1. The Foundation of Pharmaceutical Care
Chapter 2
The Foundation of Pharmaceutical Care
PLEASE UPDATE WORDING TO “THIRD EDITION”

2. Overview
A profession is an occupation or career that requires specialized education, ongoing training, and knowledge
Pharmacy professionals are concerned with matters that are vital to the health or well-being of their patients

3. The Profession of Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the art and science of dispensing and preparing medication and providing drug-related information to the public
In order to afford minimum patient risk, pharmacy technicians should assist in providing information that is truthful, accurate, and understandable

4. Educational Requirements
Two career paths in pharmacy:
pharmacist
pharmacy technician

5. The Pharmacist
In 1992, a majority of pharmacy colleges voted to change the type of professional degree awarded to the Pharm D (Doctor of Pharmacy) degree
The Pharm D degree requires 2 years of undergraduate study plus 4 years of graduate study
The state boards of pharmacy are overseen by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP)
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6. The Pharmacist Major roles:
Initiating, adjusting, or renewing medication orders/prescriptions based on knowledge and expertise
Utilizing drug lists recommended by pharmacy and therapeutics committee
Monitoring dosages for continuing clientele
Dispensing nonprescription medications

7. Pharmacy Tech Education
Three degree programs:
Certificate – less than a year of study, just foundational knowledge
Diploma – a year of skills-based training
AS (Associate of Science) degree – 2 years of more broadlybased study

8. The Pharmacy Technician
Major roles include:
Clerical and technical tasks
Outpatient prescription dispensing
Purchasing, billing, and inventory control
Repackaging products
Regardless of their titles, pharmacy technicians perform many nondiscretionary duties

9. Certifying as a Pharmacy Tech
Passing a standardized national exam, the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination (PTCE)
The ExCPT is also recognized by many states

10. Continuing Education
Education does not end with completion of formal training
The amount of medical knowledge is said to double every 5 years
Continuing education classes, seminars, and workshops enhance pharmacy knowledge
Continuing education units (CEUs) are required to maintain the pharmacy technician’s certification

11. The Role of the Pharmacy
Maintain community trust
Ensure safe and reliable services

12. Providing Services to the Community
Community-related activities include:
Health fairs and fundraisers promoting support groups
Available assistance for specific diseases
A pharmacy practice should maintain high standards of medication dispensing, the distribution of proper information, and the offering of fair prices

13. Responsibility to Those Being Served
Developing methods for standardizing and controlling medicinals is vital
Drug control is the most important goal for medication that may be used by patients
Drug control ensures optimal safety by providing knowledge, understanding, judgment, procedures, skills, controls, and ethical standards

14. Control of the Drug-Use Process
The FDA controls quality by overseeing the formation, manufacture, and distribution of pharmaceutical products
Quality control must be built into the manufacturing process itself
Responsibility for auditing a pharmacy’s quality control falls to its own quality control unit, sometimes referred to as assay and control

15. Professional Organizations
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) — represents all pharmacy colleges and schools in the United States
American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) — represents pharmaceutical scientists in all disciplines
American Association of Pharmacy Technicians (AAPT) — promotes certification
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16. Professional Organizations
American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) — provides resources for clinical pharmacists
Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) — accredits pharmacy education programs
American Pharmacists Association (APhA) — advocates the interests of pharmacists
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17. Professional Organizations
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) — represents pharmacists practicing in hospitals and similar institutions
National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA) — enhances personal and professional growth
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18. Professional Organizations
Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) — offers the PTCE exam
Pharmacy Technician Educators Council (PTEC) — prepares people for careers as pharmacy technicians

19. United States Pharmacopeia
The USP is a nonprofit organization that sets standards for drug product identity, strength, quality, purity, packaging, and labeling
It is also referred to as the United States Pharmacopeial Convention

20. Code of Ethics Encourages respect and fair treatment of all patients
Basic principles include:
Health, safety, high professional standards
Patient autonomy, values, dignity, rights
Improvement of professional knowledge/skills
Fair, reasonable, ethical practice to achieve maximum patient benefits

21. Job Opportunities
Increased pharmaceutical needs of a larger and older population make pharmacy technician employment prospects extremely favorable
Pharmacy technicians are assuming more responsibility for routine tasks previously performed only by pharmacists