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Pharmacy technician
Pharmacy technician is a job title for a pharmacy staff member "who works under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist, and performs many pharmacy-related functions." In most cases, job duties include providing medication and other health care products to patients, as well as working with third party and doctors' offices in resolving adjudication of patients' insurance or state program. Pharmacy technicians often do the routine tasks associated with preparing prescribed medication and providing drugs to patients, but may also do compounding of medications, verbal prescriptions and doctor calls, expense and medication orders, returns and expired credits, and non-licensed pharmacy management. Licensed pharmacists check all medications before they go to the patient, and only pharmacists may counsel patients on the proper use of medications. In the United Kingdom (UK) however, training and continuing professional development is such that pharmacy technicians are qualified to counsel patients on their medication and indeed specialist technicians participate in the running of anticoagulant clinics, dosing warfarin patients under dose banding guidance. In hospital pharmacy especially, pharmacy technicians generally oversee the operational management of the dispensary and manufacturing units, freeing the pharmacists to participate and develop extended clinical pharmacy roles, such as independent prescribing etc.
After completion of your pharmacy technician training, pharmacy technician graduates will be qualified to work in Hospitals, Clinics, Large Pharmacy Chain Stores, Retail Pharmacies, Pharmaceutical Companies, and all other Health Care Facilities were Pharmacy Technicians are readily employed.
Pharmacy technicians help licensed pharmacists provide medication and other healthcare products to patients. The pharmacy technician also called a pharmacy tech, or pharmacy assistant usually perform routine tasks to help prepare prescribed medication for patients, such as counting tablets and labeling bottles. A Pharmacy Technician must refer any questions regarding prescriptions, drug information, or health matters to a pharmacist. Included in the day of a pharmacy technician may be taking cash payments using a computer or standard cash register, answer telephones, handle money, stock shelves, and perform other clerical duties. Much of your work as a pharmacy technician will depend upon where you work, and your seniority.We will teach you to be a successful pharmacy technician. Besides giving you book knowledge, we will teach the common sense part of the pharmacy tech job. You will learn the importance of being alert, observant, organized, dedicated, responsible and the importance of taking directions. This is what makes for a great pharmacy technician.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pharmacy Technician Training Career Training.
Do pharmacy technicians go by other titles?
Pharmacy technicians assist and support licensed pharmacists in providing information, education, health care and medications to patients. Although people have been assisting pharmacists for many years, they have not always been recognized as skilled workers, nor have they always had the title pharmacy technician or pharmacy tech. Pharmacy Technicians have been referred to as a pharmacy helper, pharmacy clerk, pharmacy aide, pharmacy aid, pharmacy assistant, pharmacy worker, pharmacy attendant and pharmacy support personnel. Some pharmacy technicians are still given these older titles in some areas of the country, while in other areas they may be called pharmacy technologists.
What is the difference between a Pharmacist and a Pharmacy Technician?
To become a Pharmacist requires more education then a Pharmacy Technician. In some states such as New York a pharmacist must take and pass a license examination to work in that State. A Pharmacy Technician does not require a license to work. Pharmacy technicians must have a broad knowledge of pharmacy practice, and be skilled in the techniques required to order, stock, package, and prepare medications, but they do not need the advanced college education required of a licensed pharmacist. Pharmacy technicians may perform many of the same duties as pharmacists, however, all of a technician’s work must be checked by a pharmacist before medication can be dispensed to a patient. Pharmacy technicians are usually everywhere pharmacists work, although state laws may limit the duties pharmacy technician can perform.
Where do Pharmacy Technicians Work?
Pharmacy technicians work in hospital pharmacies, retail pharmacies, home health care pharmacies, nursing home pharmacies, clinic pharmacies, nuclear medicine pharmacies, and in mail order prescription pharmacies. In addition, some pharmacy technicians have been employed in non-traditional settings by medical insurance companies, medical computer software companies, drug manufacturing companies, and drug wholesale.
Does a pharmacy technician have different duties in a retail pharmacy then in a hospital?
