An Overview Pharmacy technicians are members of the healthcare workforce who get training in the technical elements of delivering patients with medications and medical equipment. Pharmacy technicians are employed in a wide variety of settings, the most common of which are community, retail, and hospital pharmacies.
However, pharmacy technicians may also find employment in long-term care facilities, pharmaceutical manufacturers, third-party insurance companies, computer software companies, the government, the military, or in teaching. It is common practice for employees to be responsible for providing patients with prescription medications and other medical equipment, as well as providing instructions on how to utilize these items.
In a pharmaceutical practice, they may also be responsible for administrative tasks, such as checking prescription requests with medical practices and insurance companies to ensure that the appropriate prescriptions are supplied and that payment is obtained.
- In addition to this, pharmacy technicians are responsible for completing activities that are connected to the inventory, such as cycle counts and sending damaged or expired pharmaceuticals back to the makers.
- It is possible for pharmacy technicians to take on the function of compounding supervisor.
- In this role, they would be responsible for monitoring the manufacture of sterile and non-sterile medications on a daily basis while ensuring compliance with the standards needed by regulatory agencies.
In recent years, pharmacy techs have also begun speaking directly with patients over the phone in order to assist in the patients’ knowledge of the importance of taking their drugs at the prescribed times. In many countries, the relative importance of pharmacy technicians within the pharmacy workforce has been amplified in recent years.
What are the duties of a pharmacy technician?
The Duties and Responsibilities of the Position – You might consider of pharmacy technicians as liaisons between clients and pharmacists to some level. They work closely with both parties. When you work in a pharmacy as a technician, you are accountable for a variety of tasks, one of which is the precise preparation and distribution of pharmaceuticals.
- Calculating results is a necessary component of this process.
- Sterile medication, such as that which is utilized in the treatment of cancer, must be prepared by pharmacy technicians as part of their job responsibilities.
- Counting the pills, extracting them, weighing them, pouring them, and even mixing them up can all be part of the general process of preparing prescriptions.
Pharmacy technicians also have direct interactions with patients and are responsible for gathering correct information as well as medical histories. In addition to this, they compare the drugs that have been ordered to those that the patient is currently taking.
This function requires the use of technology for the purpose of accurately storing patient data, as well as prescriptions and inventories of medicine. People who work in hospitals or other health care institutions as pharmacy technicians typically also have the job of filling and delivering patient medications.
Technicians are often responsible for the production of intravenous drugs and the setting up of laboratories in hospitals. You will also be processing claims for third-party billing as part of this employment, in addition to participating in the process of prior authorisation.
- You also have the opportunity to work on exploratory medication trials by providing managerial assistance for these studies.
- Additionally, pharmacy technicians are responsible for taking and directing customer phone calls, organizing inventory, and directing consumers to the pharmacist when further assistance is required.
In addition to all of the other responsibilities that come with being a pharmacy technician, one of your primary responsibilities is to ensure that all applicable regulatory standards are met. People with a lot of experience in this capacity have the potential to advance to managerial roles.
- It is essential to keep in mind that the precise responsibilities of pharmacy technicians will differ from state to state due to the fact that state regulations define the kinds of work that may be done in this capacity.
- In addition, unless you choose to work in a pharmacy that specializes in mail-order prescriptions, you should anticipate having regular face-to-face interactions with customers or patients.
This means that this position includes an aspect of providing customer service.
What percentage of Pharmacy techs work in hospitals?
In Canada, the Pharmacy Technician Qualifying Examination is supervised and coordinated by the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada. Registration with a provincial or national regulatory authority or council is necessary for those who work in the pharmacy industry as pharmacy technologists.
- It is needed to have liability insurance in order to perform as a pharmacy technician in states, provinces, and other jurisdictions that govern the profession of pharmacy technician.
- A survey of the workforce of pharmacy technicians conducted in 2007 found that 43% of pharmacy technicians worked in hospitals and other associated institutions, 37% worked in community pharmacies that were either part of a chain or a franchise, and 16% worked in independent community pharmacies.
Some (16%) had only a high school degree and no formal pharmacy training, while around 20% had some university education. The majority of pharmacy technicians received their training at a community college or career college (62%), with some having only a high school education.
- Only two percent of respondents had received training and experience in the field of pharmacy either as pharmacists or pharmacy technicians in another country.
- The great variation of technical training and educational achievement very certainly reflects, at least in part, the large variety of training programs for pharmacy technicians that are now offered in the various provinces and territories across the country.
Programs leading to certifications, certificates, and associate’s degrees in pharmacy technology that are accredited may be found in the following provinces: Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick. In Canada, pharmacy technicians are represented by a professional association known as the Canadian Association of Pharmacy Technicians (CAPT).
Are pharmacy techs full time or part time?
Positions are often available on a full-time basis, and because many pharmacies are open around the clock, shifts may include nights and weekends. Enhance your chances of getting hired for the position of pharmacy technician by showcasing the relevant experience you’ve had in the past, such as the abilities that are listed below.