Lesson: The Professional Pharmacy Tech

week 1, oct 27- nov 2

what are the basic requirements to become a pharmacy tech?

high school diploma, be 18+, no felonies, complete pharmacy tech training, register with the state pharmacy board and pass a certification exam.

what are the 2 major certification exams

ExCPT and PTCB.

how many questions is the ExCPT exam? how long is it?

100 questions, 2 hours long

how many questions is the PTCB exam? how long is it?

90 questions, 2 hours long

how often does your certification need to be renewed?

Every 2 years.

why is continuing education essential?

it is important because it helps you grow as a pharmacy tech. doing these things will help you keep up to date. keep up with the latest trends, read journals, attend conferences, and network with others.

Which exam assesses proficiency in regulations and technician duties, drugs and drug products, and the dispensing process?

ExCPT

Which of these not a requirement for being a certified Pharmacy Technician?

having a bachelors degree

what is the proper attire and grooming?

a lab coat or scrubs, keep hair and nails tidy, avoid strong perfume and loads of makeup, limit the visibility of tattoos and piercings.

what is the PPE for hazardous materials

gloves, masks, hairnet, and goggles

what are key traits to have when working in a pharmacy 

integrity, empathy, respect, and effective communication.

how to stay positive and professional

positive mindset and open body language, problem solving, and owning up to your mistakes.

what are the responsibilities of a pharmacist?

1. provide patient counseling

2. dispense and prepare personalized medication

3. explain potential side affects and drug interactions

4. manage drug regimens (assess and plan and monitor)

5. recommend appropriate OTC drugs and medical devices

6. evaluate drug use patterns and outcomes

what are the responsibilities of a pharmacy technician?

1. create and maintain profiles

2. review patient charts

3. handle insurance claims and third party billing

4. prepare and deliver medication to nurses

5. manage inventory

6. perform unit dose packaging

how do pharmacy techs support pharmacists in patient care?

by working together and communicating well

who can counsel patients on medication management?

pharmicists

what is the minimum educational requirement for becoming a pharmacist ?

A Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree

which of the following tasks is typically performed by a pharmacy tech and not a pharmacist

assisting with medication inventory management

which responsibility is primarily that of a pharmacist rather than a pharmacy tech

providing medication therapy management

what are effective communication components

tone, pitch, and clarity

how to adapt communication style

use medical terms with coworkers and use simple terms with patients

how to overcome language barriers

utilize bilingual staff, provide translation, and use multilingual recourses

how to handle patient conflicts

seek assistance from pharmacist or manager, show respect for others needs, use communication tools to build rapport

what is one of the primary roles of a pharmacy technician regarding patient information

gathering protected health information to complete patient profiles

which task is specifically performed by pharmacist and requires medical judgement

consulting with prescribers about patient prescriptions

Maria is a pharmacy technician at a community pharmacy. One day, she encounters a difficult situation where a patient is upset about the long wait time for his prescription. Maria decides to use her interpersonal skills to address the situation.

What communication technique would be best for Maria to use to calm the patient down and explain the situation?

empathize and provide a clear explanation

a pharmacy technicians role includes recommending over the counter medications to patients

false

which of the following is a primary responsibility of a pharmacy technician

processing insurance claims

explaining the proper storage of a medication

patient communication skills

keeping track of pharmacy inventory

organization skills

preparing medication adherence packaging

medication safety knowledge

handling a medication recall notice

regulatory compliance understanding

James, a pharmacy technician, received a prescription that seems unclear. what is the best course of action for James to ensure patient safety and accurate dispensing of medication

consult with the pharmacist for clarification

in the context of inventory management, what is a designated task for pharmacy technicians

consult with the pharmacist for clarification

in the context of inventory management, what is a designated task for pharmacy technicians 

remove and quarantine recalled or expired products from inventory

When technicians perform appropriate essential tasks, this allows the pharmacist time for tasks requiring more advanced professional expertise such as

consulting with patients.

What responsibility do pharmacy technicians have regarding drug utilization reviews (DUR)?

Notify the pharmacist of any DUR warnings or concems

What is a best practice for a pharmacy technician when handling a conflict with an upset customer?

listen actively and emphasize with the customer concerns

Which of the following best describes how a pharmacy technician should relate to customers to enhance communication?

maintain professional boundaries while being personable