What Does a Pharmacy Technician Actually Do?

Pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists in their day to day tasks. They may work under the supervision of a pharmacist or another health care provider. Their job is to perform tasks related to pharmaceutical drugs. Every so often, they are asked to perform clerical duties as well. Pharmacy technicians may work in pharmacies, hospitals, nursing homes, insurance companies and other locations. In some states, technicians are allowed to provide information on over-the-counter (OTC) medication (ie, medications that do not require a prescription, such as, acetaminophen and ibuprofen).

Community VS Hospital PHarmacy Tech

Community Pharmacy
 • Collecting patient information (insurance and personal information as needed)
• Entering and processing prescriptions in the computer system
• Filling and selling prescriptions
• Requesting refills from doctor offices for patients
• Compounding medications that are not commercially available
• Ordering medications
• Restocking shelves
• Answering the phone
• Working with insurance companies on approving payment for certain medications
• Maintaining the cash register and conducting accounting functions 

Hospital Pharmacy

• Filling new orders, this includes a variety of medications from oral medications to specially prepared sterile compound medications
 • Tubing medications
• Preparing medications for delivery
• Delivering medications
• Assisting floor pharmacists with medication histories
• Assisting floor pharmacists with IV drip checks
• Handling missing dose calls
• Billing medications where nurse charting does not bill
• Maintaining the pharmacy database
• Restocking operating rooms and anesthesia trays with appropriate medication
• Dispensing and tracking all controlled substances throughout the hospital
• Maintaining automation equipment [automated dispensing cabinets that store medication on nursing units, automatic fill systems (typically called Robot-Rx)]
• Purchasing of all medication and supplies needed in the pharmacy
• Leading and managing the technician workforce, including upkeep of schedules

Now I may have missed some things, but those are the MAIN responsibilities for each. Check out more info here: http://www.pharmacytechnicianhq.com

PT Certificaton - Program Highlight

To attain good pharmacy tech job, training is a must. To begin your career and to have better salary, you must get certified (surprise, surprise!).  There are a lot of schools out there that offer a PT program, and it seems more are popping up each year. I'm sure so far this all sounds like a no-brainer but what some people are unaware of is how quickly you can become trained. What if I told you that you could be a certified tech by the end of the year? Would you believe me? Well you should! Because you could be.
One of the PT programs I was recently made aware of is Boston Reed College. Now before you go saying that you live no where near Boston - the good part about this school is that they have over 100 locations across the country. They partner up with many community colleges and technical schools to provide health education programs throughout the U.S. Now back to the actual length of the program..you can complete the program in seven months! By January, you could be pharmacy tech certified and on your way to beginning a new career. How is that for a quick turnaround? For more info, check out their program site: http://www.bostonreedcollege.com/pharmacy-technician.cfm



**Disclaimer: I was in no way compensated for this post. Opinions are my own.

PTCB Practice Tests

Over at Pharm Tech HQ: http://www.pharmacytechnicianhq.com/certification/test/

Let me know how you do if you take it! I'd love to hear some feedback :)

The DO NOTS of A PT

Just a few things to not do at work if you are a Pharm Tech:

-by pass any drug interaction when processing a prescription without a pharmacist’s involvement
-answer a question pertaining to a prescription medication or an over the counter medication
-have a key to the pharmacy
-know the combination to a pharmacy lock or lockbox containing the key or combination to the pharmacy
-take a new prescription over the telephone
-take a change in directions or strength of a prescription.
-choose what medication to refill for a patient (if a patient asks for a refill on their heart medication the pharmacist must determine which medication to refill)
- provide drug information to anyone
- consult with the patient or patient’s agent regarding their prescription drugs or Over-the-Counter medications

HAHA - Phunny Pharmacy

Any GA Residents taking the Pharmacy Technician Exam(s) Soon?

Check out all the Exam info for Georgia here: http://sos.georgia.gov/plb/pharmacy/#