Technician Training and Roles in Institutional Pharmacy Practice

(1)

Technician Training and

Roles in Institutional

Pharmacy Practice

Joshua DeSilvey, Pharm.D., M.S. Joshua DeSilvey, Pharm.D., M.S.

University of Washington Medical Center University of Washington Medical Center

January 23, 2007 January 23, 2007

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Learning Objectives

Understand laws regarding technician

_{Understand laws regarding technician}

training, certification, licensure, and

utilization

Review types of training programs

Understand role of technicians in

_{Understand role of technicians in}

institutional pharmacy

(3)

Legal definitions

“

Pharmacy technician" is

(a) A person who is enrolled in, or who has (a) A person who is enrolled in, or who has

satisfactorily completed, a board approved training satisfactorily completed, a board approved training program

program…….or.or

(b) A person who is a graduate with a degree in (b) A person who is a graduate with a degree in

pharmacy or medicine of a foreign school, university, pharmacy or medicine of a foreign school, university, or college recognized by the board

or college recognized by the board

"Pharmacy assistant" is_{"Pharmacy assistant" is}

a person registered by the board to perform limited a person registered by the board to perform limited functions in the pharmacy

functions in the pharmacy

RCW 18.64A.010 RCW 18.64A.010

(4)

May I see your license and

registration?

Licensure = Agency of government grants permission to _{Licensure = Agency of government grants permission to}

engage in a given occupation once the applicant has attained

the minimal degree of competency necessary to ensure that

the public health, safety, and welfare will be reasonably well

protected. Technicians are licensed by the state.

Certification = Non_{Certification = Non}-_-governmental agency or association _{governmental agency or association}

grants recognition to an individual who has met certain

predetermined qualifications specified by that agency or

association (accreditation refers to an institution). Technician

association (accreditation refers to an institution). Technicians s are certified by their training site.

are certified by their training site.

Registration = to make or secure official entry of in a register_{Registration = to make or secure official entry of in a register}. _.

So, registration with the State means you are on their list of

persons operating as an assistant. Assistants are registered.

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It

’

_’

s the law

_{s the law}

…

_…

The board shall adopt

The board shall adopt……rules governing the rules governing the extent to which pharmacy ancillary personnel extent to which pharmacy ancillary personnel

may perform services associated with the may perform services associated with the

practice of pharmacy. practice of pharmacy.

These rules shall provide for the certification of These rules shall provide for the certification of

pharmacy technicians by the department

pharmacy technicians by the department……..

RCW 18.64A.030 RCW 18.64A.030

(6)

It

’

_’

s the law

_{s the law}

…

_…

Pharmacy assistants may perform, under the Pharmacy assistants may perform, under the

supervision of a licensed pharmacist, duties supervision of a licensed pharmacist, duties

including but not limited to, typing of prescription including but not limited to, typing of prescription

labels, filing, refiling, bookkeeping, pricing, labels, filing, refiling, bookkeeping, pricing,

stocking, delivery, nonprofessional phone stocking, delivery, nonprofessional phone inquiries, and documentation of third party inquiries, and documentation of third party

reimbursements and other such duties and reimbursements and other such duties and

subject to such restrictions as the board may by subject to such restrictions as the board may by

rule adopt. rule adopt.

RCW 18.64A.030 RCW 18.64A.030

(7)

It

’

_’

s the law

_{s the law}

…

_…

Pharmacy Technicians may assist in

performing, under the supervision and

control of a licensed pharmacist,

manipulative,

nondiscretionary

functions

associated with the practice of pharmacy

RCW 18.64A.030 RCW 18.64A.030

(8)

Pharmacist

’

_’

s Responsibility

_{s Responsibility}

…

the pharmacy or pharmacist shall retain

responsibility for any act performed by

pharmacy ancillary personnel in the

course of employment.

RCW 18.64A.080 RCW 18.64A.080

(9)

Pharmacist : Technician

…

_…

no pharmacist may supervise more than

_{no pharmacist may supervise more than}

one pharmacy technician

…

EXCEPT

In the preparation of medicine or

other materials used by patients within the

facility, one pharmacist supervising no

more than three pharmacy technicians

RCW 18.64A.040 RCW 18.64A.040

(10)

Pharmacy Assistants

The pharmacy assistant may assist a _{The pharmacy assistant may assist a}

pharmacist in performance of all tasks

pharmacist in performance of all tasks exceptexcept

those reserved to the pharmacist and those reserved to the pharmacist and

pharmacy technician. pharmacy technician.

Pharmacy ancillary personnel may record or _{Pharmacy ancillary personnel may record or}

provide medication data when

provide medication data when no no interpretation

interpretation is required.is required.

WAC 246

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Pharmacy Assistants

May prepackage and label drugs for subsequent _{May prepackage and label drugs for subsequent}

use in dispensing operations use in dispensing operations

May count, pour, and label for individual _{May count, pour, and label for individual}

prescriptions prescriptions

May stock medications_{May stock medications}

Billing_Billing

Clerical work_{Clerical work}

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Pharmacy Technicians may

…

perform certain _{perform certain}nondiscretionary_{nondiscretionary} and _and

specialized functions consistent with their specialized functions consistent with their

training in pharmacy practice while under the training in pharmacy practice while under the

immediate supervision of a licensed pharmacist immediate supervision of a licensed pharmacist

perform entry of a new medication order into the _{perform entry of a new medication order into the}

pharmacy computer system and retrieval of the pharmacy computer system and retrieval of the

drug product to fill a prescription are tasks drug product to fill a prescription are tasks reserved to the pharmacist and pharmacy reserved to the pharmacist and pharmacy

technician technician

assist a pharmacist in the performance of all _{assist a pharmacist in the performance of all}

tasks

tasks except those reserved to a pharmacistexcept those reserved to a pharmacist WAC 246

(13)

A pharmacist shall not delegate

…

professional responsibilities

Consultation with patients & providers_{Consultation with patients & providers}

Receipt of verbal order, other than refill authorization_{Receipt of verbal order, other than refill authorization}

Professional judgment_{Professional judgment}

Interpretation of data_{Interpretation of data}

Ultimate responsibility for all aspects of completed _{Ultimate responsibility for all aspects of completed} prescription

prescription

Professional communications with providers_{Professional communications with providers}

Dispensing to patients with proper information_{Dispensing to patients with proper information}

WAC 246

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What

can

technicians do?

