Pharmacy TechnicianPharmacy Technician

History of Medicine and History of Medicine and PharmacyPharmacy

Lecture 1Lecture 1

Definitions and TermDefinitions and Term

• Apothecary: Latin term for pharmacistApothecary: Latin term for pharmacist

• Clinical pharmacist: Pharmacist who monitors Clinical pharmacist: Pharmacist who monitors patient medications in mostly inpatient settings.patient medications in mostly inpatient settings.

• Drug education coordinator: Pharmacist who Drug education coordinator: Pharmacist who helps set protocol in a hospital setting.helps set protocol in a hospital setting.

• Inpatient pharmacy: Pharmacy in a hospital or Inpatient pharmacy: Pharmacy in a hospital or institutional settinginstitutional setting

• Outpatient pharmacy: Community pharmacies Outpatient pharmacy: Community pharmacies

• Pharmacist: Person who dispenses drugs and Pharmacist: Person who dispenses drugs and counsels patientscounsels patients

More Definitions and TermsMore Definitions and Terms

• Pharmacy technician: Person who assists a Pharmacy technician: Person who assists a pharmacist by filling prescriptions and performing pharmacist by filling prescriptions and performing other nondispensing tasks.other nondispensing tasks.

• Pharmacy clerk: Person who assists the Pharmacy clerk: Person who assists the pharmacist at the front counter and accepts pharmacist at the front counter and accepts payment for medicationpayment for medication

Important People in HistoryImportant People in History

• Hippocrates: Father of Medicine, Hippocrates: Father of Medicine, Hippocratic oathHippocratic oath

• Aristotle: Classification of animals, Aristotle: Classification of animals, anatomy based on dissection of anatomy based on dissection of animalsanimals

• Galen: Proved blood flowed through Galen: Proved blood flowed through the arteries not airthe arteries not air

• Paracelsus: Treat with one medication Paracelsus: Treat with one medication at a time, introduced laudanumat a time, introduced laudanum

Medicine in Early AmericaMedicine in Early America

• Doctors diagnosed the conditions and Doctors diagnosed the conditions and prepared the remediesprepared the remedies

• Cinchona bark (quinine): treat malariaCinchona bark (quinine): treat malaria

• Mercury: used to treat syphilisMercury: used to treat syphilis

• Laudanum: combination of opium & Laudanum: combination of opium & alcohol. Addictive. Used as sedative, dull alcohol. Addictive. Used as sedative, dull sensation of pain and treat depressionsensation of pain and treat depression

Early PharmacistsEarly Pharmacists

• First pharmacy school: Philadelphia’s First pharmacy school: Philadelphia’s College of Pharmacy and Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Sciences, 18211821

• Compounded remedies ordered by Compounded remedies ordered by physician. Remedies were in medical physician. Remedies were in medical books and were much like recipes.books and were much like recipes.

Early Pharmacy TechniciansEarly Pharmacy Technicians

• Usually family members of the Usually family members of the pharmacistpharmacist

• Transition from clerk to technician is Transition from clerk to technician is a recent happeninga recent happening

Pharmacy Technician DutiesPharmacy Technician Dutieswww.tsbp.state.tx.uswww.tsbp.state.tx.us

• Initiate and refill authorization requestsInitiate and refill authorization requests• Enter prescription data into a data Enter prescription data into a data

processing systemprocessing system• Take a stock bottle from the shelf for a Take a stock bottle from the shelf for a

prescriptionprescription• Prepare and package drug orders (count Prepare and package drug orders (count

tablet, etc)tablet, etc)• Affix label to the prescription containerAffix label to the prescription container• Reconstitute medicationsReconstitute medications

www.tsbp.state.tx.uswww.tsbp.state.tx.us

• Prepackage and label prepackaged Prepackage and label prepackaged medicationsmedications

• Load bulk unlabeled drugs into an Load bulk unlabeled drugs into an automated dispensing systemautomated dispensing system

• Compound non-sterile prescriptionsCompound non-sterile prescriptions

• Compound sterile pharmaceuticals Compound sterile pharmaceuticals (after completing required training)(after completing required training)

CE Requirements for CPhTCE Requirements for CPhT

• 20 hours every 2 years20 hours every 2 years

• 1 hour must be in pharmaceutical 1 hour must be in pharmaceutical lawlaw

• Up to 10 hours maybe obtained at Up to 10 hours maybe obtained at the pharmacy under the direction of the pharmacy under the direction of the pharmacistthe pharmacist

• Are online opportunitiesAre online opportunities