1. Assisting the pharmacist
Pharmacy operations
Assisting the pharmacist

2. Authority to prescribe
The STATE determine the extent of a practitioner's prescriptive authority based on his/her practice
A dentist can’t prescribe for birth control
A podiatrist can’t prescribe for acne

3. Who Can prescribe Physicians (MD, DO) Podiatrists (DPM)
Dentists (DDS, DMD)
Optometrists (OD)
Veterinarians (DVM)
Nurse Practitioners (NP)

4. Two common methods of prescribing Meds
Prescription
A hard copy
A fax
E-prescribe
A phone message
Medication Order
Used in an institutional setting such as a hospital or nursing home,

5. Contents of a prescription vs medication order
Patient Name
Home Address
Date Written
Drug Name
Drug Strength
Brand or Generic
Dosage Form
Quantity
Directions
Refills
Medication Order
Patient Name
Patient Address
Height
Weight
Patient’s room number
Patient’s record number
Primary physician
Patients Allergy history
Date
Time of day
Drug Name
Drug Form

6. Things to consider
Prescribers CAN write prescriptions for OTC items

7. Pharmacy services Mail
USPS and FedEx or UPS can be utilized to send controlled substances via mail.
UPSP regulations permit the mailing of controlled substances by drug manufacturers, pharmacies, or other authorized handlers when distribution is lawful under DEA regulations AND if the mailer or the addressee is registered with the DEA, or exempt from DEA registration as permissible by law.
For obvious reasons, the contents of the package are not to be disclosed and outer package should be free of markings that may hint to package contents.

8. HIPAA
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (which became effective in 2003) and is an important law that gives federal protection for patient health information.
Because all of the information in the pharmacy is patient profile and confidential, technician should sign a confidentiality agreement.

9. HIPAA continued:
Patient information can only be released to the following parties:
Patient
Prescriber or other authorized licensed practitioner caring for the patient
Another licensed pharmacist
A representative of the Board of Pharmacy
Others only with written release from the patient

10. Technician duties
Technicians may NOT take verbal prescriptions over the phone
Technicians may NOT transfer a prescription
Technicians may NOT counsel patients
Technicians may NOT offer medical advise to patients
Technicians may NOT handle Drug-Drug interactions or drug-Allergy reactions
A technician MAY perform non-judgmental activities

11. Definition of a Pharmacy Technician
The exact definition varies from state to state, however the basic definition is a person who works under direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist and performs many pharmacy related functions.

12. Universal Precautions
The CDC (Center for Disease Control) is responsible for infection control
Universal precautions is the process of preventing the transmission of blood- borne pathogens

13. Miscellaneous duties of a pharmacy tech
Maintain temperature logs
Maintain inventory of associated supplies
Maintain vaccine inventory
Take out garbage and HIPAA sensitive paperwork
Maintain inventory of expired products
Clean the pharmacy (dust, vacuum, disinfect, clean bathroom)

14. Duties Continued
Complete insurance audits
Sell PSE products