Roles of Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy technician training is widely expanding its
presence online and now there exist an increasing number of individuals that are
Certified Pharmacy Technicians thanks to enrolling in online coursework.
If you have been thinking about a career in the medical
profession and would like to take an expedited path to making a great deal of money
without having to invest in college, then looking at a career as a pharmacy technician
could be the right plan for you. Pharmacy technicians are highly paid and remain
a vital component of the pharmaceutical industry. The job duty of a pharmacy technician
is very prestigious and important. Here is why…
A pharmacy technician is someone who is a major part
of a health care team. A pharmacy technician will work under the supervision of
a professional licensed pharmacist. The professional description for a pharmacy
technician will vary and depends upon the environment in which he is employed.
Let us look at this position in a little more detail:
John is employed as a Certified Pharmacy Technician
(CPhT) at his community drug store. Betty enters the pharmacy and hands over three
prescriptions to be filled. John says hello to Betty from the counter, verifies
her information, and tells her an estimated time that prescription will be ready
for pick up. John will then enter Betty's prescriptions into the computer database.
He does this prior to carefully selecting her individual medication from the pharmacy’s
shelves.
Through the use of special equipment, John then counts
the required number of capsules for each prescription. He even counts them twice.
John will then package the capsules during the same time the computer prints out
a needed medication label. This label is to be applied to the prescription bottle.
John will then put all three medications into a separate holding case so the pharmacist
can review them. Once the pharmacist signs off on the prescriptions after examining
to make sure they have been properly dispensed, John will put Betty's medications
into a bag and then into a holding platform until she returns to make her payment.
This particular database is designed in a way that Betty's
insurance will be billed and John need only charge a co-pay on her medicine. After
Betty has finished, John takes out a few moments to stock the shelves of the pharmacy.
He stocks the shelves with an order of pharmaceuticals that have just been delivered.
John truly loves his pharmacy job because he is constantly
on the move and is able to interact with individuals he is familiar with from around
the neighborhood. Not only does he interact with them, he is able to help them with
their personal health care needs.
Here is another profile:
Consuela works for the Mercy Hospital in the pharmacy
section. As a CPht, Consuela manages the daily operations of the pharmacy. This
then frees up the facility's licensed pharmacist to spend more time counseling patients.
Consuela will not only help prepare products for those inpatient rounds, she will
prepares IV drip bags. This is done through utilizing carefully measured formulations
that are prescribed by physicians for patients. Sometimes, the physician will prepare
formulations designed for use by patients that require the need of a feeding tube.
Consuela also maintains the proper oversight of the inventory of the pharmacy while
being sure to keep an eye on specific items that are becoming low in quantity. This
is done to keep the pharmacy properly maintained and well-stocked. This way, patients
will not run short of needed items during their stay at the hospital.
While both John and Consuela are Certified Pharmacy
Technicians, they clearly show that not all pharmacy employees possess this certification.
It is true that not all states will require those who work behind the counter at
the pharmacy to possess or attain this certification. However, current trends are
showing there is more growth in the profession requiring this particular certification.
A certification not only makes sure employees are able to maintain their job if
their state eventually requires certification, but they can also enjoy the pay raise
that comes with such an offer. Attaining certification will show that the individual
possesses the skills and knowledge to present optimal service in the pharmaceutical
industry.
In the United States, there are two licensing bodies
that are recognized by a great many health care institutions. These two licensing
bodies are the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT) and
the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). Anyone who successfully passes
the certification exam these entities offer will earn the credentials of CPhT or
Certified Pharmacy Technician.
|
