various formats including

Electronic data, computer files, electronic Electronic data, computer files, electronic transmission.transmission.

Paper and hard copy documents.Paper and hard copy documents. Oral communication, or billing and claims.Oral communication, or billing and claims.

Health Insurance Portability & Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIP AA)- 1996Accountability Act (HIP AA)- 1996

NONO casual discussion casual discussion with anyone about a patient with anyone about a patient data.data. Includes patient’s family member, Patient’s Includes patient’s family member, Patient’s

friends, etc. without the patient’s permission/ friends, etc. without the patient’s permission/ after signing a waiver.after signing a waiver.

NONO discussion discussion regarding topics including Medications regarding topics including Medications and Health issues.and Health issues. Making sure files and documents are Making sure files and documents are securely securely

stored stored where no unauthorized person can access where no unauthorized person can access them.them.

Education and Licensing RequirementsEducation and Licensing Requirements

In the past, In the past, on-the-job training on-the-job training (training in the (training in the workplace) was sufficient for the tech working in a workplace) was sufficient for the tech working in a pharmacy. pharmacy.

Now, Now, formal technician training programs formal technician training programs train train pharmacy technicians for their expanded roles. pharmacy technicians for their expanded roles. Initially centered in Initially centered in hospitals,hospitals, now many programs now many programs

are offered by are offered by community colleges community colleges and and vocational vocational and technical and technical schools.schools.

Education and Licensing RequirementsEducation and Licensing Requirements ASHPASHP ( (AAmerican merican SSociety of ociety of HHealth-ealth-SSystem ystem PPharmacists) harmacists)

Developed a model Developed a model curriculumcurriculum to meet the needs of all to meet the needs of all practice settings. practice settings.

In some states pharmacy technicians must be certified to In some states pharmacy technicians must be certified to practice.practice.

250 accredited schools and institutions by ASHP.250 accredited schools and institutions by ASHP.

Performance review Performance review A performance review by an employer based on the job A performance review by an employer based on the job

description.description. An employer is legally responsible for pharmacy tech An employer is legally responsible for pharmacy tech

performance and competency.performance and competency.

Evolution of the Pharmacy Technician’s RoleEvolution of the Pharmacy Technician’s Role

The essential differences in the duties of a The essential differences in the duties of a pharmacist and a technician involve:pharmacist and a technician involve: Accountability and legal responsibility.Accountability and legal responsibility. Making decisions Making decisions about the patient’s healthcare. about the patient’s healthcare.

Most Most state boards of pharmacy state boards of pharmacy recognize the recognize the existence and importance of the pharmacy existence and importance of the pharmacy technician. technician.

Each state board of pharmacy regulates:Each state board of pharmacy regulates: The activities of pharmacy technicians.The activities of pharmacy technicians. The ratio of pharmacy techs to pharmacists .The ratio of pharmacy techs to pharmacists .

CompetencyCompetency

Being qualified and capable and done in various ways.Being qualified and capable and done in various ways. Testing Testing – written test or/and practical demonstration – written test or/and practical demonstration

to show competency.to show competency. PerformancePerformance is evaluated by an employer. is evaluated by an employer.

Includes performance reviews, comments by your Includes performance reviews, comments by your supervisor, and complaints.supervisor, and complaints.

CompetencyCompetency Continuing Education Continuing Education

An instructional program on new drugs and other An instructional program on new drugs and other pharmacy practice to keep knowledge updated. pharmacy practice to keep knowledge updated.

Probation Period Probation Period The time the pharmacy tech is expected to learn The time the pharmacy tech is expected to learn

certain skills sets and is usually 6 months.certain skills sets and is usually 6 months. Leads to either permanent employee or dismissal Leads to either permanent employee or dismissal

from the job.from the job.

CertificationCertification A A legal proof legal proof or a or a documentdocument that an individual meets that an individual meets

certain standards provided by a neutral professional certain standards provided by a neutral professional organization.organization.

Two certification bodies:Two certification bodies:1.1. PTCBPTCB (Pharmacy Technician Certification Board) (Pharmacy Technician Certification Board)

offers a offers a National Examination National Examination to become a to become a CPhT CPhT (Certified Pharmacy Technician).(Certified Pharmacy Technician).

2.2. ICPT ICPT (Certification of Pharmacy Technicians) offers (Certification of Pharmacy Technicians) offers a National Examination to becomea National Examination to become ExCPT. ExCPT.

As of 2010, PTCB certified 363,000 pharmacy

technicians.

Certification Certification

Certification must be renewed: Certification must be renewed: Every 2 years Every 2 years just like the pharmacist licensejust like the pharmacist license Certifications require Certifications require ““continuing Education”, 20 continuing Education”, 20

contact hourscontact hours Of theseOf these, , one hour in pharmacy law every 2 years.one hour in pharmacy law every 2 years.

The Pharmacy Technician Exam The Pharmacy Technician Exam (PTCE)(PTCE)

LengthLength – 90 minutes, all multiple questions, computerize – 90 minutes, all multiple questions, computerize test.test.

To take the examination, a pharmacy tech mustTo take the examination, a pharmacy tech must Complete high school Complete high school or have a or have a GED.GED. NEVERNEVER have been have been convictedconvicted of a of a felony.felony.

Tests in areas of: Tests in areas of: Assisting the pharmacist Assisting the pharmacist in serving patients (66%).in serving patients (66%). MedicationMedication distributiondistribution (22%). (22%). Inventory control systemsInventory control systems of pharmacy operations of pharmacy operations

(12%).(12%). ScoreScore – 650 out of 900 points. – 650 out of 900 points.

The Exam for the Certification of The Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT)Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT)

Contains Contains 110 multiple 110 multiple choice questions.choice questions. To take the examination, a pharmacy tech mustTo take the examination, a pharmacy tech must

Complete high school Complete high school or have a or have a GED.GED. NEVERNEVER been been convictedconvicted of a of a felony.felony. Must be Must be 18 years old.18 years old.

Test areas: Test areas: Regulations Regulations and technician duties (25%).and technician duties (25%). Drugs Drugs and drug products (23%).and drug products (23%). Dispensing process Dispensing process (52%).(52%).

Pharmacy Technician ExaminationPharmacy Technician ExaminationContact InformationContact Information

PTCEPTCE

2215 Constitution Ave, NW2215 Constitution Ave, NWWashington, DC 20037Washington, DC 20037

(202) 429-7596(202) 429-7596

ExCPTExCPT

2536 S Old Hwy 94, Suite 2536 S Old Hwy 94, Suite 224224

St. Charles, MO 63303St. Charles, MO 63303(314) 442-6775(314) 442-6775

Terms to RememberTerms to RememberTerms to RememberTerms to Remember

1.1. Certification Certification

2.2. Competent Competent

3.3. Confidentiality Confidentiality 4.4. InventoryInventory

5.5. Personal inventory Personal inventory

6.6. Professionals Professionals

7.7. Scope of practice Scope of practice

8.8. TechniciansTechnicians