...http://www.startribune.com/jobs/healthcare/44984647.html?refer=y The Changing Role Of The Pharmacy Technician • Article by: Nancy Giguere , Star Tribune Sales and Marketing • Updated: May 25, 2009 - 5:44 PM • In a changing healthcare environment, the role of the pharmacist has evolved from primarily dispensing to monitoring and managing drug therapy in collaboration with physicians and other providers. As a result, pharmacy technicians are beginning to take on some of the technical aspects of pharmacy practice. This means that better educated, more qualified technicians will be needed in the future. • Basic Duties • Technicians help licensed pharmacists dispense medication to patients. They receive the prescription, enter it into the processing system, prepare and label the medication and - after the pharmacist signs off on it - ring up the sale. • Some technicians with special training mix intravenous medication. "We also handle insurance and patient's financial questions. This is a very challenging part of the job," says Randy Cleem, a certified pharmacy technician at the Park Nicollet Clinic - St. Louis Park (www.parknicollet.com). • New Responsibilities • Outside of Minnesota, tech-nicians are taking on additional responsibilities. In some hospital pharmacies, one technician now checks prescriptions filled by another - a function known as "tech-check-tech." • In other settings, technicians educate patients on the use of pillboxes and screen patients for pharmacist-run...
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...Draft “As the physician’s role changed from distributing drugs to diagnosing disease and perform surgery, the role of the pharmacist emerged. The first pharmacy school opened in 1821 at the college of pharmacy and Sciences in Philadelphia” (Mosby 10-11). That school is now called the University of Sciences in Philadelphia. The tasks of pharmacy technicians have changed in means of procedures, responsibilities, and restrictions. The procedures of pharmacy technicians and pharmacists are very different. The differences between pharmacy technicians and pharmacists are that pharmacists have more schooling, more scope of knowledge’s, different duties, responsibilities, and salaries. For example, pharmacy technicians cannot counsel patients, i.e., if a patient says that she has a headache, the pharmacy technician cannot...
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...This paper describing about the changing of Pharmacy profession all over the world. Expanding the roles and responsibilities for pharmacist and pharmacy technician as regulated health care professionals will play an integral part of this more fully realized patient-centered and outcomes based care. Furthermore, enhancing pharmacy technician practise, they are involved in community pharmacy and hospital pharmacy with the pharmacist and become a part of pharmacy team The role of pharmacist and pharmacy technicians are similar in many ways. David Hill, chair of the task force of (CPhA), notes that pharmacist and pharmacy technicians face the greatest challenge in meeting the goals of the Blue print that, it is the Profession’s responsibility to protect the safety, security, and integrity of the drug distribution. On July1,2011, Pharmacy technician become a regulated profession under Alberta’s Health Profession Act. Under the supervision of one or more pharmacist, a pharmacy technician’s essential duties include assisting the pharmacist in the day-to-day operation of the pharmacy, measuring, mixing, packaging, labelling and delivering drugs, restocking medication and related supplies, identifying expired products for disposal or destruction, inputting prescription into the computer system, maintaining computerized lists of medication taken by patient, filling medication order, maintain inventory, looking after home-health care products such as, vision aids and...
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...HCP 220 Week 2 Checkpoint Mathematical Functions https://hwguiders.com/downloads/hcp-220-week-2-checkpoint-mathematical-functions/ HCP 220 Week 2 Checkpoint Mathematical Functions Accuracy and precision in the calculation of doses, dosages, and rates of infusion of intravenous solutions are often based on percents, ratios, and proportions. The exercises for this CheckPoint provide opportunities to perform various mathematical functions pharmacy technicians must master. Assume the role of a pharmacy technician. A pharmacist gives you a physician’s order sheet, a prescription, and asks you to prepare a 2% solution of sodium chloride (NaCl). You check the stock in the pharmacy but discover you have only a 3% solution of NaCl. Hint: 2g NaCl:100mL of solution::3g NaCL:x mL of 3% solution. Showall your calculations in a Microsoft® Word document Completethe following exercises. Refer to p. 22 for worked examples. 1. Solve the equation for x to determine how many mL of 3% solution you need. 2. Convert 3% to a fraction. 3. Convert 2% to a decimal. 4. Percents are often used to show the strength of solutions. Which solution is stronger, the 2% or the 3%? 5. What does 3% of sodium chloride mean, i.e., how many parts are in a 100? 6. Referring to the proportion regarding NaCl in the scenario, show the product of the means equals the product of the extremes. 7. Convert 25% to a fraction. 8. What percent of 15 ounces is 5 ounces? 9. Convert...
