Pharmacy Tech Certification Test 1 (Module 1)

pharmakon

ancient greek word for pharmacy that could be a remedy or poison

American Pharmacists Association (APhA)

Founded in 1852 to improve communication and set education standards

Medication Therapy Management (MTM)

Care plan for chronic patients to optimize outcomes and reduce adverse events

Medication Reconciliation

Reviewing a patient’s meds to avoid mistakes

“Provider Status”

Recognition by government to bill for Medicare/ Medicaid services

Pharmacy Tech’s role

Increase efficiency by handling technical tasks so pharmacists can focus on clinical services

3 key services pharmacy techs free up time for pharmacists to do

Counseling patients, monitoring therapy, and performing interventions

2 main categories of technician work

preparing prescriptions and maintaining the pharmacy department

3 common tasks for technicians when preparing prescriptions

inventory, records/ security, locate OTC meds

Pharmacy tech’s role in OTC meds

They can locate but not recommend or counsel on OTC products

Pharmacists

Supervisors of Pharmacy Techs

“tech-check-tech”

Term for techs checking other techs’ work (unit doses); not legal in all states

Primary reasons why pharmacy techs must follow all laws/ rules

Shapes pharmacy’s image, pharmacist is legally responsible, mistakes can harm patients

Law

Bill passed

Regulation

Rule by authority

Policy

Company rule

Years of education required for Pharmacists

6 (5 before 2000)

NAPLEX & state pharmacy law exam

Exams pharmacists must pass to practice

Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)

People who accredit pharmacy schools

Pharmacy tech requirements

Certificate/ diploma/ associates degree (just on the job training before)

ASHP & ACPE

Orgs that approve tech programs

State boards of pharmacy

People who regulate how much pharmacy techs can do

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Sets patient confidentiality standards (est. 2003)

People technicians can discuss patient info with

Patient, caregiver, health care team

Med Storage Area & Dispensing Area

2 major areas of a pharmacy department

pharmacy clerks and pharmacy interns

other workers in a pharmacy

U shaped

Shape of medication storage bays

Alphabetically or by dosage form

2 main ways to arrange med in storage area

speed shelf/ fast mover section

area with the most frequently dispensed meds

insulin, vaccines, and liquid antibiotics

3 meds kept in pharmacy refrigerator

in window (drop off)

window where patients give the tech new prescriptions to fill

out window (pick up)

window where patients pick up meds and counseling occurs

3 sections of data entry (digital)

to be entered, to be filled, staging (stocking)

storage area actions

counting, pouring, packaging

counting trays

need to clean blank with isopropyl alcohol between meds to prevent cross contamination

automated dispensing machines (ADMs)

pharmacy techs restock these

prescription containers

located under the counter

auxiliary labels

added labels with extra instruction (ie. take with food)

State Board of Pharmacy

org that regulates pharmacy operation, pharmacist practice, and pharmacy tech tasks; can inspect, suspend, or revoke licenses

National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP)

org that administers NAPLEX and MPJE, accredits online/ wholesale pharmacies, maintains CPE Monitor for continuing education

United States Pharmacopeia (USP)

org that establishes standards for identity, strength, quality, and purity of drugs, supplements, and ingredients; responsible for USP-NF

Joint Commission (TCJ)

org that accredits hospitals and healthcare facilities; improved patient care and medicare/ medicaid eligibility 

Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP)

org that runs voluntary and confidential error-reporting programs for meds and vaccines

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Approves drugs before sale and recalls faulty ones

OSHA

org that regulates workplace safety

State Department of Public Health

regulates hospitals (and pharmacies) within the state

Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906

Law that stopped the sale of adulterated (impure) or misbranded (misleading label) meds and food

Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938

Law that ensured all meds are pure and safe; created the FDA

Durham-Humphrey Amendment of 1951

Amendment that distinguished Rx from OTC drugs

Kefauver-Harris Amendment of 1962

Amendment that required drug safety and effectiveness before approval; started clinical trial system

Controlled Substances Act of 1970

Law that regulates controlled substances; DEA requirement

Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970

Law that required child-resistant containers for oral meds

Drug Listing Act of 1972

Law that required 10 digit NDC number (manufacturer- 4 digits, product- 4 digits, package size- 2 digits)

ORBA of 1990

Law that required pharmacists must keep record and councel Medicaid patients; drug utilization review required

Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990

Law that classified anabolic steroids as Schedule III controlled substance

Medicare Modernization Act of 2003

Law that established medicare part D- voluntary Rx drug benefit for medicare patients

Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act

Law that established limits on daily/ monthly sales of SLCPs

Drug Supply Chain Security Act of 2013

Law that required a system to trace/ verify drugs through the US supply chain to prevent counterfeits

USP-NF

Defines official standards for strength, purity, labeling, storage; sterile compounding standards

Drug Facts and Comparisons (DFC)

Book that compares drug classes (Rx vs OTC; prices; schedules)

Orange Book

Book that shows therapeutic equivalence between generic and name brand drugs

US Pharmacopeia- Drug Info (USP-DI)

Drug info in 2 versions: patient (simple) and professional (detailed)

American Hospital Formulary Services Drug Info (AHFS-DI)

Evidence-based monographs (detailed info about each drug)

Physicians’ Desk Reference (PDR)

Physician’s book with comprehensive info about each drug 

Package Insert (Non Patient/ Patient)

Slip inside med containers with detailed info about the drug; aka monographs; intended for medical professionals, not patients

Medication Guide

Handout given to patients before high-risk drug use to ensure they know the risks and safety requirements

Red Book

Book with drug prices

Micromedex

online resource for toxicology and formulary management

lexicomp online

online resource that’s a comprehensive source of info on all things drugs

epocrates online

online resource that’s a quick source of info on all things drugs