Duties of Pharmacy Technicians Working in Retail Pharmacy Duties of Pharmacy Technicians Working in a Hospital
- work under the direction of a licensed pharmacist
- stock inventory, prescription and over-the-counter medications
- count medications
- pour medications into dispensing containers
- type prescription labels
- prepare insurance claim forms
- manage the cash register
perform many of the same duties as in retail, as assigned by the pharmacist plus the following:
- assemble a 24-hour supply of medication for each patient
- repackage medications
- prepare commercially unavailable medications
- prepare sterile intravenous medications
- maintain nursing station medications
- collect quality improvement data
- deliver medications to patient rooms
- operate computerized dispensing machinery
What will be expected of me as a Pharmacy Technician?
Although pharmacy technicians work under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist, and must be willing to take directions, they must also be able to work competently without constant instruction by the pharmacist. In any pharmacy setting the patient is the most important person. Pharmacy technicians must truly care about, and find satisfaction in serving the patient. Because of the critical nature of many common pharmacy duties, the pharmacy technician must enjoy performing precise work, where details can be a matter of life or death. Even if a task is repetitive, a pharmacy technician must be able to complete the task accurately every time.
Pharmacy technicians must also be able to maintain this accuracy even in stressful or emergency situations. Many pharmacy technical duties require good manual dexterity, and pharmacy technicians should enjoy working with their hands. Good communication and interpersonal skills are also essential for a pharmacy technician who must interact with pharmacy coworkers, patients, and other health care professionals on a daily basis. Finally, all employers want dependable employees, but dependability is especially important for pharmacy technicians since a patient's welfare may depend on their work.
Do Pharmacy Technicians have a set work schedule?
Schedules for Pharmacy Technicians may vary, including full-time and part-time work. Pharmacy technicians usually work the same hours as pharmacists. This may include evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. Because some hospital and retail pharmacies are open 24 hours a day, technicians may work varying shifts. As their seniority increases, technicians often have increased control over the hours they work. There are many opportunities for part-time work in both retail and hospital settings.
Is there any reason I should not become a Pharmacy Technician?
Candidates interested in becoming pharmacy technicians cannot have prior records of drug or substance abuse. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are needed because there is a lot of interaction with patients, coworkers, and healthcare professionals. Teamwork is very important because technicians are often required to work with pharmacists, stock, doctors, personal, nurses, and other technicians.
I want to be a Pharmacist one day. What is a good course for me to start with?
We have many graduate students who have decided to continue their education in Pharmacy. Our Pharmacy Technician course is a great opportunity to enter the health field in a short time, and at a low cost. After working as a Pharmacy Technician you will be around, many professionals who can help guide you. Also, many students go on to other allied health careers, such as Nursing and MRI Tech, to mention a few.
A very important part of a pharmacy technician's job is the phone and cash register. Pharmacy Technicians must be competent using the register and phone.
Training the Pharmacy Technician on Using the Register and Phone.
Two of the most important tools that a pharmacy technician will use every day in the pharmacy are the cash register and the telephone. It's important that as a pharmacy technician you learn the correct procedures for each. Let's start with the cash register.
Depending on the size of the pharmacy you work at, your prescription department probably has one or two areas to wait on customers. These areas are called windows. If your department has two windows, one may be used for customers dropping off prescriptions and the other for picking up prescriptions. If your department has only one window, it will serve both purposes. The pharmacy technician is responsible to work these areas. Sometimes there is a separate pharmacy techncian for each window, and sometimes one pharmacy technician will handle both the pickup and drop-off window.
The pharmacy technician will need to use the cash register.
In any case, the cash register will be located where customers pick up prescriptions. When you are working in this area, your will have nine register duties:
1. Ringing the register: When working as a pharmacy technician you will come in contact with many different kinds of registers, and you need to learn the functions of the one in your drug store. If your supervisor has not already taught you how to use the register, ask to schedule some time for instruction. Take your time learning the functions. The more you use the register, the more comfortable you will become with it. This is a very responsible task that the pharmacy technician is responsible for. The pharmacy technician must be precise and concise when processing transactions.
