1. What is a Pharmacy Technician? “An individual working in a pharmacy who, under the supervision of a licensed pharmacy, assists in pharmacy activities that do not require the professional judgment of a pharmacist.” You are accountable to the licensed pharmacist – they are legally liable for your work.

2. What is a Certified Pharmacy Technician? A pharmacy tech that has passed the national certification exam given by the PTCB. PTCB – Pharmacy Technician Certification Board www.ptcb.orgwww.ptcb.org Certification is awarded by a non-governmental agency saying you are proficient in a given set of knowledge/skills Licensure is permission to practice by a government agency. Pharmacists are licensed, Techs are certified. May have initials CPhT behind their name when they pass the PTCE.

3. Taking the Test… Must have high school diploma or equivalent – completing an accredited pharmacy tech education program requirement coming by 2020 Must not have any felony or drug related convictions – criminal background check coming in 2014 Age requirements not specified Exam is 90 questions, multiple choice, on-line in a testing center with 2 hour time limit – pass/fail appears at end. Cost $129 each time exam taken. You fail, you pay again to take. May take up to 4 times…

4. How do you keep your certification? Renewal will occur every 2 years with a fee charged. 20 hours of Continuing Education (CE) will be required related to pharmacy techs role in pharmacy – 1 hour of this must be in medication safety (as of 2014) No felony convictions. No discipline actions.

5. State Board of Pharmacy Each US state has it’s own board of pharmacy that is overseen by National Association of Boards of Pharmacy These state boards:  Register techs and license pharmacists.  Give public means to make complaints or report illegal activity. Can take disciplinary action against pharmacies and pharmacists.  Review/update rules and regulations of practice for that given state.

6. The States… Each state sets Tech’s role/responsibilities Each state that regulates techs requires you to register with their Board to practice there – so if you had a job in both Texas and Arkansas, you would have to be registered with the State Board of both (and pay them both money!) Only about 30 states require national certification at this time including Texas.

9. Are the rules all the same? No! The rules and regulations for pharmacy practice vary from state to state. Laws for pharmacist’s do vary but not as much as the pharmacy tech’s. Titles for Techs and scope of practice vary widely from state to state. You will have to check with the Board of Pharmacy in the state you wish to practice to determine that state’s requirements for Pharmacy Techs

10. So Why Take the Test? Meets requirements for any state that requires national certification Recognizable mark of achievement that will be noted by employers, schools Federal legislation has been repeatedly introduced to make it mandatory – eventually it will be passed. May provide increased salary  Median salary $13-14/hr or about $28,000/year

11. Negligence – an action taken without the forethought that should have been made by a reasonable person  Intentional – criminal (fines/jail time) and/or civil penalties (lawsuits for damages)  Unintentional – usually civil penalties  Either could violate Administrative Law (regulations of your State Board) and cause you to lose ability to practice. Some acts may fall under all three types of law.

12. Examples of Criminal Actions  Drug Diversion (stealing for personal use, stealing for sale or selling drugs without prescription)  Falsification of medical records or prescriptions  Intentionally misfilling a prescription in order to worsen disease or hasten death

13. Examples of Civil Actions Usually involves the unintentional misfilling of a prescription that leads to patient harm.  Take for example the following… And remember, regardless of the legal outcome, an error that causes patient harm or death will be a life- changing experience for a pharmacist or tech.

14. Emily’s Law Proposed legislation “Emily’s Law” Would require techs to be: 18 yrs. old High school grad or equivalent Pass certification exam Pass background check

15. Code of Ethics A pharmacy technician's first consideration is to ensure the health and safety of the patient, and to use knowledge and skills to the best of his/her ability in serving patients. A pharmacy technician supports and promotes honesty and integrity in the profession, which includes a duty to observe the law, maintain the highest moral and ethical conduct at all times and uphold the ethical principles of the profession. A pharmacy technician assists and supports the pharmacists in the safe and efficacious and cost effective distribution of health services and healthcare resources. A pharmacy technician respects and values the abilities of pharmacists, colleagues and other healthcare professionals. A pharmacy technician maintains competency in his/her practice and continually enhances his/her professional knowledge and expertise.

16. A pharmacy technician respects and supports the patient's individuality, dignity, and confidentiality. A pharmacy technician respects the confidentiality of a patient's records and discloses pertinent information only with proper authorization. A pharmacy technician never assists in dispensing, promoting or distribution of medication or medical devices that are not of good quality or do not meet the standards required by law. A pharmacy technician does not engage in any activity that will discredit the profession, and will expose, without fear or favor, illegal or unethical conduct of the profession. A pharmacy technician associates with and engages in the support of organizations, which promote the profession of pharmacy through the utilization and enhancement of pharmacy technicians.

17. Ethical Passivity Failing to act when you are aware of events or circumstances that you know would be considered unethical and even perhaps, illegal. A tech must avoid this to protect the safety of clients and to maintain integrity. Consider the following situations….

18. Gotta have those skills… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5wmP arkppw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5wmP arkppw

19. Duties of a Pharmacy Technician Taking patient information, Customer Service Receiving and Filling Prescriptions Inventory Control and Ordering of Stock Filing Insurance Claims Compounding Medications Mixing IV infusions

20. Especially those computer skills… Obama Stimulus Bill initiated plan to move health records to electronic in 5 years (EHR’s)…that would include use of e-prescribing systems e-prescribing systems must be able to generate and transmit prescriptions and active medication list; check for drug-drug interactions; and check whether drugs are in a health plan’s formulary or preferred drug list.