5 Ways Pharmacy Technicians Help Pharmacists

A well-functioning pharmacy relies on the hard work of pharmacy technicians. They work alongside the pharmacist to ensure patients get the proper medication and care. Pharmacists would find it very hard to carry out their duties independently without pharmacy technicians. 

Here are five ways pharmacy technicians assist the pharmacist with their daily responsibilities.

Preparation of Medication

Most pharmacy technicians prepare medications. This includes counting, mixing, and labeling prescriptions based on the pharmacist’s instructions. The technicians ensure that patients have their prescriptions filled swiftly and accurately.

This frees up some time for pharmacists to review prescriptions, consult with patients, and answer patients’ questions when pharmacy technicians prepare the medications.

Inventory Management

Other responsibilities of a pharmacy technician also involve inventory management in the pharmacy. This means ordering new stock and supplies, conducting expiration date checks, and using proper storage for the medicines. Without adequate inventory, a pharmacy could run out of vital drugs and sell expired goods. Pharmacy technicians also conduct regular inventory to help pharmacists stay organized so that a particular medication is always available.

Assisting Patient Inquiries

Pharmacy technicians are usually assigned the duty of first contact when patients enter the pharmacy. They may facilitate answering questions about the medication, providing instructions, or other helpful information. Of course, pharmacists are always available for more challenging questions, but for mundane questions, it is usually the pharmacy technicians who handle them.

This will enable the pharmacist to be more concerned about detailed consultations and medical advice, whereas pharmacy technicians perform general inquiries and customer services.

Quick Tip for Pharmacy Technicians:

Make communication as straightforward as possible: Ensure you understand the patient’s question. If you know the information, provide it; if not, recommend the pharmacist. If the question is more complex, see the pharmacist.

Prescription Processing

Pharmacy technicians, therefore, are involved in processing prescriptions by entering them into the computer system, cross-verifying all the information for completeness and accuracy, and preparing it for presentation to a pharmacist. This is critical because any wrong prescription can result in serious problems for patients.

The technicians handle this part of the process and allow the pharmacist to observe the checking process of the final product, hence noticing any potential errors.

Assist with Insurance Claims

Another way pharmacy technicians help pharmacists is through the processing of insurance claims. Many times, pharmacy technicians are involved in liaising with insurance companies to confirm coverage and effect medication payment. This takes center stage because patients will experience timely access to their medication.

In this way, the pharmacy technician relieves the pharmacists from worrying about the insurance paperwork, allowing them to spend their precious time caring for the patients rather than doing paperwork.

Conclusion: Enroll Now at Northwest Career College Today

If you enjoy working closely with pharmacists and want to play an essential role in helping patients, then being a Pharmacy Technician might be the right career for you. Northwest Career College has a well-rounded Pharmacy Technician Program that prepares students for this rewarding career. Our knowledgeable educators and hands-on training provide the real-life skills you’ll need to succeed.
Join the thousands of students who decided to start their careers at Northwest Career College. Enroll now and take your first step toward being a professional pharmacy technician!