PHARMACY | COUNTER TALK
Pharmacy Technicians are the Heart of the Pharmacy Expanded roles for certified pharmacy technicians help advance patient care By William Schimmel
A William Schimmel, executive director and CEO, the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
s pharmacy technicians increasingly assume expanded roles during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are reminded of what we already knew: Certified pharmacy technicians are critical to the delivery of patient care in normal times and even more so during a crisis when the nation’s healthcare system is stretched and stressed. Many pharmacists, speaking about experienced technicians, tell me they are the heart of the pharmacy and that their importance continues to grow. Pharmacies that hire, train and promote pharmacy technicians are creating a win-win-win scenario. First, the technician receives training and recognition, while also realizing she has found a career, not just a job. Second, the employer has invested in the pharmacy team, resulting in a higher level of patient service and a pharmacy team with reduced turnover. Finally, and most importantly, this team will deliver better patient care.
Despite dealing with aching backs from hunching over a counter, empty stomachs, exhaustion due to longer shifts and nervous patients waiting in long drive-thru lines, technicians repeatedly say they feel proud of their essential work, knowing they are making a difference. Browsing through the stories found at ptcb.org/ CPhTstrong, we find multiple accounts of the devotion that certified pharmacy technicians have shown toward their patients. Many are at high risk since they are exposed to patients who are ill or looking for over-the-counter treatment suggestions before contacting their provider. Despite dealing with aching backs from hunching over a counter, empty stomachs, exhaustion due to longer shifts, and nervous patients waiting in long drive-thru lines, technicians repeatedly say they feel proud of their essential work, knowing they are making a difference. Opportunities for technicians to contribute to the
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pharmacy team are growing. For more than two decades, pharmacists and technicians have shown they can work together to increase the vaccination rate of the U.S. population. Technicians already are playing important roles that facilitate pharmacybased immunizations, such as prescreening patients, verifying vaccination histories, managing inventory, entering data, and handling billing. With a COVID19 vaccine expected as early as the end of this year, pharmacy teams will be needed more than ever. Pharmacy technicians currently are authorized to immunize in several states, including Idaho, Rhode Island and Utah, and other states are considering regulatory and policy changes to allow immunizing by technicians. Last year, PTCB launched new specialty Assessment-Based Certificate Programs in Technician Product Verification, or TPV, and Medication History. We plan to launch our next certificate programs in Billing and Reimbursement and Hazardous Drug Management this summer, followed by Controlled Substances Diversion Prevention and Immunization later this year. Active PTCB-certified pharmacy technicians, who have completed at least four certificate programs, including TPV and/or Medication History, or three certificate programs and PTCB’s Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician Certification, and three years of work experience, will be eligible to earn an Advanced Certified Pharmacy Technician credential later this year. More than 90% of the U.S. population lives within 5 miles of a pharmacy, so there is an expansive opportunity to broaden the scope of services pharmacists and technicians can provide to patients. For patients dealing with a chronic disease, they might visit their pharmacy more than 24 times a year compared with a few appointments with a medical practice. At PTCB, we are working to make sure more and more of these patients are met by highly trained, experienced and dedicated pharmacy technicians. dsn
August 2020 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
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8/3/20 9:09 AM