Pharmacy Technician Role and Responsibilities

Pharmacy Technician Role

• Assist the pharmacist in:

  • Receiving prescriptions

  • Processing prescriptions

  • Filling prescriptions

  • Inventory control

  • Maintaining patient confidentiality

  • Referring patients to the pharmacist

Referring Patients to the Pharmacist

• Pharmacy technicians cannot offer medication counseling.

• This includes:

  • Potential medication interactions

  • Recommending over-the-counter (OTC) medications

• Technicians can only refer patients to the pharmacist for medication-related advice.

Patient Confidentiality

• Patient information is Protected Health Information (PHI) and must be kept confidential.

• Examples of PHI:

  • Patient name, address, phone number, date of birth

  • Medications

• Labels with patient information should be carefully handled and properly destroyed (shredded, alcohol, HIPAA bin).

• Avoid discussing patient information in public areas.

Inventory Control

• A key responsibility for pharmacy technicians.

• Includes:

  • Ordering medications

  • Checking for medications that are not put away

  • Checking expiration dates regularly, matching with inventory system.

  • Informing the relevant person (pharmacy buyer) when stock is low.

Assisting with Prescriptions

• Responsibilities include receiving, processing, and filling prescriptions.

• Depending on the pharmacy environment, tasks may vary.

• The pharmacist always double-checks every prescription.

• Technicians are responsible for maintaining a clean workspace.

Definition: Compounding

• On-demand preparation of a drug based on a prescription, formula, or recipe.

• Involves customizing medications (e.g., IVs, creams, ointments).

Definition: Reconstitution

• Mixing a dry powdered medication with a solvent (e.g., sterile water, saline solution) to create a liquid.

• Not the same as compounding, unless the solution added to another medication like an IV bag.

OTC Drugs

• Over-the-counter medications do not require a prescription but can be filled with one.

• Filled with a prescription to allow insurance coverage.

Prescription Definition

• An instruction from a medical practitioner authorizing a patient to be issued a drug or medical device.

• Includes instructions for use.

SIG (Signa)

• The part of the prescription that indicates directions for use and administration route.

• Must be translated for the patient using easy-to-understand language.

• Start with a verb (action word)

• Example: BID (twice daily), PO (by mouth)

DAW (Dispense As Written)

• A code on a prescription specifying that the brand name drug, rather than its generic equivalent, must be dispensed.

• In many states, generics are dispensed by default if available.

• Brand and generic drugs have the same active ingredients, but different inactive ingredients.

Schedule II Drugs

• Drugs with a high potential for abuse/addiction, but have safe and accepted medical uses.

• Example: Percocet, Vicodin

• Require special handling, strict record keeping, and inventory control.

HIPAA

• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

• A federal act that protects the privacy of individuals and the sharing of Protected Health Information (PHI).

PHI (Protected Health Information)

• Any personal information that can identify an individual or their health history.

• Includes patient name, address, phone number, medications.

• Violating HIPAA can lead to lawsuits.

Auxiliary Labels

• Labels regarding specific warnings, food/medications to avoid, potential side effects, and other cautionary interactions.

• Provide additional information/warnings for the patient.