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...especially true in a pharmacy setting. Not only will this system have to comply to HIPAA privacy policies, it will have to both convenient and accurate. Process of selection The first step in this task would be to form two committees. One would be responsible for overseeing the process, helping to provide guidance on specific policies that may be required and being responsible for allocating expenditures along with finalizing or making major decisions. The other committee would be responsible for determining the need for the system, based on the company’s goals and mission statement. This team is also responsible for the evaluation of the system requirements for a variety of systems. Vendor proposals are also directed to this team along with the training of personal when the system is chosen. Once the system is chosen it is then important to determine how the system will be introduced, If it is a more complex system it may take multiple phases in order to adequately train the personal how to use it efficiently. Finally once the type of system is chosen then it is time to request information and proposals from the vendors. It is also wise here to ask consumer groups for their input on how efficient the system is (Neal, 1993). Goals Impact A company’s goals and standard operational procedure can greatly influence the type of IT system needed so it is important to clarify all SOPs and goals the company wishes to adhere too. For example A hospital pharmacy may need a more...
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...Institutional Pharmacy Setting When thinking of an Institutional Pharmacy, the name is deceptive enough that the first thought of what it is, seems to overshadow the importance that it provides. These types of pharmacies tend to our loved ones in nursing homes, hospitals, long term care facilities, and on their last days with hospice (Johnston, Frank, & Luke, 2006). Within this environment are trained pharmacy technicians that are sworn to protect the health, rights, and privacy of the patients they care for. This is a privilege all by itself, but the job of a pharmacy technician is just beginning. Pharmacy technicians work as a support system of an institutional pharmacy. There is much weight applied to their shoulders as they function with less supervision. Confidence in the education that has been taught and what is retained are aspects that are earned. Professional technicians must be familiar with the policies and procedures within the pharmacy and adhere to state guidelines (Fred, 2005). One entrusted with the technical care of others in a pharmacy setting should have a thorough understanding of dosage, compounding, IV administration, and related drug procedures. Institutional pharmacies use controlled dispensing systems to ensure the proper dispensing amount with the correct dosage and form (Johnston, Frank, & Luke, 2006). Where state guidelines permit, unopened and unused medications may be returned to the pharmacy for later use. These practices are excellent...
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...practice so that patients and the public can trust them with their health and wellbeing. Being fit to practice, means that the nurse or midwife must have the skills and knowledge to do the job effectively. The Nursing and Midwifery Council set a range of standards and guidance covering areas of practice, for example, medicines management and record keeping. Another example of the regulating bodies is the General Pharmaceutical Council. In order to practice in Great Britain, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians must be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council. Anyone who is not registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council but practices as a pharmacist or pharmacy technician is breaking the law and can be prosecuted. Their role is to protect, promote and maintain the health, safety, and wellbeing of patients, the public and those who use pharmacy services. The main role of the General Pharmaceutical Council is to maintain a register of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy premises. They set standards for education and training, and...
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...preceptor and the pharmacy technicians on staff. At my site there were many types of patients, the ones I saw who visited frequently were the middle aged males and females. They would usually come in for a flu shot or they just wanted to have a consultation with my preceptor about how they were feeling on that day. While my preceptor checked the pills I was filling the scripts for them. At times my preceptor would call me and tell me to shadow her so I could see what to look for when checking the medicine. As time went on and the busier we got my preceptor wanted me to keep filling the scripts until we got past the...
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...Over the past three years, I have shadowed physicians, worked with patients and medical professionals as a pharmacy technician, and pursued a more active role as a member my community through volunteering. In return, I have continued to grow as a student, coworker, and member of my community, all with the aspiration of playing a more significant role in the treatment and care of others. My passion to pursue an active role in the medical field has continued to present me with new challenges. Through my interactions with patients while volunteering and shadowing at the hospital, I have seen the challenges many patients and family members are faced with. Many times, the treatment patients require most is not the desirable option. However, I have learned that medicine...
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...filled in overwhelmed pharmacies due to the extensive hours worked by Pharmacist. Pharmacists generally work 40-hour weeks, but their work can bleed into nights, weekends and holidays as well. The job involves lots of multi-tasking. Not only are they on their feet filling prescriptions, but they also connect with patients, many of whom have HIV, cancer or are recent transplant recipients. Pharmacist grasp why patients are taking certain medicines and hopefully empower them to follow through with taking them diligently. The demand has led to critical errors in prescriptions being filled by pharmacist and at times untrained pharmacy technicians. In a report by Ohio State University estimated 5.7 errors per 10,000 prescriptions or 2.2 million dispensing errors per year (Janet, P. 2011). Health Care Provider Health Care Provider Prescription Filled Patient Pays or show Health care card Prescription Filled Patient Pays or show Health care card Pharmacist Counsels Patients Pharmacist Counsels Patients Pharmacist verify Prescription & fill Pharmacist verify Prescription & fill Call Verify Drug Brand (Generic) Call Verify Drug Brand (Generic) Pharmacy Technician * Pharmacy Technician * Grocery or Drug Store Pharmacy Grocery or Drug Store Pharmacy HMO On-site Pharmacy HMO On-site Pharmacy Mail Order Pharmacy Mail Order Pharmacy I will utilize the SIPOC model to further illustrate the issues surrounding Pharmacy fatigue. The health...
