Pharmacist Jobs

Pharmacy Technicians

Pharmacy technicians work closely with pharmacists to deliver accurately identified and properly dosed medications to patients. Pharmacy technician is a job title for a pharmacy staff member who works under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist and performs many pharmacy related functions. In most cases, job duties include providing medication and other health care products to patients, as well as working with third party and clinics in resolving adjudication of patients insurance or state program. Pharmacy technicians often do the routine tasks associated with preparing prescribed medication and providing drugs to patients, but may also do compounding of medications, verbal prescriptions and doctor calls, expense and medication orders, returns and expired credits, and non-licensed pharmacy management. Licensed pharmacists check all medications before they go to the patient, and only pharmacists may counsel patients on the proper use of medications. In the United Kingdom (UK) however, training and continuing professional development is such that pharmacy technicians are qualified to counsel patients on their medication and indeed specialist technicians participate in the running of anticoagulant clinics, dosing patients under dose banding guidance. In hospital pharmacy especially, pharmacy technicians generally oversee the operational management of the dispensary and manufacturing units, freeing the pharmacists to participate and develop extended clinical pharmacy roles, such as independent prescribing, etc. Pharmacy technicians who work in patient care facilities are responsible reading patient charts, then preparing the medication, verifying the prescription and delivering it to the patient.

Pharmacy technicians who work in retail or mail-order pharmacies have various responsibilities. Technicians receive written prescription requests from patients. They also may receive prescriptions sent electronically from doctors offices, and in some States they are permitted to process requests by phone. They must verify that the information on the prescription is complete and accurate. To prepare the prescription, technicians retrieve, count, pour, weigh, measure, and sometimes mix the medication. Then they prepare the prescription labels, select the type of container, and affix the prescription and auxiliary labels to the container. Once the prescription is filled, technicians price and file the prescription, which must be checked by a pharmacist before it is given to the patient. Technicians may establish and maintain patient profiles, as well as prepare insurance claim forms. Technicians always refer any questions regarding prescriptions, drug information, or health matters to a pharmacist.

Pharmacy technicians work in a clean and organized environments such as hospitals, and retail pharmacies where they will be spending most of their working hours standing on their feet. Hence they should be physically fit and should be healthy and disease free. Pharmacy job technicians can be employed either part-time or full-time and they many be required to work evenings, weekends, and some holidays. A pharmacy technicians job may vary slightly depending on the type of facility they work in. Pharmacy technicians who work in hospital or drug store pharmacies perform different tasks than those who work in mail-order fulfillment. And technicians who work in nursing homes, hospitals or care facilities have additional duties than those who work in other field. Pharmacy technician training programs are offered by the military, some hospitals, proprietary schools, vocational or technical colleges, and community colleges. Training is also often offered as part of employment with many pharmacies. These prepare the student for a pharmacy technician exam and often include labs.

Certification from an approved Pharmacy Technician Program or two years pharmacy technology experience or any equivalent combination of experience is needed for a pharmacy technician.