Pharmacy Tech Handout #1

Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, exam scoring requirements per www. ptcb. org The pharmacy technician performs activities related to three broad function areas. The specific responsibilities and activities that pharmacy technicians may perform within each function area are:  I. Assisting the Pharmacist in Serving Patients (66% of exam)  |  A. |  Receive prescription/medication order(s) from patient/patient’s representative, prescriber, or other healthcare professional 1.
Accept new prescription/medication order from patient/patient’s representative, prescriber, or other healthcare professional 2. Accept new prescription/medication order electronically (for example, by telephone, fax, or electronic transmission) 3. Accept refill request from patient/patient’s representative 4. Accept refill authorization from prescriber or other healthcare professional electronically (for example, by telephone, fax, or electronic transmission) 5. Contact prescriber/originator for clarification of prescription/medication order refill 6.
Perform/accept transfer of prescription/medication order(s)|  B. |  Assist the pharmacist in accordance with federal rules and regulations in obtaining from the patient/patient’s representative such information as diagnosis or desired therapeutic outcome, disease state, medication history (including over-the-counter [OTC] medications and dietary supplements), allergies, adverse reactions, medical history and other relevant patient information, physical disability, and payor information (including both self-pay and third party reimbursement)|  C.  Assist the pharmacist in accordance with federal rules and regulations in obtaining from prescriber, other healthcare professionals, and/or the medical record such information as diagnosis or desired therapeutic outcome, disease state, medication history (including [OTC] medications and dietary supplements), allergies, adverse reactions, medical history and other relevant patient information, physical disability, and payor information (including both self-pay and third party reimbursement)|  D.  Collect and communicate patient-specific data (for example, blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol levels, therapeutic drug levels, immunizations) to assist the pharmacist in monitoring patient outcomes|  E. |  Collect and communicate data related to restricted drug distribution programs (for example, thalidomide, isotretinoin, and clozapine)|  F. |  Collect and communicate data related to investigational drugs|  G. |  Assess prescription or medication order for completeness (for example, patient’s name and address), accuracy, authenticity, legality, and reimbursement eligibility|  H.  Update the medical record/patient profile with such information as medication history (including [OTC] medications and dietary supplements), disease states, compliance/adherence patterns, allergies, medication duplication, and/or drug-disease, drug-drug, drug-laboratory, drug-dietary supplement and/or OTC, and drug-food interactions|  I. |  Assist the patient/patient’s representative in choosing the best payment assistance plan if multiple plans are available to patient|  J. |  Process a prescription/medication order 1. Enter prescription/medication order information onto patient profile 2.

Select the appropriate product(s) for dispensing (for example, brand names, generic substitutes, therapeutic substitutes, formulary restrictions) 3. Obtain pharmaceuticals, durable and non-durable medical equipment, devices, and supplies (including hazardous substances, controlled substances, and investigational products) from inventory 4. Calculate quantity and days supply of finished dosage forms for dispensing 5. Measure or count quantity of finished dosage forms for dispensing 6. Process and handle radiopharmaceuticals 7. Perform calculations for radiopharmaceuticals 8.
Process and handle chemotherapeutic medications commercially available in finished dosage forms (for example, Efudex, mercaptopurine) 9. Perform calculations for oral chemotherapeutic medications 10. Process and handle investigational products 11. Package finished dosage forms (for example, blister pack, robotic/automated dispensing vial) 12. Affix label(s) and auxiliary label(s) to container(s) 13. Assemble patient information materials (for example, drug information sheets, patient package inserts, Health Information Portability and Accountability Act [HIPAA] literature) 14.
Check for accuracy during processing of the prescription/medication order (for example, National Drug Code [NDA] number, bar code, and data entry) 15. Verify the data entry, measurements, preparation, and/or packaging of medications produced by other technicians as allowed by law (for example, tech check tech) 16. Prepare prescription or medication order for final check by pharmacist 17. Prepare prescription or medication order for final check by pharmacy technician as allowed by law (for example, tech check tech) 18. Perform Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) required checks for radiopharmaceuticals|  K. Compound a prescription/medication order: 1. Assemble equipment and/or supplies necessary for compounding the prescription/medication order 2. Calibrate equipment (for example, scale or balance, total parenteral nutrition [TPN] compounder) needed to compound the prescription/medication order 3. Perform calculations required for preparation of compounded IV admixtures 4. Perform calculations for extemporaneous compounds 5. Compound medications (for example, topical preparations, reconstituted antibiotic suspensions) for dispensing according to prescription and/or compounding guidelines 6.
Compound medications in anticipation of prescriptions/medication orders (for example, compounding for a specific patient) 7. Prepare sterile products (for example, TPNs, piggybacks, IV solutions, ophthalmic products) 8. Prepare radiopharmaceuticals 9. Prepare chemotherapy 10. Record preparation and/or ingredients of medications (for example, lot number, control number, expiration date, chemotherapy calculations, type of IV solution)|  L. |  Provide prescription/medication to patient/patient’s representative: 1. Store medication prior to distribution 2.
Provide medication and supplemental information (for example, package inserts) to patient/patient’s representative 3. Package and ship pharmaceuticals, durable and non-durable medical equipment, devices, and supplies (including hazardous substances and investigational products) to patient/patient’s representative li>Place medication in dispensing system (for example, unit-dose cart, automated systems) 4. Deliver medication to patient-care unit 5. Record distribution of prescription medication 6. Record distribution of controlled substances 7. Record distribution of investigational drugs 8.