Prescription preparation_{Prescription preparation}

Compounding _Compounding

Computer entry of new order_{Computer entry of new order}

Retrieval of drug products_{Retrieval of drug products}

Medication inventory management_{Medication inventory management}

Information management when no _{Information management when no}

interpretation is required interpretation is required

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What

can

’

t

technicians do?

Receive verbal orders for prescriptions_{Receive verbal orders for prescriptions}

Consult with patients or providers, _{Consult with patients or providers,}exceptexcept

providing information not requiring professional providing information not requiring professional

judgment like dates of refills or prescription price judgment like dates of refills or prescription price

information information

Consult with providers regarding patients, _{Consult with providers regarding patients,}

except interpret data in patient medical record except interpret data in patient medical record

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Training requirements

Pharmacy technicians must obtain education or training _{Pharmacy technicians must obtain education or training}

from one of the following: from one of the following:

Formal academic program _{Formal academic program}

On-_On-thethe--job training program job training program

The minimum educational prerequisite for entering a _{The minimum educational prerequisite for entering a}

training program shall be high school graduation or training program shall be high school graduation or

G.E.D G.E.D

An out_{An out}-_-of_of-_-state pharmacy technician applicant must meet _{state pharmacy technician applicant must meet}

the same requirements as a pharmacy technician trained the same requirements as a pharmacy technician trained

in this state in this state

Applicants whose academic training has been obtained _{Applicants whose academic training has been obtained}

in foreign countries shall meet certification requirements in foreign countries shall meet certification requirements

WAC 246

(17)

Training requirements

Pharmacy technician and assistant

applicants must complete four clock hours

of AIDS education

WAC 246

(18)

Technician training

programs

Community Colleges (NSCC, Edmonds CC)_{Community Colleges (NSCC, Edmonds CC)}

Trade/Technical Schools (PIMA, _{Trade/Technical Schools (PIMA,}Bryman_Bryman)₎

Military_Military

On_On-_-the_the-_-job training (Board approved _{job training (Board approved}

programs) programs)

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Basic competencies for

technician training programs

Chemistry & Pharmacology_{Chemistry & Pharmacology}

Drug info: classes, names (brand & generic), _{Drug info: classes, names (brand & generic),}

dosages, dosage forms, routes, etc. dosages, dosage forms, routes, etc.

Interpretation of prescriptions_{Interpretation of prescriptions}

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Inventory control_{Inventory control}

Safety and infection control procedures_{Safety and infection control procedures}

Pharmacy law_{Pharmacy law}

Communication skills_{Communication skills}

Professional development_{Professional development}

Basic competencies for

technician training programs

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American Society of Health

-

-System Pharmacists

System Pharmacists

ASHP Technical Assistance Bulletin on ASHP Technical Assistance Bulletin on

Outcome Competencies and Training Outcome Competencies and Training

Guidelines

Guidelines……..

•

• Outcome competencies and training Outcome competencies and training

guidelines for institutional pharmacy guidelines for institutional pharmacy technician training programs

technician training programs

•

• Contains 11 primary objectivesContains 11 primary objectives •

• Intended to be general enough that the Intended to be general enough that the

trained technician can function well in most trained technician can function well in most hospital settings

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Model Curriculum for Technician Training_{Model Curriculum for Technician Training}

Developed in collaboration with _{Developed in collaboration with}APhA_APhA, National _{, National}

Assoc. of Drug Store Chains, two national technician Assoc. of Drug Store Chains, two national technician groups

groups

ASHP accreditation of technician training _{ASHP accreditation of technician training}

programs programs

•

• Over 90 programs accreditedOver 90 programs accredited •

• 3 in Washington3 in Washington

American Society of Health

-

-System Pharmacists

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National Pharmacy

Technician Certification Exam

Closed book exam of 125 multiple choice Closed book exam of 125 multiple choice

questions covering: questions covering:

•

• Assisting pharmacist in serving patients Assisting pharmacist in serving patients

(50%) (50%)

•

• Medication distribution & inventory control Medication distribution & inventory control

systems (35%) systems (35%)

•

• Operations, including administrative Operations, including administrative

activities like human resources & activities like human resources & information systems (15%)

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Specialized and developing

roles

Investigational Drug Services_{Investigational Drug Services}

Unit_Unit-_-dose medication checking (tech_{dose medication checking (tech}-_-check_check-

-tech) tech)

Automation system managers_{Automation system managers}

Unit Pharmacy Technicians (UPT_{Unit Pharmacy Technicians (UPT}’_’s)_s)

Pharmacy Benefits Managers (PBM_{Pharmacy Benefits Managers (PBM}’_’s)_s)

Computer information systems_{Computer information systems}

Billing specialists_{Billing specialists}

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Pharmacist

–

Technician

Relationship

Supervisor

Mentor Preceptor