Pharmacy Technicians: Pharmacy Technicians: Past, Present and FuturePast, Present and Future

Daina OjalaDaina OjalaSeven Oaks General HospitalSeven Oaks General Hospital

Pharmacy WelcomePharmacy Welcome

►►Greeting.Greeting.►►Pharmacy technicians have had to adapt to Pharmacy technicians have had to adapt to

many positive changes in their careers.many positive changes in their careers.►►WeWe’’ll look at the benefits of technology, ll look at the benefits of technology,

drug distribution and responsibilities of drug distribution and responsibilities of technician.technician.

The PastThe Past►►The role of the pharmacy technician began The role of the pharmacy technician began

to be recognized in the 1960s. to be recognized in the 1960s. ►►Technician were responsible for processing Technician were responsible for processing

labels on manual typewriters and filling labels on manual typewriters and filling medication containers. As well they were medication containers. As well they were involved with the purchasing and receiving.involved with the purchasing and receiving.

►►Pharmacists handled many of the IV Pharmacists handled many of the IV preparations including chemotherapy and preparations including chemotherapy and TPN.TPN.

The PastThe Past-- TechnologyTechnology

►►No computers systemsNo computers systems►►No fax machinesNo fax machines►►All orders were physically brought to the All orders were physically brought to the

pharmacypharmacy►►All labels were typed or hand writtenAll labels were typed or hand written►►There was a very small number of pharmacy There was a very small number of pharmacy

technicians working and most were trained technicians working and most were trained on the job.on the job.

PastPast--Drug Distribution System:Drug Distribution System: Wardstock SystemWardstock System

►►Medications were stocked on the wards and Medications were stocked on the wards and the nurses had to pick the correct the nurses had to pick the correct medications.medications.

►►This situation carried a high risk of This situation carried a high risk of medication administration errors.medication administration errors.

►►There is still currently ward stock but it is on There is still currently ward stock but it is on a much narrower scope.a much narrower scope.

Past/PresentPast/Present-- Unit DoseUnit Dose

►►

Unit Dose is a method of Unit Dose is a method of preparing medications in preparing medications in which individual doses of which individual doses of patient medications are patient medications are prepared by the pharmacy prepared by the pharmacy and delivered in and delivered in individually labeled packets individually labeled packets to the patient's unit to be to the patient's unit to be administered by the nurses administered by the nurses on an ordered schedule.on an ordered schedule.

►►

One intent of unit dose is One intent of unit dose is to decrease administration to decrease administration errors. errors.

The past The past –– prepre--computerscomputers

►► Enough saidEnough said……

The Present The Present

►►Technology is used in pharmacies to Technology is used in pharmacies to increase accuracy, improve efficiency and increase accuracy, improve efficiency and quality of pharmacy services. quality of pharmacy services.

►►Technology has enabled us to enhance our Technology has enabled us to enhance our efficiencies in our workload for order entry efficiencies in our workload for order entry and distribution and drug procurement.and distribution and drug procurement.

►►It also allows Pharmacists to spend more It also allows Pharmacists to spend more time on clinical activities.time on clinical activities.

Present Present -- Pharmacy Computer Pharmacy Computer SystemsSystems

►► By linking inventory management, order entry and By linking inventory management, order entry and drug distribution we have stream lined day to day drug distribution we have stream lined day to day operations and improved patient safety.operations and improved patient safety.

►► Technicians are able to replenish and stock Pyxis Technicians are able to replenish and stock Pyxis cabinets.cabinets.

►► Process Central IV admixture fills.Process Central IV admixture fills.►► Fill and charge ward stock in one process.Fill and charge ward stock in one process.►► Generate and receive purchase orders.Generate and receive purchase orders.

PresentPresent-- Hospital Technology Hospital Technology

Hospital pharmacies have a number of Hospital pharmacies have a number of unique systems such as unit dose unique systems such as unit dose distribution, automated drug distribution, distribution, automated drug distribution, repackaging, ward stock, and an IV repackaging, ward stock, and an IV admixture/TPN service. admixture/TPN service.

PresentPresent-- Hospital Pyxis TechnologyHospital Pyxis Technology►►

Pyxis is an automated dispensing Pyxis is an automated dispensing cabinet used at many of our WRHA cabinet used at many of our WRHA hospitals.hospitals.

►►

Pyxis interfaces with the ADT and Pyxis interfaces with the ADT and pharmacy information systems.pharmacy information systems.

