Introduction-to-the-Pharmacy-Technician-Certification-Course final (1).pdf_pages_1_to_35

This is an introduction to the Pharmacy Technician Certification Course. It covers the role and responsibilities of pharmacy technicians, including medication preparation, customer service, and administrative tasks. It also discusses pharmacy terminology, pharmacology, medication dosage calculations, prescription processing, medication storage, and inventory management. It emphasizes the importance of adhering to safety protocols, following pharmacy law and regulations, and maintaining ethical standards. Effective communication, customer service skills, and medication safety and error prevention are also highlighted. Lastly, it addresses the handling of controlled substances and the importance of reporting and documentation. Introduction to the Pharmacy Technician Certification Course. This comprehensive course is designed to prepare you for a rewarding career as a pharmacy technician. You will gain the essential knowledge and skills needed to excel in this important healthcare role from medication management to customer service. By Dr. Vivian Bulma-Abobo, PharmD, MBA SPC. Overview of the Pharmacy Technician Profession. Patient care medication preparation pharmacy technicians play a crucial role in supporting pharmacists and ensuring patients receive their medication safely and efficiently. They assist in the preparation, packaging, and labeling of prescription medications under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. Administrative duties specialized skills technicians also handle various administrative tasks such as inventory management, data entry, and customer service. Pharmacy technicians require a unique blend of technical, mathematical, and communication skills to effectively perform their duties. Duties and Responsibilities of a Pharmacy Technician. Medication preparation accurately measure, package, and label prescription medications under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. Customer service interact with patients, answer questions, and provide information about medications, dosages, and side effects. Inventory management monitor and restock pharmaceutical supplies, ensure proper storage conditions, and maintain accurate records. Pharmacy Terminology and Abbreviations. One medical terminology mastered the complex medical vocabulary used in pharmacy from drug names to disease states. Understanding terminology is crucial for accurate communication and safe medication management. To prescription shorthand, learn the common abbreviations and symbols used on prescriptions allowing you to quickly and precisely interpret orders. Familiarize yourself with terms like QD, Once Daily, and PRN as needed. Three pharmaceutical acronyms become fluent in the vast array of acronyms used throughout the pharmacy from IV, intravenous, to OTC, over-the-counter. This knowledge will enable you to navigate the field with confidence. Pharmacology and Medication Classifications. Explore the fascinating world of pharmacology where we delve into the classification and properties of various medications. Understand the mechanisms of action, therapeutic uses, and potential side effects of different drug categories. From analgesics to antihistamines, antidepressants to antibiotics, this module provides a comprehensive overview of the diverse array of pharmaceuticals and their profound impact on patient care. Medication Dosage Calculations. Accurately calculating medication dosages is a critical skill for pharmacy technicians. This module will cover the essential mathematical principles and techniques required to ensure patients receive the proper medication amount. The course will explore common medication calculation scenarios including weight-based dosing, infusion rates, and pediatric dosing. Patients will practice applying formulas and utilizing conversion tools to build confidence in this essential pharmacy skill. Introduction Title, Pharmacy Tech. Calculation Practice. Slide Content. Welcome to Pharmacy Tech Calculation Practice. Today, we'll explore common medication calculation scenarios to enhance your skills. Topics include weight-based dosing, infusion rates, and pediatric dosing. Let's begin. Question 1. Weight-Based Dosing Title, Weight-Based Dosing Calculation. Question. A patient weighs 70 kilograms and requires a medication dosage of 0.1 milligrams per kilogram. Calculate the total dosage required for the patient. Answer. Total dosage equals patient weight, kg, times dosage per kg. Total dosage equals 70 kilograms times 0.1 milligrams per kilogram. Total dosage equals 7 milligrams. Question 2, Infusion Rate. Calculation Title, Infusion Rate. Calculation. Question. A medication is to be administered intravenously over four hours. The infusion pump is set to deliver the medication at a rate of 10 milliliters per hour. How many milliliters of medication will the patient receive in total? Answer. Total medication equals infusion rate, ml-hour, times infusion time, hours. Total medication equals 10 milliliters per hour times four hours. Total medication equals 40 milliliters. Question 3, Pediatric Dosing Calculation Title, Pediatric Dosing Calculation. Question. A child weighing 15 kilograms requires a medication dosage of 0.5 milligrams per kilogram every six hours. How many milligrams of medication should be administered per dose? Answer. Dosage per dose equals patient weight, kg, times dosage per kg. Dosage per dose equals 15 kilograms times 0.5 milligrams per kilogram. Dosage per dose equals 7.5 milligrams. Prescription Processing and Medication Dispensing. Pharmacy technicians play a crucial role in the prescription processing and medication dispensing workflow. They receive and enter patient prescriptions into the pharmacy system, verify insurance information and ensure accurate medication labeling and packaging. Technicians also assist in the medication dispensing process, counting and measuring medications and verifying the accuracy of the final product before it is provided to the patient. Attention to detail and adherence to safety protocols are essential in this phase of the pharmacy workflow. A septic technique and sterile, compounding, handwashing, one proper handwashing technique to minimize contamination, gowning two donning sterile gloves, gown and face mask, clean environment three maintaining a sterile ISO classified clean room, a septic procedures for carefully manipulating sterile components and solutions, quality control, five ongoing monitoring and testing of compounded products. Maintaining a septic technique and sterile compounding practices is critical for pharmacy technicians to ensure the safety and efficacy of sterile