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...Select a specific field in American medicine and analyze how it has evolved from its inception in the United States to the present. One field that has greatly evolved from its inception in the United States is Pharmacy also known as Apothecary. The role of the pharmacist was only dispensing the medication. In 1850 to 1900s the pharmaceutical association began standardizing the field due to necessity. If you fill the same prescription in Boston and New Hampshire, you would get the two different medication with different formulations (Professor Dunne's lecture). Also, they didn't have to bill the insurance for the patient since everyone just paid for the medication due to its affordability. Also, their profession wasn't much profitable because...
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...pharmacist works with patients and other healthcare professionals in order to design, implement, and monitor a drug therapy plan specifically designed for that patient. Not only do pharmacists advise doctors and patients on prescription drugs, but they also provide information on the best medications that can be purchased “over the counter”. The most common goal of pharmacists is to move beyond their traditional role of simply dispensing medication and deal with patients more directly and on a more personal level. They strive to be a source of advice on medications for both heath-care professionals and patients. They also are dedicated to providing individualized services to patients. Such services include consultations and providing more understandable information about the side effects of the medications that the patient is receiving. More than 1,000 years ago, religious and magic practitioners controlled the medical aspects of people’s lives. They believed that many aspects of disease were beyond observation, explanation, and control. The oldest known application of pharmacy was in ancient India and China. They based healing on the belief that disease was caused by spirits in the body. In Babylonia, Assyria, Egypt, and parts of Greece the concept of purification from sin by a purgative existed. In second century Rome, Galen classified medicines by the affects that they had on the four humors of...
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...The similarities and differences between utilitarianism, Deontology and the virtue theory are very interesting to discuss. Before starting these readings and this class I was very aware of the role that ethics, morals and values played in our daily lives but I was very unaware the specific names that identify the different types of ethics. According to our electronic readings for this week we can all agree that ethics in general are a basic set of rules or ideals of right and wrong conduct in daily life (Boylan, 2009). Unfortunately to me that is where the similarities end considering each type of ethics/ theories. Utilitarianism ethics for example basically states that there could possibly be a set of ethical rules that is universally compatible which will eventually make a “paradise society”. Since we all know that this is a farce to have everyone live by the same set of ethical beliefs I do not believe that this kind of ethics would be feasible (Boylan, 2009). This ethical belief is a far cry from deontological ethics in that this system tries to cater to everyone instead of being duty bound to a strict set of ideals. Deontological ethics refers to the idea of the means does justify end and the consequences of said actions makes up the ethical consideration of good or bad. (BBC Ethics Guide, 2013) This theory on ethics is duty based and is not as concerned with the consequences. People that follow the deontological ethics are more concerned with a...
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...physicians and provide information to patients about medication and their use. As the primary source of our medication, they serve a growing role in our healthcare system. There are two well-known pharmacy occupations which include becoming a pharmacist and becoming a pharmacy technician. Generally, pharmacists dispense medication and execute other complex things; while pharmacy technicians assist in this process. Regarding pharmacists, there are two types of settings that they work in; retail stores, as in CVS and Walgreens, and hospital environments, which are mainly in medical facilities. Becoming a pharmacist requires certain qualifications and skills, and is beneficial in numerous ways. Pharmacists generally work in an indoor environment. There, they do tasks such as reviewing prescriptions and providing information regarding the aspects of particular drugs. They will also spend time maintaining and keeping records for patient files, inventory, and system files. At their job, pharmacists must be very accurate and precise when verifying patient information and advising patients on the effects of health conditions and treatments. They also advise patients on general health topics such as...
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...A pharmacy technician serves as the right hand to the pharmacist. Since they’ll work so closely together, it’s a good idea for the pharmacist to participate in the job interview whenever possible. The tech takes orders, counts pills, mixes custom prescriptions and processes insurance claims. A busy pharmacy needs to rely on the tech for accuracy and reliability. Sponsored Link Best Interview Answers The 3 Things You Should Never Say in a Job Interview. Check Them Out! www.InterviewSuccessFormula.com How Does Your Background Prepare You for This Job? Pharmacy techs don’t need to go through any formal training, although it helps if they’ve been through at least some form of formal training at a community college or trade school. On the other hand, someone who follows directions well and is a fast learner may move into the position after on-the-job training. At the same time, the tech must be able to show a state license in areas where it’s required. Even if the state doesn’t require a license, however, candidates who have taken the exam to get the credentials will bring some level of expertise to the role. Tell Me About a Time When You Had a Difficult Customer Pharmacy technicians interact with customers, physicians, staff at doctors’ offices and insurance companies. They need to be able to smooth over confrontations when they happen because dealing with the public and the professional community nearly guarantees conflict at some time. Recruiters...
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