Pharmacy technicians help pharmacies run effectively by assisting licensed pharmacists in dispensing medications and other duties such as collecting patient information, processing insurance claims, measuring medicine dosages and labeling/packaging medicine. But, what you may not know is that they also help with the behind the scenes duties that makes the process for a patient to get their medication run smoothly.
So, just what are the “unknown” responsibilities of a pharmacy technician? See below for some interesting facts.
In addition to filling prescriptions, a pharmacy technician’s duties can include:
- Acting as a patient advocate by ensuring that the patient’s prescribed drug therapy is safe and followed as advised by their doctor.
- Helping prepare handmade medications that can’t be purchased at a retail pharmacy.
- Preparing and delivering medication for patients who’ve been admitted to the hospital as well as those being seen in the ER.
- Assisting with streamlining communication between the patient, insurance companies, pharmacist, nurses, lab and other healthcare-related parties.
- Preparing medication for long-term facilities, correctional facilities and mail order/online drug companies.
- Coordinating patients’ prescribed pharmacy care with their healthcare providers to ensure that drug therapy is successful.
While most pharmacy technicians work in retail pharmacies, hospitals and drug stores, the career isn’t limited.
Pharmacy technicians can also find employment with:
- Hospital ambulatory services
- Government agencies like the Department of Defense
- Closed-door pharmacies – private operations that serve special groups like hospice care facilities and nuclear pharmacies
- Compound pharmacies – where the pharmacy tech prepares handmade medications that aren’t readily available at a retail pharmacy. They use more hands-on skills, science and mathematics when creating the drugs.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of pharmacy technicians is projected to grow 4 percent from 2019 to 2029, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Increased demand for prescription medications will lead to more demand for pharmaceutical services.*
Go to pmi.edu to find out more about our pharmacy technician program. You could earn your certificate in only about nine months.
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Pharmacy Technicians, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacy-technicians.htm (visited September 01, 2020).