medications. This involves a step by. Medication storage and inventory management. Proper storage conditions maintain medications at the right temperature, humidity and light exposure to preserve their potency and safety. Inventory tracking implement a robust system to monitor stock levels, expiration dates and usage patterns to ensure adequate supply. Controlled substance management securely store and meticulously track all controlled substances according to regulatory requirements. Pharmacy law and regulations. Federal regulations. Pharmacy technicians must comply with federal laws such as the Controlled Substances Act which regulates the handling of prescription drugs. They also need to follow regulations set by the FDA, DA and other governing bodies. State and local laws. Each state has its own pharmacy practice laws that outline the roles and responsibilities of pharmacy technicians. Technicians must stay up to date on any changes to state and local regulations in the areas where they work. Licensing and certification. Many states require pharmacy technicians to be licensed or certified. This ensures they have the necessary knowledge and skills to safely assist pharmacists in providing patient care. Ethical consideration and ethics. Pharmacy technicians must uphold high ethical standards, maintaining patient confidentiality, avoiding conflicts of interest and prioritizing patient safety above all else. Patient privacy and confidentiality. Patient provider trust, secure data handling, informed consent, maintaining patient pharmacy technicians must patients have the right to confidentiality is crucial and handle sensitive patient understand how they're building trust and ensuring information with the utmost personal and medical open communication care following strict information will be used between health care protocols for storage and to provide their consent providers and their patients. Access and transmission. For its disclosure. Communication and customer service skills. Effective communication and top-notch customer service are essential skills for pharmacy technicians. They must be able to clearly explain medication instructions, answer patient questions and provide a friendly professional demeanor. Strong active listening and empathy are key to understanding patient's needs and concerns. Pharmacy technicians also need to communicate well with other health care providers such as pharmacists and nurses to ensure efficient and accurate medication processing. Developing rapport and trust with both patients and colleagues is crucial for providing high quality care. Medication safety and error. Prevention. One importance of medication safety. Preventing medication errors is crucial to ensuring patient safety and reducing the risk of adverse drug events. Three proper labeling and packaging. Clear, accurate labeling and appropriate packaging help ensure the right medication is administered to the correct patient. Two medication verification, carefully verifying patient information, medication orders and dosages before dispensing can catch potential errors. For continuous monitoring. Closely monitoring patients for any adverse reactions or side effects and reporting them promptly can prevent harm. Controlled substances and narcotics handling. Pharmacy technicians play a crucial role in the proper handling and dispensing of controlled substances and narcotics. They must adhere to strict regulations and security protocols to prevent diversion and ensure patient safety. Storage requirements controlled substances must be stored in a secure, locked cabinet or safe. Access is limited to authorized personnel only. Dispensing procedures pharmacy technicians must verify prescriptions, maintain detailed records and follow chain of custody protocols when dispensing controlled medications. Inventory management, meticulous inventory tracking and regular audits are essential to prevent diversion and ensure accurate stock levels of controlled substances. Reporting and documentation pharmacy technicians must report any discrepancies, thefts or losses of controlled substances to the appropriate authorities in a timely manner. Pharmacy automation and technology. Automated dispensing one high-tech pharmacy robot streamline medication distribution. Inventory management. Two barcode scanning and RFID tracking optimize supply levels. Workflow optimization. Innovative software boosts efficiency and patient safety. Pharmacy automation and technology are transforming the profession enabling technicians to work more efficiently and accurately. From automated pill counting machines to inventory management systems these innovations are enhancing workflow and reducing medication errors. By embracing cutting-edge solutions technicians can focus on providing exceptional patient care. Medication interactions and adverse effects. Adverse effects drug understand the interactions potential side learn to identify effects and adverse and manage reactions potentially associated with dangerous medications, interactions including there between severity and medications, frequency, supplements and other substances. Medication monitoring. Medication safety. Develop skills to implement safety closely monitor protocols to patients for signs of prevent medication adverse effects and errors and ensure intervene promptly the safe use of to minimize harm. Drugs for patients. Pharmacy inventory and supply management. Effective inventory and supply management are critical in a pharmacy setting. Proper tracking, ordering and storage of medication and supplies helps ensure availability for patients and minimizes waste. Medication labeling and packaging. Prescription labels child resistant packaging clear readable prescription labels are crucial for patient safety. They must include the medication name, dosage, instructions and patient information. Pharmacy technicians ensure all medications are dispensed in child resistant containers to prevent accidental ingestion by young children. Tamper evidence seals medication labeling guidelines. Tamper evidence seals on medication packaging help ensure the integrity and safety of the product before it reaches the patient. Technicians must adhere to strict guidelines for medication labeling including font size, color coding and placement of critical information. Pharmacy workflow and efficiency. Optimizing pharmacy workflow is crucial for providing timely and accurate patient care. Key elements include leveraging technology, streamlining processes and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Pharmacy technicians play a vital role in enhancing workflow by automating tasks, improving data management and promoting team collaboration. Develop standardized