Chapter 2
Learning Objectives
 understanding of basic roles of technicians.
 understanding the basic supervisory role of the
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pharmacist.
understanding personal standards.
understanding the importance of respect for patient
privacy and HIPAA regulations.
understanding training and competency issues.
knowledge of certification process.
Pharmacy Technician
 Technicians are individuals who are given a basic level
of training to perform certain tasks
 Pharmacists rely on the technician for assistance
 Pharmacy Technicians perform task like filling
prescriptions, packaging doses, performing inventory
control, and recordkeeping
Personal Standards
 If you are interested in becoming a Pharmacy
Technician are you:
 Dependable
 Detail oriented
 Trustworthy
 See pages 20, 21
Personal Standards
 Health
 Hygiene
 Appearance
 Math and problem solving skills
 Knowledge of pharmacy terminology
 Computer skills
 Interpersonal skills
Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA)
 The patient's welfare is the most important
consideration in health care
 Health care providers are responsible for the privacy
and security of all identifiable patient health
information
HIPAA con’t
 Governs communication in any form -- electronic,
paper, and oral
 No discussion of patient information within earshot of
others
 No discussion of patient information with family
members
 Use a private discussion area when discussing
medications or other personal health issues
 Securely store files and documents
Training and Competency
 Training and proof of competency vary from state to
state.
 The State of Alaska requires that all pharmacy
technicians take a written examination for certification
 One the test has been passed you become a licensed
Pharmacy Technician
 Every two years you must complete at least 10 hours of
continuing education to renew your license
Bell Work 1/11, 1/12
 Name three personal qualities a pharmacy tech should
have?
 Organized
 Math Skills
 Interpersonal Skills
 Dependable
 Trustworthy
 And more
 What does HIPAA stand for?
 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
(HIPAA)
Pharmacy Technician
 . What does a pharmacy technician do?
 As a pharmacy tech, you will not have the same
education and responsibilities that a pharmacist has,
but you will play an important role in the preparation
and distribution of medications.
 Pharmacy technician duties include a variety of tasks
that assist the pharmacist with keeping the pharmacy
running efficiently.
 There will always be a licensed pharmacist on duty and
some of the ways you will assist him are her will be:
Typical Duties of a Pharm Tech
 counting and bottling pills
 labeling prescription bottles
 entering patient information into the pharmacy
computer
 helping to keep pharmacy records up to date
 coordinating information with insurance companies
 waiting on customers
Limitations
 A Pharmacy Technician does not have advanced
training and education like a pharmacist, so they are
not be expected or permitted to answer questions
about specific medications or offer medical advice to a
patient about any conditions they may have
 Even though pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
perform many of the same duties behind the counter,
pharmacists go through extensive training to be able to
give information and advice to patients about their
prescription medications
Benefits to pursuing a career as
pharmacy technician.
 The position only requires a moderate amount of
education
 Pharmacies may only require certification and will do
on-the-job training when filling pharmacy tech
positions
 There will always be a high demand for pharmacy
technicians
Other benefits
 Being a pharmacy technician is a very rewarding job.
You have the opportunity to help people on a daily
basis and whether you realize it or not
 A good number of your customers will be the elderly
and to them, having someone take an interest in their
health and well-being, even if only for a moment,
means so much
Education and training
 To make yourself more marketable, obtaining a
pharmacy technician certification is advisable
 Proper education and training, you put yourself in a
better position for more responsibilities, higher wages
and substantial growth potential
Outlook
 the outlook for employment for pharmacy technicians
with the proper training and education is extremely
positive.
 Whether you are a student looking for a job to get you
through college, someone who is looking for a career
change, or someone who is researching careers for the
first time, you may want to give serious thought to a
pharmacy technician career.
Salary
 Pharm Tech Salary
Ask Your Medication
Pharmacist
Adverse
Drug
Reactions
Pharmacy
Potpourri
Vitamins
The Field
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Pharmacy
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