1
Q
Practice settings
Pharmacy tech may work in:
A
- Outpatient pharmacies (retail, community)
- Inpatient pharmacy (hospital)
- Long- term care (nursing homes, assisted living facility)
- Mail order pharmacy
- Correctional facility
- Military facility
- Nuclear facility
2
Q
Duties allowed to perform
A
- Practice in direct patient care
- Answer the phone and screen calls for the pharmacist
- Gather general health information about the patient
- Enter patient information and prescription into the pharmacy computer
- Prepare prescription or medication orders
- Assist with compounding medication
- Order medications and devices from wholesaler
- Stock pharmacy shelves
- Check for and remove expired medications
- Assist the pharmacist during inventory
- Maintain written and computerized pharmacy records
- Prevent and detect medication errors
3
Q
Definition of a pharmacy technician
A
An individual working in a pharmacy who, under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist, assists in pharmacy activities that do not require the professional judgement of a pharmacist.
4
Q
Community Pharmacy Technician Duties
A
- Prepare medications for outpatients
- Assist patients dropping off prescriptions
- Take patient refill requests
- Assist patients picking up prescriptions
5
Q
Hospital Pharmacy Technician Duties
A
- Prepare medications for inpatients
- Prepare injectable medications
- Prepare individual packages of medications for patients
- Prepare bulk orders for commonly used medications, e.g. unit doses
- Maintain crash carts
- Dispense and maintain floor stock
- Deliver medication orders throughout the hospital
- Not a few states allow “tech-check-tech” programs
6
Q
Long-Term Care Pharmacy Technician Duties
A
- Prepare medications for patients residing in institutional setting such as nursing homes or assisted living facilities
- Prepare prepackaged cycle kits
- Maintain emergency fill kits
- Collect data for reports
- Prepare and maintain paperwork
7
Q
Mail Order Pharmacy Technician Duties
A
- Prepare medications for patients receiving prescriptions through the mail
- Commonly dispense 90-days supply of medications
- Communicate with patients over the phone, email, or fax; no fact-to-face communication
8
Q
Nuclear Pharmacy Technician Duties
A
- Prepare radioactive materials used for diagnosing or treating certain conditions
- Follow special procedures for handling radioactive material
- Perform quality control checks
- Maintain equipment
9
Q
Duties Pharmacy Technicians are not allowed to preform
A
- Work in a pharmacy when a pharmacist is not present
- Take new prescriptions for medications orders over the phone from a prescriber
- Counsel patients on their medications or health concerns
- Clarify prescription or medications orders with a prescriber over the phone
- Administer immunizations
- Perform medication use reviews
- Check the final drug order before dispensing to the patients (* exception for states that allow tech-check-tech programs)
10
Q
Code of Ethics
Pharmacy Technician Obligations
A
- Ensure the health and safety of the patient
- Be honest
- Maintain high standards of integrity and conduct
- Assist pharmacist in safe distribution of medications and health care resources
- Respect the patient
- Improve workplace performance
- Expand knowledge
11
Q
Pharmacy Technician Qualities and Skills
A
- Good verbal and non-verbal communications skills
- Ability to minimize stress and balance out duties
- Adapt to change quickly
- Have working knowledge of computers, email, internet, and other electronic devices or programs
- Maintain professionalism
12
Q
Registration Requirements
A
- “Making a list”
- Is usually done to keep track of pharmacy technicians
- May not address educational and training background
- May need to meet additional requirements to maintain registration
13
Q
Certification Requirements
A
- The process by which a non-government organization recognizes an individual who meets predetermined qualifications specified by that organization
- Can become certified by taking national certification exam through PTCB or NHA, or by meeting state certification requirements (on the job training, associate’s degree, etc…)
14
Q
Licensure Requirements
A
- The process by which permission is granted to an individual to practice their occupation after it is determined that the individual had the minimum level of competency to practice safely
- May require registration plus certification and/or education and training to become licensed
