The Foundation of Pharmaceutical Care: Overview

1. Chapter 2 The Foundation of Pharmaceutical Care

2. Overview A profession is an occupation or career that requires specialized education, ongoing training, and knowledge Pharmacy professionals are concerned with matters that are vital to the health or well-being of their patients

3. The Profession of Pharmacy Pharmacy is the art and science of dispensing and preparing medication and providing drug-related information to the public In order to afford minimum patient risk, pharmacy technicians should assist in providing information that is truthful, accurate, and understandable

4. Educational Requirements Two career paths in pharmacy: pharmacist pharmacy technician

5. The Pharmacist In 1992, a majority of pharmacy colleges voted to change the type of professional degree awarded to the Pharm D (Doctor of Pharmacy) degree The Pharm D degree requires 2 years of undergraduate study plus 4 years of graduate study The state boards of pharmacy are overseen by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) (continues)

6. The Pharmacist Major roles: Initiating, adjusting, or renewing medication orders/prescriptions based on knowledge and expertise Utilizing drug lists recommended by pharmacy and therapeutics committee Monitoring dosages for continuing clientele Dispensing nonprescription medications

7. Pharmacy Tech Education Three degree programs: Certificate – less than a year of study, just foundational knowledge Diploma – a year of skills-based training AS (Associate of Science) degree – 2 years of more broadlybased study

8. The Pharmacy Technician Major roles include: Clerical and technical tasks Outpatient prescription dispensing Purchasing, billing, and inventory control Repackaging products Regardless of their titles, pharmacy technicians perform many nondiscretionary duties

9. Certifying as a Pharmacy Tech Passing a standardized national exam, the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination (PTCE) The ExCPT is also recognized by many states

10. Continuing Education Education does not end with completion of formal training The amount of medical knowledge is said to double every 5 years Continuing education classes, seminars, and workshops enhance pharmacy knowledge Continuing education units (CEUs) are required to maintain the pharmacy technician’s certification

11. The Role of the Pharmacy Maintain community trust Ensure safe and reliable services

12. Providing Services to the Community Community-related activities include: Health fairs and fundraisers promoting support groups Available assistance for specific diseases A pharmacy practice should maintain high standards of medication dispensing, the distribution of proper information, and the offering of fair prices

13. Responsibility to Those Being Served Developing methods for standardizing and controlling medicinals is vital Drug control is the most important goal for medication that may be used by patients Drug control ensures optimal safety by providing knowledge, understanding, judgment, procedures, skills, controls, and ethical standards

14. Control of the Drug-Use Process The FDA controls quality by overseeing the formation, manufacture, and distribution of pharmaceutical products Quality control must be built into the manufacturing process itself Responsibility for auditing a pharmacy’s quality control falls to its own quality control unit, sometimes referred to as assay and control

15. Professional Organizations American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) — represents all pharmacy colleges and schools in the United States American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) — represents pharmaceutical scientists in all disciplines American Association of Pharmacy Technicians (AAPT) — promotes certification (continues)

16. Professional Organizations American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) — provides resources for clinical pharmacists Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) — accredits pharmacy education programs American Pharmacists Association (APhA) — advocates the interests of pharmacists (continues)

17. Professional Organizations American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) — represents pharmacists practicing in hospitals and similar institutions National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA) — enhances personal and professional growth (continues)

18. Professional Organizations Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) — offers the PTCE exam Pharmacy Technician Educators Council (PTEC) — prepares people for careers as pharmacy technicians

19. United States Pharmacopeia The USP is a nonprofit organization that sets standards for drug product identity, strength, quality, purity, packaging, and labeling It is also referred to as the United States Pharmacopeial Convention

20. Code of Ethics Encourages respect and fair treatment of all patients Basic principles include: Health, safety, high professional standards Patient autonomy, values, dignity, rights Improvement of professional knowledge/skills Fair, reasonable, ethical practice to achieve maximum patient benefits

21. Job Opportunities Increased pharmaceutical needs of a larger and older population make pharmacy technician employment prospects extremely favorable Pharmacy technicians are assuming more responsibility for routine tasks previously performed only by pharmacists