2. Stocking and organizing supplies: Since the cash register is placed where customers pick up their prescriptions, transaction supplies are usually kept nearby. These include bags of different sizes, a stapler and staples, register slips for checkout, overages and refunds, blank charge card slips, pens and notepads. Notice where these supplies are located. The pharmacy technician will probably be responsible for keeping these items stocked and organized.
3. Ringing non-cash purchases: In addition to payment by cash, most stores will accept personal checks and/or charge cards. Some also offer personal charge accounts for their prescription customers. When you start working as a pharmacy technician, your supervisor will explain your store's particular procedures for ringing non-cash transactions.
4. Ringing tax-exempt purchases: There are many items in the prescription department that may not be taxable, the store that employs you as a pharmacy technician may have procedures for handling these sales. These items vary from state to state, and could include such purchases as prescription drugs, insulin, syringes and baby formula. Also, all sales to nonprofit organizations with tax exempt numbers are not taxable. Check with your supervisor regarding tax exempt policies in your store.5. Including the prescription receipt: Whenever you ring a prescription sale, you must make sure the customer receives the receipt that accompanies the medication. This receipt could be hand-written by the pharmacist or printed from the computer. The pharmacy technician should not handwrite a receipt which contains prescription medication. The receipt may include such information as the medication name, prescription number, insurance provider, prescribing doctor, date filled and amount owed by the customer.
6. Customers may submit these receipts to their insurance companies for reimbursement. Part of the job of a pharmacy technician is to routinely check the counter where the pharmacist puts the filled prescriptions. You will bag the medication and staple the prescription receipt to the bag. Always compare the container and the receipt to be sure the customer's name and the prescription number on each are the same.
7. Handling co-pay insurance transactions: If your pharmacy submits insurance claims by computer for some insured co-pay customers, then you must get their signatures in the "third-party log book." This book is kept by the register and must be used each time you issue a prescription for which your pharmacy submits a claim. Using the information from the prescription receipt, you fill in the blanks in the book and ask the customer to sign it. If your pharmacy does not process co-pay insurance claims through a computer, you may have insurance forms to fill out instead of a log book. Your supervisor will show you how to use the log book or the forms. This is not as complicated as it sounds, and as a pharmacy technician, it will be your job to make sure you perform this task perfectly, as the owner of the pharmacy will be counting on you.
8. Writing up itemized receipts: An itemized receipt is a handwritten receipt you give to a customer to record the purchase of a nonprescription drug. Customers may ask for a receipt when they buy medical necessities like diabetic or first-aid supplies. These can be used to file insurance claims or to verify medical expenses for tax deductions. Unlike receipts for prescription drugs, the pharmacy technician will most often be able to write these receipts. When the pharmacy technician writes up an itemized receipt, use a store receipt with the name of the pharmacy printed on it. Include the date of purchase, items purchased, their quantity and their price, listing each item on a separate line. Add any applicable tax and compute the total. You should print your name somewhere on the receipt. Ask your supervisor if you should ad your pharmacy technician title to the receipt.
9. Selling controlled substances: The law requires that the over-the-counter (nonprescription) sale of certain substances, called Schedule V medications, be recorded in a special log book kept at the register. This is necessary because these medications can be habit forming or can be abused. The pharmacy technician may have the duty to fill in the blanks in the book, and the customer must sign for the merchandise. The pharmacist will approve the purchase if satisfied that the merchandise is being used legitimately. The sale of poisons must similarly be recorded in the poison record book. Again as a pharmacy technician, you are always required to obtain the pharmacist's approval.Answering the telephone
The Pharmacy Technician may have to answer the phone. Every time you answer the phone or place a call, you represent your store to the customer on the other end of the line. Your attitude and manner are important. A friendly, helpful voice will keep customers returning to your store. Because customers can't see your smile over the telephone and the attention in your eyes, you have to work harder to convey your friendliness and concern. You are not just a person picking up the phone, you are the pharmacy technician, the right hand of the pharmacist.
Many incoming calls will concern prescriptions, either new ones or refills. These calls may originate from doctors' offices or from customers. If calls do not need the attention of a pharmacist, then the pharmacy technician will probably be asked to handle them.
Here are some guidelines for answering the phone:
1. Answer the phone promptly by the third ring.
2. Identify your store, your department and your name, and offer a service. For example; "Smith Drugs, prescription department. This is John. May I help you?" Sometimes you may have to identify yourself as the pharmacy technician.