operating procedures to ensure consistency and reduce errors. Pursuing education and professional development. One expand your knowledge attend conferences, workshops and webinars to stay up to date on the latest pharmacy practices, technologies and regulations. Two earn certifications pursue specialized certifications in areas like sterile compounding, immunization administration or medication therapy management to enhance your skills. Three mentor and teach share your expertise by mentoring new pharmacy technicians or teaching at vocational schools to help develop the next generation. Certification exam. Preparation. Thorough preparation is key to passing the pharmacy technician certification exam. This section covers effective study strategies, test taking tips and practice questions to help you confidently demonstrate your knowledge and skills. Explore common exam formats, question types and scoring criteria to optimize your study approach and build test day readiness. Internship and externship. Opportunities. Internships and externships are invaluable opportunities for aspiring pharmacy technicians to gain hands-on experience in a real world pharmacy setting. These programs allow students to apply their classroom knowledge and develop practical skills under the guidance of experienced professionals. Internships typically take place within the student's educational program providing a structured learning environment and academic credit. Externships, on the other hand, are often arranged independently and offer students the chance to explore different pharmacy roles and specialties. Career pathways for pharmacy technicians. Supervisory roles one lead technician, pharmacy manager. Specialized positions two sterile compounding, inventory control. Entry level roles three retail, hospital, long-term care. Pharmacy technicians can explore diverse career paths from entry level positions in retail, hospital or long-term care settings to specialized roles in sterile compounding or inventory management. Ambitious technicians may even progress to supervisory positions such as lead technician or pharmacy manager, overseeing operations and training new staff. Certification maintenance and renewal. Continuing education maintain your pharmacy technician certification by completing ongoing education courses and training programs. Renewal applications submit a renewal application before your certification expires providing documentation of your continuing education hours. Recertification exam in some cases you may need to retake the certification exam to renew your credential. Stay up to date on the latest requirements. Ethical considerations in pharmacy practice. Patient confidentiality. Pharmacy technicians must maintain strict patient confidentiality ensuring sensitive health information is securely stored and not shared without the patient's consent. Medication safety. Technicians play a crucial role in preventing medication errors and ensuring patient safety through accurate dispensing, labeling and proper storage of drugs. Informed consent. Patients have a right to make informed decisions about their treatment. Technicians must provide patients with clear information about their medications and potential side effects. Ethical dilemmas. Technicians may encounter complex ethical situations such as addressing medication requests that may be inappropriate or illegal. They must respond with professionalism and integrity. Diversity and inclusion in pharmacy. Inclusive workforce accessibility for all collaborative. Teamwork. Pharmacy teams that ensuring equal access and reflect the diversity of the accommodations for communities they serve are patients and staff with better equipped to disabilities is a key priority understand and meet the for inclusive pharmacy unique needs of all patients. Practices. Diverse pharmacy teams that foster open communication and mutual respect are better able to provide compassionate patient-centered care. Pharmacy technician. Certification exam. Overview. The pharmacy technician certification exam is a rigorous assessment of the skills and knowledge required to work as a certified pharmacy technician. The exam covers a broad range of topics including medication safety, pharmacology and pharmacy operations. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in these areas to pass the exam and earn their certification. Exam registration and scheduling. One exam registration process to scheduling the exam learners must register for the pharmacy technician certification exam through the official PTCB website. This includes creating an account, submitting personal and education information and paying the exam fee. Once registered learners can schedule their exam appointment at an authorized testing center. Exam dates and times are available on a first come first served basis so early scheduling is recommended. Three exam eligibility requirements. For rescheduling and cancellations. Learners must meet certain eligibility criteria such as completing a PTC recognized pharmacy technician training program or having relevant work experience before they can take the certification exam. If needed learners can reschedule or cancel their exam appointment through the PTCB website subject to applicable fees and policies. Exam scoring and passing. Requirements. The pharmacy technician certification exam is scored on a scale of 200 to 800 points. A minimum score of 650 is required to pass and earn the certified pharmacy technician CPHT credential. The exam covers a wide range of pharmacy knowledge and skills including pharmacology, dosage calculations and patient safety. Exam takers are given 110 minutes to complete the 90 question multiple choice test. The questions are weighted with more difficult topics carrying higher point values. An in-depth understanding of pharmacy operations and regulations is essential to achieving a passing score. Post-certification career advancement. Continuing education one enroll in advanced training programs. Professional development two attend workshops and conferences. Specialization. Three pursue certifications in niche areas. Leadership roles. Four apply for supervisory positions. After earning your pharmacy technician certification there are numerous opportunities to further advance your career. Continuous learning through continuing education courses and professional development workshops can help you stay up to date with industry changes. You can also specialize in areas like sterile compounding or medication therapy management. Additionally you may seek leadership roles such as pharmacy technician supervisor or trainer. Thanks for taking this course. The next module will cover 90 practice test questions and answers.