►►

The advantages are:The advantages are:-- More efficient and timely supply More efficient and timely supply of medications to the patientof medications to the patient-- Increased medication safetyIncreased medication safety-- Automated narcotic management, Automated narcotic management, -- Automated Inventory Automated Inventory managementmanagement-- Nursing has quick access to first Nursing has quick access to first doses and stat medication ordersdoses and stat medication orders-- Secure unit dose systemSecure unit dose system

Structure of the PharmacyStructure of the Pharmacy►► WRHA Technicians now report to Technician WRHA Technicians now report to Technician

Managers.Managers.►► The Pharmacy Technician Manager are responsible The Pharmacy Technician Manager are responsible

to ensure that the compounding, preparation and to ensure that the compounding, preparation and delivery of medications to patient care units meets delivery of medications to patient care units meets high standards for quality and patient safety. high standards for quality and patient safety. Assumes professional responsibility for the Assumes professional responsibility for the operational management, coordination and operational management, coordination and delivery of technician services.delivery of technician services.

►► The manager is responsible for the selection, The manager is responsible for the selection, training, and evaluation of pharmacy technicians, training, and evaluation of pharmacy technicians, students and support staff. students and support staff.

Pharmacy Technician TrainingPharmacy Technician Training

►►Previously most Pharmacy Technicians were Previously most Pharmacy Technicians were trained on the job. This has changedtrained on the job. This has changed…………

►►In Manitoba, Winnipeg Technical College In Manitoba, Winnipeg Technical College has the only accredited pharmacy technician has the only accredited pharmacy technician program.program.

►►Robertson College has gone through the Robertson College has gone through the accreditation process and are very close to accreditation process and are very close to having their pharmacy technician program having their pharmacy technician program accredited.accredited.

Professional OrganizationsProfessional Organizations

►Professional societies provide an excellent means of keeping current and in touch with other professionals in the field.

►These groups can play a key role in your development and keep you aware of what is happening in the pharmacy technician field.

Stay InformedStay Informed

►National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA)

Document: Professional Competencies for Canadian Pharmacy Technicians at Entry to Practice

www.napra.ca►Blueprint Documents, Join the Blueprint mailing

list, stay informed. Pharmacy organizations are coming together, collaborating to implement the Vision for Pharmacy: Optimal drug therapy for Canadians

www.blueprintforpharmacy.ca

Stay InformedStay Informed

►The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada PEBC

www.pebc.ca►The Canadian Association of Pharmacy

Technicians

www.capt.ca

Exciting NewsExciting News

►►Alberta Pharmacy Technicians will become Alberta Pharmacy Technicians will become AlbertaAlberta’’s newest regulated health s newest regulated health professional on July 1, 2011.professional on July 1, 2011.

►►This means that like all other regulated This means that like all other regulated health professionals, technicians will be health professionals, technicians will be required to demonstrate competency at required to demonstrate competency at entry to practice and throughout their entry to practice and throughout their careers, and must practice in compliance careers, and must practice in compliance with established standards. with established standards.

The Evolving Pharmacy TechniciansThe Evolving Pharmacy Technicians

►► The profession of pharmacy is changing and The profession of pharmacy is changing and recognizes that pharmacy technicians have the recognizes that pharmacy technicians have the skill set to take over more and more technical skill set to take over more and more technical roles within pharmacy practice.roles within pharmacy practice.

►► It has become evident that with the shift of It has become evident that with the shift of pharmacists from technical functions to increasing pharmacists from technical functions to increasing cognitive functions that the role of the pharmacy cognitive functions that the role of the pharmacy technician needs to be more clearly delineated.technician needs to be more clearly delineated.

►► The future of the profession in Manitoba involves The future of the profession in Manitoba involves regulation to formalize the pharmacy technician regulation to formalize the pharmacy technician role and to integrate it into pharmacy practice.role and to integrate it into pharmacy practice.

ReferencesReferences

►►Personal interview with Maureen Ayres and Personal interview with Maureen Ayres and Barb Sproll, May 2011.Barb Sproll, May 2011.

►►http://www.ashpadvantage.com/podcasts/hhttp://www.ashpadvantage.com/podcasts/h andouts/08623_handout.pdfandouts/08623_handout.pdf

► Blumenfeld, M The Evolution of Pharmacy Practice - The Pharmacy Technician: Journal of Pharmacy Practice 2008

►►http://http://www.careercornerstone.org/pdf/medtwww.careercornerstone.org/pdf/medt ech/pharmtech.pdfech/pharmtech.pdf