Transcript CH10_HEOC 104x

Chapter 10
Pharmacy – Pharmacist and
Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacists
Pharmacists’ Work Description
• Advise health professionals and counsel patients
on the proper selection and use of medicinal
drugs, or pharmaceuticals
• Have specialized knowledge of the complexity
and potential side effects of drugs
• May provide info on OTC (over-the-counter) or
non-prescription drugs
• In hospitals, they advise on and prepare
treatments for patients.
Many Types of Pharmacists
• Pharmacotherapists specialize in drug therapy and work closely
with physicians.
• Nutrition support pharmacists help determine and prepare the
drugs needed for nutrition.
• Radiopharmacists or nuclear pharmacists produce and
dispense radioactive drugs that are used for diagnosis and
therapy.
• Compounding pharmacist – create drugs from powders and
solutions, make ointments; can create individualized dosages for
patients depending on their needs.
Work Environment
• Pharmacists usually work in areas that resemble
small laboratories.
• Pharmacists spend much time on their feet,
most working at least full-time hours.
• When working with dangerous pharmaceutical
products, pharmacists may need to wear gloves
and masks and work with special protective
equipment.
• Many Pharmacists may have to work evenings,
nights, weekends, and holidays
Employment Opportunities
• Pharmacists held about 269,900 jobs in 2008.
• About 65% worked in retail settings, which
include community pharmacies that were either
independently owned or part of a drugstore chain,
grocery store, etc.
• About 22% of pharmacists worked in hospitals.
• A small proportion worked in mail order and
Internet pharmacies, pharmaceutical wholesalers,
offices of physicians, and the federal government.
Educational and Legal Requirements
• Pharmacists must earn a Doctor of
Pharmacy (PharmD) degree from a College
of Pharmacy, accredited by the ACPE, and
pass several examinations.
– ACPE = Accreditation Counsel for Pharmacy Education
• Pharmacy Colleges typically require students
to take an admissions (PCAT) exam.
Licensure for Pharmacists
• A license to practice pharmacy is required
in all states, the District of Columbia, and
all U.S. territories.
• National and state exams
– NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure
Exam)
– Most states require jurisprudence exams on
pharmacy law
Other Qualifications
• Prospective pharmacists should:
– possess scientific aptitude (aka math and
biochemistry)
– have good interpersonal skills
– have a desire to help others
– be conscientious and pay close attention to detail
because the decisions they make affect human
lives.
Advancement for Pharmacists
• In community pharmacies and chain drug
stores pharmacists usually begin at the staff
level.
– May be promoted to pharmacy supervisor or
manager at the store level
– Then to manager at the district or regional level
– Or…later, an executive position within the chain’s
headquarters.
Advancement for Pharmacists
• Hospital pharmacists are typically required to
complete a 1-2 yr residency.
– may eventually advance to supervisory or
administrative positions.
• Some pharmacists become owners or part owners
of independent general pharmacies and
compounding pharmacies
• Pharmacists in the pharmaceutical industry may
advance into marketing, sales, research, quality
control, production, or other areas.
Employment Trends
• Book states - employment is expected to increase
much faster than the average through 2018.
– current data suggests growth rate at 3%
• Current data here http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacists.ht
m
Earnings
• The median annual wage and salary of
pharmacists in May 2008 was $106,410.
– updated 2014 = $120,950
PHARMACY TECHNICIANS
AND AIDES
Pharm Tech and Aides
Work Description
• Pharmacy technicians and aides help licensed pharmacists
prepare prescription medications, provide customer service,
and perform administrative duties within a pharmacy
setting.
• Pharmacy technicians generally are responsible for
receiving prescription requests, counting tablets, stocking
and labeling bottles
• Pharmacy aides perform administrative functions such as
answering phones, stocking shelves, and operating cash
registers.
• In organizations that do not have aides, however, pharmacy
technicians may be responsible for these clerical duties.
Work Environment
• Pharmacy technicians and aides work in clean,
organized, well-lighted, and well-ventilated areas.
• Most of their workday is spent on their feet.
• They may be required to lift heavy boxes or to
use stepladders to retrieve supplies from high
shelves.
• Technicians and aides often have varying
schedules that include nights, weekends, and
holidays.
Employment Opportunities
• Pharmacy technicians and aides held about
381,200 jobs in 2008.
– 326,300 were pharmacy technicians
– 54,900 were pharmacy aides
– Pharm tech positions are projected to continue to take over pharm
aide positions in most places
• About 75% of jobs were in a retail setting,
and about 16% were in hospitals.
Educational and Legal
Requirements
• For pharmacy technicians, there is no national
training standard, but employers favor
applicants who have formal training,
certification and previous experience.
• For pharmacy aides, there also are no formal
training requirements, but a high school
diploma may be required
Certification and Other
Qualifications
• In most states, pharmacy technicians must
be registered with the state board of
pharmacy.
• Eligibility requirements vary
• State of WA – see Canvas page for link to
DOH site with requirements
– formal training
– pass national exam
Advancement
• Limited, but in large pharmacies and health
systems, pharmacy technicians and aides with
significant training or experience can be promoted
to supervisory positions.
• Specializing - such as chemotherapy technician or
nuclear pharmacy technician.
• Others may move into sales (drug reps)
• Some technicians and aides will substantially
further their education and become Pharmacists.
Employment Change
• Updated: employment of pharmacy technicians
and aides is expected to grow 9% from 2014 –
2024
• Current info here - http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacytechnicians.htm#tab-1
• Job opportunities for pharmacy technicians are
expected to be good, especially for those with
previous experience, formal training, or
certification.
Job opportunities
• Pharmacy Tech jobs should continue to
increase due to:
– increased population of elderly
– increased access to prescription drug coverage
– increased incidence of chronic diseases requiring
multiple medication management
– increased scientific advances/research into new
drugs
Earnings
• Updated 2014: The median annual wage for
pharmacy technicians was $29,810 in May
2014.
• The lowest 10 percent earned less than
$20,730
• The highest 10 percent earned more than
$43,900.
• State of WA, pharm techs earn more