Contents
As a pharmacy technician you will have an important role to play in ensuring that patients receive the medications they need. You will be responsible for preparing and dispensing medications, as well as providing customer service and support to patients and other healthcare professionals. With the right training, you can become a valuable member of the healthcare team.
Checkout this video:
Job Description
A pharmacy technician is a person who helps licensed pharmacists dispense prescription medication to patients. They also help with the behind-the-scenes work in a pharmacy, such as ordering inventory and keeping track of records. If you are interested in a career in pharmacy, you may be wondering what exactly a pharmacy technician does. Let’s take a closer look.
Duties of a pharmacy tech
A pharmacy technician is a vital member of the healthcare team who works closely with pharmacists to dispense medications. pharmacy technicians have a broad range of responsibilities, from answering customer questions and providing them with information about their prescriptions, to keeping the pharmacy stocked and organized.
Although the specific duties of a pharmacy technician may vary depending on the state in which they work, there are some common tasks that all pharmacy technicians are responsible for. These include:
-Receiving and processing prescription requests from patients, doctors, and other healthcare professionals
-Verifying insurance coverage for prescriptions
-Checking for drug interactions and allergic reactions
-Maintaining accurate patient records
-Preparing and Dispensing medications
-Answer customer questions about their prescriptions
-Restocking shelves
Education and training requirements
Most pharmacy techs complete a formal education and training program, which can last anywhere from 6 months to 2 years. During this time, they will take courses in subjects like medical terminology, pharmacology, anatomy, and physiology. They will also complete a hands-on training program where they will learn how to prepare and dispense medications.
Career Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were over 400,000 pharmacy techs employed in the united states in 2018. The median annual wage for pharmacy techs was $32,700 in May 2018. The bottom 10 percent of earners made less than $24,120, while the top 10 percent made more than $48,700. With the aging baby boomer population and the increasing use of prescription medications, the demand for pharmacy techs is expected to grow by 12 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Job growth
Pharmacy technicians are in demand and the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that job growth for pharmacy technicians will be above average at 9% from 2018 to 2028.1 An aging Baby Boomer population, advances in technology, and a growing focus on preventive care will all contribute to the rising demand for pharmacy technicians.
Currently, there are more than 375,000 pharmacy technicians working in the United States.2 The majority of these professionals (54%) work in retail pharmacies, while the rest are employed in hospitals (21%), mail-order pharmacies (12%), and other settings such as government agencies, long-term care facilities, and the military.2
The job outlook for pharmacy technicians is promising, but competition for jobs will be intense because many people are attracted to this career. Candidates who have formal training and certification will have the best job prospects.
Salary
As of May 2018, the median annual salary for pharmacy technicians was $32,700, with the top 10 percent earning more than $46,880 and the bottom 10 percent earning less than $23,590. The highest-paying industries for pharmacy technicians include general merchandise stores, home health care services, grocery stores, and hospitals.
What Can a pharmacy tech Do?
A pharmacy tech is a professional who works in a pharmacy and is responsible for various tasks. These tasks can include counting pills, filling prescriptions, and answering customer questions. Pharmacy techs can also be responsible for entering patient information into the computer system, preparing insurance paperwork, and stocking shelves.
Fill prescriptions
A pharmacy technician is a member of the pharmacy team that provides support to pharmacists. They work closely with patients and other healthcare professionals to ensure that prescription medications are dispensed correctly and safely. Pharmacy technicians have many responsibilities, including filling prescriptions, preparing medications for dispensing, and assisting customers with questions about their medications.
While pharmacists are responsible for dispensing medications and providing patients with information about their medications, pharmacy technicians play an important role in supporting the pharmacists in these activities. In addition to filling prescriptions and preparing medications for dispensing, pharmacy technicians may also be responsible for verifying insurance coverage, entering patient information into the pharmacy computer system, and answering customer questions about their medications.
Answer customer questions
Most pharmacy technicians work in retail pharmacies, such as those in supermarkets or drugstores. They typically help fill prescriptions written by a pharmacist but may also do other tasks, such as answer customer questions, take inventory, and set up displays.
Some pharmacy technicians who work in hospitals take orders from nurses and doctors and also dispense medications. Those who work in mail-order pharmacies send out filled prescriptions to customers. Some pharmacy technicians are trained to work in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes.
Perform administrative duties
Pharmacy technicians generally perform administrative duties such as answering phones, stocking shelves, and maintaining records. They may also be responsible for verifying insurance claims and preparing medications for dispensing. In some settings, pharmacy technicians may also dispense medications.
