The Job of the Pharmacy Technician
A pharmacy technician work begins, when a written prescription or request for a prescription refill comes from a patient or receiving a prescription electronically, from a doctor’s office. The information must be checked for accuracy, including being completed correctly or interpreting physician’s medication order for processing. The technician will then retrieve, count, pour, weigh, measure and sometimes mix the medication, as prescribed by the physician. After the medication is prepared, the appropriate container is selected, accurately preparing prescription labels, and any additional information is prepared for the patient to read, regarding the medication. The technician will prepare any required insurance claims, update inventory records and over-the-counter medications Once the prescription is filled, the technicians will determine the price, and file the prescription for record keeping. The pharmacist technician must have the prepared prescription, reviewed by a pharmacist, before dispensing or submitting the completed order to a patient or customer.
A pharmacist technician responsibility increases, when working in a hospital, nursing home or assisted living facilities. These places provide health care twenty-four hours a day, and unlike some retail stores, never close. The duties include reading patient’s charts, preparing medication, checking the order is correct, updating the patients charts for the prescribed medication delivered, and making certain there is at least twenty-four hour supply of medicine for those patients. Each medication must be packaged separately, and accurately labeled for the prescribed dosage. The packages are stored in patient’s medicine cabinet and until each one, can be verified for accuracy by a pharmacist. Afterwards, the patient can receive the medication, as prescribed by the amount and frequency of use.
The Working environment for pharmacist technician must be kept clean, well ventilated, and organized. Technicians are often required, to stand on their feet for long hours, especially while working in a hospital or health facilities, and maybe required to work during the evening hours and weekends. Most technicians work 35-45 hours a week in hospitals and those retail pharmacies that are open twenty-fours a day. Most of the time, the pharmacist and technicians work the same hours. Much of the inventory arrives in boxes, which need to be opened, organized and recorded. Besides, being stored in cabinets, some are accessible to areas, which require using a stepladder. Within the working environment, requires being able to interact and communicate, very well with other technicians, pharmacists, and aides. Certainly, seniority has the benefits of working more favorable hours or choosing of working hours.
Training to become pharmacy technician is available through certificate programs, which is offered by vocational or technical colleges, community colleges, and some hospitals or
Proprietary schools. Also, available online are pharmacy technician and Orientation Training programs. The length of time, required to complete a training program range: Six months to two years. However, there are few states that have requirements, but no Federal requirements. Sometimes on the job training, is provided by employees. During the training, the student will be required to attend classes, do laboratory work, and learn medical / pharmaceutical terminology, pharmaceutical calculations, pharmacy record keeping, techniques, pharmacy law and ethics. Also, learning various medical names, actions of medications, uses, and doses. Many training programs, offer students the opportunity to gain experience by hands-on work, in a pharmacy or during internship programs. Many training programs or schools require, each student to achieve at least a grade of “C” for each class. Upon graduation, the student receives a certificate, diploma or associate degree as a pharmacy technician. Prospective employers seeking to hire a pharmacy technician, besides the educational background, are interested in candidates that have performed any volunteer work or have gained some work experience. Also, having good communication skills with patients, customers and doctors, good spelling and reading skills. Additionally, computer skills is certainly advantageous, since many facilities or retail stores, have modern computer systems. Some health care and retail pharmacies will hire employees, when employment is contingent upon, achieving a pharmacy technician degree or will offer an incentive to pay for their education, and paying the cost to take an examination for certification as pharmacy technician.
Some states have their own regulations, regarding pharmacy technicians. In the state of Illinois, pharmacy technician that work within an internship program must have a license. The Arizona State Board of Pharmacy issues licenses, and conducts compliance inspections of permitted facilities, and investigates complaints.
National Pharmacy Technician Certification (CPhT) Examination administered, by a Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. In most states the exam is voluntary, but is a standard recognition for achieving competency in the field of study, and recognized by many employees. Those applying for the examination must have a high school diploma or GED and no felony convictions, considering the magnitude of responsibility, and handling narcotics. Besides the candidate, must have no prior records of drug or substance abuse. Nationwide the exam is offered several times a year. After receiving certification, the technician is required to complete twenty contact hours of pharmacy – related topics, within two years. At least one contact hour must be in pharmacy law. Up to ten hours can be earned, by working under the supervision and instruction of a pharmacist. The continued education courses, is offered by pharmacy associations, pharmacy colleges, and technician training programs. The National Pharmacy Technician Association members practice in retail, independent, hospital, mail-order, home care, long term care, nuclear, military, correctional facility, formal education, training, management, sales and many more facilities. The organization was founded: Mike Johnston in Houston Texas1999. There are over 20,000 members worldwide. In the state of Florida, the certification examination is sponsored by the Florida Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists (FSHP).
Students that are preparing for the National Pharmacy Technician Certification recommend reading these two books: “Complete Review of the Pharmacy Technician” by L. Michael Posey. The book provides details, “reliable, concise, and it reviews the many specific activities performed by a pharmacy technicians and all the knowledge that test candidates must master to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination. Chapters are organized into sections that correspond to the broad function areas in the certification exam.” “Pharmacy Technician Certification Quick Study Guide” by Marks/Hopkins. “The entire book is written and presented in outline format to help candidates access and review essential information quickly and efficiently. Organized by the same three function area tested on the examination, this study guide features user-friendly aids.”
The job outlook for pharmacy technicians both part time and full time is increasing. As the United States population gets older, certainly health care will play a major role and providing the necessary medication, for those patients or retiring baby boomers. Also, as science and new medical advances become available, underlying their achievement, often is new or previously prescribed medication. Also, many health care facilities have modern robotic machines, which dispense medicine, and require a technician to oversee the stocking of bins, and labeling those containers. Colleges are adding course studies to become a pharmaceutical technician. Starting in March 2006, Blinn College will be offering pharmacy technician program in Brenhan, Texas. In 2004, the average salary for pharmacy technician ranged from $7.96 – $13.85 per hour. Increasing earnings for those that are certified, and working evening hours. Some technicians belong to hospital or retail unions, which provide their own benefits.
