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Medical Career Academy – A Look Behind the Counter of a Pharmacy Technician

Taking up the role of a pharmacy technician involves plenty of hidden pressures, one of which involves ensuring safety by handling important steps in a patient’s healthcare journey: preparing the correct dosage prescription medication and managing patient records.

Pharmaceutical roles are also increasing in demand as the world recognizes their key role in both inpatient and community pharmacies in maintaining patient care.

What’s the Difference Between a Pharmacy Technician vs. a Pharmacist?

It can be tricky to distinguish a pharmacist from a pharmacy technician for your average customer since both roles have responsibilities behind the counter. While a pharmacist needs extensive training to guarantee the accuracy of prescription medications, a pharmacy technician will have various roles that often revolve around service-oriented tasks such as the following:

  • Ensuring the accuracy and completeness of prescription orders into the pharmacy computer system;
  • Measuring, counting, and mixing medications;
  • Packaging and labeling prescriptions;
  • Performing medication inventories;
  • Vetting and verifying insurance claims and related information;
  • Providing quality customer service;

More often than not, pharmacy technicians often work under the supervision of licensed pharmacists. Of course, technicians can take on more advanced roles by extending their specialization in pharmacy automation or health information systems, leading to opportunities that focus on supervisory roles.

What are the Requirements for a Pharmacy Technician Role?

If you’re interested in practicing pharmacy technician roles, you first have to earn accreditation such as the BTEC National Diploma in pharmaceutical science, an NVQ/SVQ level 3 in pharmacy services, or a National Certificate in pharmaceutical science.

Additionally, you also need to register with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) after completing the qualifications mentioned above. Seeing as the role demands strong organizational, interpersonal, and service-centered skills, the median annual pharmacy technician salary was bumped up to $32,700 from May 2018.

It’s a rewarding role that aims to help patients continue their medication, making it an essential career in delivering quality healthcare beyond hospitals.

The Bottom Line: Taking a Closer Look at the Responsibilities of a Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacists play an integral role in the healthcare industry since they often serve as an accessible bridge between medical facilities and the community. As the world demands cost-effective and convenient patient care, the role of a pharmacy technician evolved from simple tech-check-tech tasks to advanced responsibilities involving medication reconciliation.

As pharmacy technicians directly impact the quality and safety of patient care, there’s no denying that this career is moving forward with better opportunities on the horizon.

Are You an Aspiring Medical Professional Looking for Better Healthcare Training Solutions?

There’s no doubt that studying, training, and working in the healthcare industry can be demanding no matter the field, but our expert instructors at Medical Career Academy can help widen your scope of education and boost the confidence in your medicinal pursuits.

We offer EKG tech classes, medical assistant classes, and phlebotomy training in Highland, Indiana, so get in touch with us today to see what we can do to bring you closer to your goals.

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