Course

Objective:

Learning Outcomes:

• Present an image appropriate for the profession of pharmacy in appearance and behavior
• Communicate clearly when speaking and in writing
• Apply self-management skills, including time management, stress management, and adapting to change
• Apply interpersonal skills, including negotiation skills, conflict resolution, and teamwork
• Apply critical thinking skills, creativity, and innovation to solve problems
• Demonstrate understanding of wellness promotion and disease prevention concepts, such as use of health screenings
• Demonstrate commitment to excellence in the pharmacy profession and to continuing education and training
• Perform mathematical calculations essential to the duties of pharmacy technicians in a variety of contemporary settings
• Demonstrate understanding of the pharmacy technician's role in the medication-use process
• Demonstrate understanding of non-traditional roles of pharmacy technicians
• Identify and describe emerging therapies
• Assist pharmacists in collecting, organizing, and recording demographic and clinical information for direct patient care and medication-use review
• Assist pharmacists in the identification of patients who desire or require counseling to optimize the use of medications, equipment, and devices
• Prepare non-patient-specific medications for distribution (e.g. batch, stock medications)
• Distribute medications in a manner that follows specified procedures
• Practice effective infection control procedures, including preventing transmission of blood borne and airborne diseases
• Assist pharmacists in the monitoring of medication therapy
• Use material safety data sheets (MSDS) to identify, handle, and safely dispose of hazardous materials
• Initiate, verify, and assist in the adjudication of billing for pharmacy services and goods, and collect payment for these services
• Apply accepted procedures in purchasing pharmaceuticals, devices, and supplies
• Explain pharmacy reimbursement plans for covering pharmacy services
• Demonstrate skills required for effective emergency preparedness
• Assist pharmacists in medication reconciliation
• Assist pharmacists in medication therapy management
• Compare and contrast the roles of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in ensuring pharmacy department compliance with professional standards and relevant legal, regulatory, formulary, contractual, and safety requirements
• Maintain confidentiality of patient information
• Explain procedures and communication channels to use in the event of a product recall or shortage, a medication error, or identification of another problem
• Demonstrate ethical conduct in all job-related activities
• Demonstrate a respectful attitude when interacting with diverse patient populations
• Demonstrate understanding of healthcare occupations and the health care delivery system
• Health practices and environmental factors that impact health
• Adverse effects of alcohol, tobacco, and legal and illegal drugs
• Demonstrate knowledge and skills in areas of science relevant to the pharmacy technician's role, including anatomy, physiology and pharmacology
• Demonstrate understanding of major trends, issues, goals, and initiatives taking place in the pharmacy profession
• Receive and screen prescriptions and medication orders for completeness, accuracy, and authenticity
• Assist pharmacists in preparing, storing, and distributing medication products requiring special handling and documentation (e.g., controlled substances, immunizations, chemotherapy, investigational drugs, drugs with mandated Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS)
• Prepare patient-specific medications for distribution
• Maintain pharmacy facilities and equipment, including automated dispensing equipment
• Prepare medications requiring compounding of non-sterile products
• Prepare medications requiring compounding of chemotherapy or hazardous products
• Apply accepted procedures in inventory control of medications, equipment, and devices
• Apply patient- and medication-safety practices in all aspects of the pharmacy technician's roles
• Verify measurements, preparation, and or packaging of medications produced by other healthcare professionals (e.g., tech-check-tech)
• Explain pharmacists' roles when they are responding to emergency situations and how pharmacy technicians can assist pharmacists by being certified as a Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Provider
• Describe the use of current technology in the healthcare environment to ensure the safety and accuracy of medication dispensing
• Apply quality assurance practices to pharmaceuticals, durable and non-durable medical equipment, devices, and supplies

General Topics: