Pharmacy technicians work alongside pharmacists in dispensaries—places where medications are given out. Pharmacists depend on the help of dedicated pharmacy techs to get their jobs done. Especially on busy days when there are six people waiting in line to get prescriptions filled. Without technicians, pharmacists wouldn’t have half as much time to perform their own duties.
Pharmacy technicians work in two main settings: hospitals and retail outlets. While both retail and hospital pharmacy techs are usually responsible for ordering, packaging, and storing drugs safely, their other tasks vary slightly depending on where they work.
Retail pharmacy technicians have a lot more contact with the public than those who work in hospital settings. These techs deal with customers directly. They receive written prescriptions and mix and fill them according to the pharmacist’s directions. They also act as cashiers when it’s time for the customers to pay their bills.
Hospital pharmacy techs, on the other hand, don’t see the patients directly. Instead, they are sent copies of medication orders. These orders are written by doctors on patient charts, copies of which are sent to the pharmacy on a daily basis from all the nursing stations. After the pharmacist reviews each order for errors or potential problems, the technician’s work begins.
First, the tech writes down relevant information about the patient and the prescribed medications in the patient's profile and updates it on a computer database. The tech then prepares drug doses to be handed out or administered by nursing staff.
Some medications are pre-packaged, so the technician only has to select the right package. In other situations, the tech needs to measure or count the prescribed amount from bulk containers. Technicians also prepare medication to be given through IVs and syringes.
Hospital techs may deliver drugs and pharmaceutical supplies to nursing stations. In addition, they may help process health insurance forms and field telephone questions or requests from other hospital staff.
NOC Code: 3414