Pharmacy Technician Exam Study Guide - Medication Safety and Quality Assurance

Work Environment

• Pharmacy departments are managed for efficiency in both community and hospital settings.
• Workflow is designed for accuracy and speed, with equipment and workstations strategically located.
• Efficient workflow helps minimize errors when dispensing prescriptions.
• Workflow generally flows in one direction along the prescription counter.

Community Pharmacy Workflow Areas:

• In window
• Out window
• Data entry area
• Dispensing area

Hospital Pharmacy Workflow Areas:

• Pick-up window
• Data entry area
• Dispensing area
• Nonsterile compounding areas
• Sterile compounding area

Cleaning and Organization

• Cleanliness and organization help minimize stress levels and prevent errors.
• Work areas must be cleaned at the beginning of the shift, during workflow, and at the end of the shift.

Cleaning Counting Trays

• Counting trays must be cleaned with 70% isopropyl alcohol at the beginning of the shift, during the shift, after the shift, and after counting penicillin and sulfa-containing medications in community pharmacies.
• Sulfa medications can easily be identified by the prefix sulfa- in the medication name, and penicillin medications often have the suffix -cillin.
• Prevents cross-contamination of medications; about 10% of patients with a penicillin allergy are at risk for cephalosporin allergy.
• Avoid automated counting machines when dispensing penicillin and sulfa-related medications.

Additional Cleaning Considerations (Hospital Setting)

• Nonsterile compounding area: Cleaned before and after each compound is prepared.
• Clean room: Has its own cleaning schedule.
• Cleaning items used in the clean room must be dedicated to that room.
• Use sterile 70% isopropyl alcohol, water, bleach, and other approved cleaning agents with lint-free cleaning cloths.

Sulfa-containing medications examples:

• co-trimoxazole (Septrin)
• sulfadiazine
• sulfamethoxazole (Gantanol)
• trimethoprim- sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Bactrim DS, Septra, Septra DS)
• sulfasalazine (Azulfidine EN-tabs, Azulfidine, Sulfazine)
• sulfisoxazole (Gantrisin)

Clean Room Cleaning Schedule

• Laminar airflow hoods
  • Beginning of shift
  • Every 30 minutes during batching
  • After a spill
• Counter tops: Daily
• Carts: Daily
• Floors: Daily
• Storage bins: Monthly
• Ceilings: Monthly
• Walls: Monthly