Although the main role of pharmacy technicians has been instructed to assist the pharmacist in almost all administrative and clerical work in the pharmacy or in hospitals, there are certain tasks that should not be handled by pharmacy technicians in normal circumstances by the supply of medical rules. These are some of the YES and NO YES of a Pharmacy Technician.
The OJs:
1. They are responsible for obtaining and recording patient medication histories for pharmacy records.
2. They are allowed to prepackage the medication with the knowledge of the expiration date of the medication.
3. They can order, receive, unpack and store drug shipments
4. They need to collaborate with other regulatory colleges whose members prescribe (medicine, dentistry, midwives, nurses), to develop protocols around verbal prescriptions.
5. They must wear a badge with the words “Pharmacy Technician” to clearly specify their role to anyone they have assisted with.
6. They can load automated drug dispensing equipment
7. Must maintain the confidentiality of all patient health information.
8. Must review all technician policies and procedures annually
9. They are responsible for reconciling the quarterly perpetual inventory count of all medications in the clinic, pharmacy, or hospital to see if discrepancies are found and brainstorming among teams on how these discrepancies should be reduced. .
10. Are authorized to sell or deliver prescriptions to patients
The NOTs:
1. Pharmacy technicians cannot certify prepackages or certify dispensing
2. They are not allowed to pick up the medications/supplies involved until a pharmacist checks them.
3. They should not and cannot take prescriptions over the phone
4. They must not leave discrepancies unreported
5. They are not allowed to discuss patient health information outside of the professional work setting, as all of this information is private and confidential.
6. Pharmacy technician cannot evaluate drug therapy or discuss therapy with patients
7. They can’t take a modified prescription
8. They should not advise any of the patients based on their knowledge and experience as they do not possess the skills and knowledge of a pharmacist to obtain clearance and ensure that the advice they do have is correct.
9. Medications cannot be dispensed to patients until pharmacists verify the identity and volume of diluents accordingly.
10. A Pharmacy Technician cannot interpret data or advise/answer questions related to health and medications.