Record distribution of restricted drugs (for example, isotretinoin, clozapine, thalidomide) 9. Record distribution of prescription/medication to patient’s home|  M. |  Determine charges and obtain reimbursement for products and services|  N. |  Communicate with third-party payers to determine or verify coverage|  O. |  Communicate with third-party payers to obtain prior authorizations|  P. |  Communicate with third-party payers and patients/patient’s representatives to rectify rejected third-party claims|  Q. |  Identify and resolve problems with rejected claims (for example, incorrect days supply, incorrect ID number)|  R.  Provide supplemental information (for example, disease state information, CDs) as requested/required|  S. |  Direct patient/patient’s representative to pharmacist for counseling|  T. |  Perform drug administration functions under appropriate supervision (for example, perform drug/IV rounds, check pumps, anticipate refill of drugs/IVs)|  U. |  Process and dispense enteral products| II. Maintaining Medication and Inventory Control Systems (22% of exam)   |  A. |  Identify pharmaceuticals, durable and non-durable medical equipment, devices, and supplies (including hazardous substances and investigational products) to be ordered|  B.  Place routine orders for pharmaceuticals, durable and nondurable medical equipment, devices, and supplies (including hazardous substances and investigational products) in compliance with legal, regulatory, formulary, budgetary, and contractual requirements|  C. |  Place emergency orders for pharmaceuticals, durable and non-durable medical equipment, devices, and supplies (including hazardous substances and investigational products) in compliance with legal, regulatory, formulary, budgetary, and contractual requirements|  D.  Receive pharmaceuticals, durable and non-durable medical equipment, devices, and supplies (including hazardous substances and investigational products) and verify against specifications on original purchase orders|  E. |  Place pharmaceuticals, durable and non-durable medical equipment, devices, and supplies (including hazardous substances and investigational products) in inventory under proper storage conditions while incorporating error prevention strategies|  F.  Perform non–patient-specific preparation, distribution, and maintenance of pharmaceuticals, durable and non-durable medical equipment, devices, and supplies (including hazardous substances and investigational products) while incorporating error prevention strategies (for example, crash carts, clinic and nursing floor stock, automated dispensing systems)|  G. |  Remove from inventory expired/discontinued/slow moving/overstocked pharmaceuticals, durable and nondurable medical equipment, devices, and supplies (including hazardous substances and investigational products)|  H.  Remove from inventory recalled pharmaceuticals, durable and non-durable medical equipment, devices, and supplies (including hazardous substances and investigational products)|   I. |  Dispose of or destroy pharmaceuticals or supplies (for example, hazardous substances, investigational products, controlled substances, non-dispensable products)|  J. |  Communicate changes in product availability (for example, formulary changes, recalls, shortages) to pharmacy staff, patient/patient’s representative, physicians, and other healthcare professionals|  K.  Implement and monitor policies and procedures to deter theft and/or drug diversion|  L. |  Maintain a record of controlled substances ordered, received, and removed from inventory|  M. |  Maintain a record of investigational products ordered, received, and removed from inventory|  N. |  Perform required inventories and maintain associated records|  O. |  Maintain record-keeping systems for repackaging, non-patient specific compounding, recalls, and returns of pharmaceuticals, durable and non-durable medical equipment, devices, and supplies (including hazardous substances and investigational products)|  P.  Compound non-patient specific medications in anticipation of prescription/medication orders|  Q. |  Perform quality assurance tests on compounded medications (for example, end product testing and validation)|  R. |  Repackage finished dosage forms for dispensing (for example, unit dose, blister pack, oral syringes) Participate in quality assurance programs related to pharmaceuticals, durable and non-durable medical equipment, devices, and supplies (including hazardous substances and investigational products)| III.
Participating in the Administration and Management of Pharmacy Practice (12% of exam)  |  A. |  Coordinate written, electronic, and oral communications throughout the practice setting (for example, route phone calls, faxes, verbal and written refill authorizations; disseminate policy and procedure changes)|  B. |  Update and maintain patient information (for example, insurance information, demographics, provider information) in accordance with federal regulations and professional standards (for example, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act [HIPAA])|  C.  Collect productivity information (for example, the number of prescriptions filled, fill times, payments collected, rejected claim status)|  D. |  Participate in quality assurance activities (for example, medication error prevention, customer satisfaction surveys, and internal audits of processes)|  E. |  Generate quality assurance reports (for example, compile or summarize data collected for evaluation or action plan development, root cause analysis)|  F. |  Implement and monitor the ractice setting for compliance with federal regulations and professional standards (for example, Materials Safety Data Sheet [MSDS], Occupational Safety Health Administration [OSHA], Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations [JCAHO], United States Pharmacopeia [USP])|  G. |  Implement and monitor policies and procedures for infection control|  H. |  Implement and monitor policies and procedures for the handling, disposal, and destruction of pharmaceuticals and supplies (for example, hazardous substances, investigational products, controlled substances, non-dispensable products, radiopharmaceuticals)|  I.  Perform and record routine sanitation, maintenance, and calibration of equipment (for example, automated dispensing equipment, balances, TPN compounders, and refrigerator/freezer temperatures)|  J. |  Update, maintain, and use manual or electronic information systems (for example, patient profiles, prescription records, inventory logs, reference materials) in order to perform job related activities|  K. |  Use and maintain automated and point-of-care dispensing technology|  L. Perform billing and accounting functions for products and services (for example, self-pay, third-party adjudication, pharmaceutical discount cards, medication reimbursement)|  M. | Communicate with third-party payers to determine or verify coverage for products and services|  N. | Coordinate and/or participate in staff training and continuing education|  O. | Perform and/or contribute to employee evaluations and competency assessments|  P. | Participate in the establishment, implementation, and monitoring of the practice setting’s policies and procedures |