3. Listen carefully to the caller and don't interrupt. You are a trained pharmacy technician, and must pay close attention to the caller.
4. When responding, speak clearly, distinctly and at a moderate speed. Show interest in the tone of your voice. If someone asks what your title is, speak slowly and clearly when you say "pharmacy technician".Handling the call
If you can handle the call yourself, do so. Give the caller the information quickly, politely and professionally. If you must leave the phone to get information, ask the customer to please hold while you check. Use the hold button or place the receiver down gently. When you return, thank the caller for waiting. When you have finished your conversation, thank the customer for calling. Even if you are busy, remember to always be courteous.
Some of the calls you will handle will be inquiries about whether a prescription is ready, requests for refills, requests to transfer an existing prescription to your pharmacy or requests for the pharmacy to call the doctor to order a prescription or refill. Some tasks are handled by the pharmacy technician and some are not. Ask your supervisor which of these tasks a pharmacy technician may handle, and which are referred to the pharmacist.
For requests to call the patient's doctor, write down the necessary information on a refill or a new prescription blank. To alert the pharmacist, note on the blank that the doctor must be called. Be sure to include the patient's name, address and phone number, as well as the doctor's full name and phone number.
There are four kinds of calls the pharmacy technician will usually can't handle:
1. Doctors' calls--Whenever a doctor's office calls about anything concerning a prescription, be courteous and say you will transfer the call to the pharmacist. If the doctor asks why he is being transferred, tell him you are the pharmacy technician, and this is a call the pharmacist must handle.
2. Drug information or emergency calls--Calls about side effects, overdoses and poisons must be transferred to the pharmacist. If the call is an emergency and the pharmacist is unavailable, give the caller the poison control telephone number for your area. This number is usually posted next to the phone. Always tell the caller you are the pharmacy technician, and the pharmacist needs to handle the call.
3. Calls from other pharmacies--If another pharmacy calls about a prescription, get the prescription number and transfer the call to the pharmacist. If needed tell the caller you are the pharmacy technician, and this is a call which the pharmacist needs to handle.
4. Calls about prescription errors-rarely, a mistake may be made in filling a prescription. A customer who calls about an error should be transferred to the pharmacist. Do not make any comments to the customer about the complaint. Simply say, "I am the pharmacy technician I will give you to a pharmacist."If the caller needs another department or the pharmacist, ask the caller to hold for a moment while you transfer the call. You can tell the caller you are the pharmacy technician and need to transfer the call to the proper party. Notify the person receiving the call and stay alert to the blinking hold button to be sure the call is answered. A customer who has to hold for a long time may become justifiably irritated.
Career College of San Diego click a location below to request more information
Locations: Campus
At CCSD, we are committed to preparing students for successful job placement. Teaching methods and materials are updated, and reflect the frequent changes in one of the fastest growing careers of our time. Medical Education Programs: CNA (Certified Nurse's Assistant), Medical Assistant, Medical Billing, Medical Coding, and more. 
Phoenix University click a location below to request more information
Locations: Online
Be part of an institution that has grown from an upstart in 1976 to becoming today’s largest private university in North America. Students study at more than 200 locations, as well as through online programs available in most countries around the world. Medical Education Programs: CNA (Certified Nurse's Assistant), Medical Assistant, Medical Billing, Medical Coding, Dental Assistant and more.
Devry University click a location below to request more information
Locations: Online
Since 1975, 237,957 undergraduate students system-wide have graduated from DeVry, and 90% of those in the active job market were employed in career-related positions within six months of graduation. Active job market includes those employed prior to graduation. 96 of Fortune 100 companies employed DeVry graduates from 2003 to 2008. Medical Education Programs: Phlebotomy, Medical Assisting, Nursing, Dental etc.
ITT click a location below to request more information
Locations: Online
At ITT Technical Institutes, we are committed to helping men and women develop the skills and knowledge to pursue many opportunities in today's fastest growing career fields. Medical Education Programs: LVN, Medical Biller, Nursing, Dental Assistant and more.
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