Pharmacy Technician Study Notes

ROLES OF THE PHARMACY TECHNICIAN AND PHARMACIST

• Pharmacy technicians support pharmacists by performing various tasks throughout the pharmacy.

• They play a critical role within the healthcare team.

• As the pharmacy industry grows, the roles and responsibilities of both technicians and pharmacists are expanding.

• The scope of practice for pharmacy technicians relies heavily on trained, certified individuals.

• Passing a national certification exam is essential for demonstrating competency.

• Certified technicians often have more responsibilities, such as:

  • Obtaining medication histories

  • Filling prescriptions

  • Compounding medications

• This differentiation is based on the goal of maintaining high patient safety standards.

• A well-trained technician workforce is vital for efficient and patient-focused pharmacy operations.

Technician Duties

• Pharmacy technicians perform legally defined tasks without needing clinical judgment.

• Technician responsibilities:

  • Answering phone inquiries and directing more complex questions to pharmacists.

  • Collecting patient information, refills, and price inquiries.

Processing and Preparing Prescriptions

• Technicians can process:

  • Electronic prescriptions

  • Written, verbal, or telephoned prescriptions in some states.

• Most prescriptions are now processed electronically, promoting accuracy through strict data entry standards.

• Tasks include:

  • Counting and pouring medications

  • Labeling containers correctly

  • Processing refill requests

  • Organizing prescriptions by patient name for pickup

  • Compounding, including sterile and nonsterile preparations.

Inventory and Supplies

• Responsibilities for maintaining stock include:

  • Reordering medications and supplies when low

  • Checking expiration dates regularly

  • Ensuring accurate invoices against stock received

  • Managing over-the-counter (OTC) product stocks and ensuring compliance with regulations for dispensing controlled substances.

Housekeeping and Other Responsibilities

• Responsibilities include:

  • Maintaining a clean work environment

  • Preparing insurance claims for adjudication

  • Tracking sales of controlled substances like pseudoephedrine

  • Documenting pharmaceutical sales.

Pharmacist Duties

• Various tasks limited to pharmacists:

  • Drug therapy reviews

  • Final product verification

  • Patient consultations regarding medication use.

• Pharmacists oversee pharmacy technicians, ensuring accurate medication dispensing and addressing clinical questions that arise.

Pharmacy Security

• Controlled substances storage regulations include:

  • They can be stored in locked cabinets or separated from other medications on shelves.

• All personnel approved by pharmacists should be able to access the pharmacy, with strict access protocols.

• Implementing HIPAA security measures is crucial to protect patient information and pharmacy data.

Medication Reconciliation and Medication Therapy Management (MTM)

• Technicians may specialize in medication reconciliation and support MTM, particularly in emergency departments.

• Responsibilities include:

  • Collecting a complete list of patient medications for pharmacists to review.

  • Assisting patients with understanding their medications post-MTM visits.

Adherence Aids and Devices

• To promote better adherence, technicians facilitate:

  • Automatic refills

  • Medication reminder tools

• Techniques include:

  • Offering weekly planners and smart pill bottles.

Pharmacy Medical Terminology

• Medical terminology helps in understanding prescriptions accurately.:

  • Learning root words, prefixes, and suffixes is essential.

  • Exact meanings can help in patient education and counseling.

Prescription Fulfillment and Billing

• Taxed with processing various prescription styles:

  • E-prescriptions, verbal, and faxes, while maintaining patient profiles.

• Familiarization with insurance coding, plans, and patient billing is crucial for billing prescriptions and handling patient payments.

Dosage Calculations and External Factors

• It often involves ensuring correct dosages based on individual patient factors like weight.

• Understanding standard operating procedures relative to dosage and administration remains a critical aspect of technician training.

Quality Assurance

• Continuous quality improvement processes and safety protocols must be followed to prevent medication errors:

  • Methods include root cause analysis for identifying mistakes and enhancing workflow.

Packaging and Labeling

• Proper packaging keeps medications safe; understanding hazardous materials and patient safety measures is crucial.