Pharmacy Technician Pharmacy Technician Certification Board ExamCertification Board Exam

Brooke Shiotani, Kim Pong, Jennifer Brooke Shiotani, Kim Pong, Jennifer Seo, Chris Nomura, Helen Louie, Seo, Chris Nomura, Helen Louie,

Derek Kuniyoshi, David ThompsonDerek Kuniyoshi, David Thompson

Pharmacy Technician FactsPharmacy Technician Facts

Responsibilities have gone beyond Responsibilities have gone beyond “counting and pouring”“counting and pouring”

There is a ratio of 3:1 technicians to There is a ratio of 3:1 technicians to pharmacistspharmacists

Currently there is no standardized Currently there is no standardized certification to become a techniciancertification to become a technician

Problem DefinitionProblem Definition

We found two main problems within the We found two main problems within the field of pharmacy techniciansfield of pharmacy technicians

1.1. No board verified standard level of No board verified standard level of knowledgeknowledge

2.2. Pharmacy technician is not considered a Pharmacy technician is not considered a professional careerprofessional career

Pharmacy Technician Certification Pharmacy Technician Certification Board ExaminationBoard Examination

Is a Is a national certificationnational certification It certifies that an individual has met certain It certifies that an individual has met certain

criteria laid out by the PTCBcriteria laid out by the PTCBDrug knowledgeDrug knowledgeMathematicsMathematicsManagement of pharmacy practiceManagement of pharmacy practiceInventory controlInventory controlOther basic pharmacy knowledge Other basic pharmacy knowledge

Technician receives credentials (CPhT)Technician receives credentials (CPhT)

THE LAWTHE LAW

WAC 246.901.060 WAC 246.901.060 ““To become certified as a pharmacy technician, an To become certified as a pharmacy technician, an

individual must: 1) Complete an approved pharmacy individual must: 1) Complete an approved pharmacy technician program; 2) Apply to board for certification. technician program; 2) Apply to board for certification. The application must include a notarized statement of The application must include a notarized statement of program verification signed by the program director; program verification signed by the program director; 3) A new pharmacy technician must pass the 3) A new pharmacy technician must pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) within 3 attempts not to exceed 24 months beyond the within 3 attempts not to exceed 24 months beyond the date of birth after obtaining the license.”date of birth after obtaining the license.”

White Paper on Pharmacy White Paper on Pharmacy TechniciansTechnicians

Why is it important to have competent Why is it important to have competent pharmacy technicians?pharmacy technicians?Reduce workload for pharmacistsReduce workload for pharmacists Increases quality of pharmaceutical careIncreases quality of pharmaceutical care Increases patient safetyIncreases patient safety

White Paper cont.White Paper cont.

PTCB benefitsPTCB benefitsProfessional IdentityProfessional IdentityTechnicians remain longer in practiceTechnicians remain longer in practice Improve staff moraleImprove staff moraleReduce medication errors Reduce medication errors Higher productivityHigher productivityHigher patient satisfactionHigher patient satisfactionSalary increaseSalary increase

Higher Pay Rates for CPhTsHigher Pay Rates for CPhTs

22

39 39

28

3834 32 35

29

60

2018

68

1517

70

11

19

69

11

20

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Percentage

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Yes

No

I donotknow

From: Murer, Melissa “Charting a New Course” 2002

States and the PTCBStates and the PTCB

Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico, Texas Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico, Texas and Wyoming utilize PTCB certificationand Wyoming utilize PTCB certification

Washington and other states recognize Washington and other states recognize the PTCB but do not require itthe PTCB but do not require it

Stakeholders Stakeholders

Pharmacy TechniciansPharmacy TechniciansPharmacistsPharmacistsWashington Board of PharmacyWashington Board of PharmacyPharmaciesPharmaciesPharmacy Technician SchoolsPharmacy Technician SchoolsPTCBPTCBPatientsPatients

AlternativesAlternatives

Criterion Alternative

Technical Feasibility Political Viability

Administrative Operability

No change + + +

WA state exam + ~ -

Training school exam - ~ -

Pharmacy exam - - -

ConclusionConclusion

Lack of verified standard level of Lack of verified standard level of knowledge for technicians is a problemknowledge for technicians is a problem

Proposal is to require technicians to pass Proposal is to require technicians to pass the PTCB examthe PTCB exam

Benefits include:Benefits include:1)1) Increasing the competency of techniciansIncreasing the competency of technicians2)2) Reducing medication errorsReducing medication errors3)3) Improving moraleImproving morale4)4) Create stable working environmentCreate stable working environment

ResourcesResources Rouse, Michael J. “White paper on pharmacy technicians 2002: Needed changes can no longer Rouse, Michael J. “White paper on pharmacy technicians 2002: Needed changes can no longer

wait.” wait.” American Journal of Health System PharmacistsAmerican Journal of Health System Pharmacists 60 (2003):37-51. 60 (2003):37-51. Pharmacy technicians: sesquicentennial stepping stone summits 2002. APhA; p 5Pharmacy technicians: sesquicentennial stepping stone summits 2002. APhA; p 5 Career. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved December 1, 2003, from Merriam-Webster Online. Career. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved December 1, 2003, from Merriam-Webster Online.

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionaryhttp://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary Washington State Board of Pharmacy. Washington State Board of Pharmacy. Electronic referencesElectronic references. Retrieved December 4, 2003 from . Retrieved December 4, 2003 from

http://www.leg.wa.gov/wac/index.cfm?fuseaction=Section&Section=246-901-060. http://www.leg.wa.gov/wac/index.cfm?fuseaction=Section&Section=246-901-060. Frequently Asked Questions. PTCB. Retrieved December 3, 2003, from PTCB online. Frequently Asked Questions. PTCB. Retrieved December 3, 2003, from PTCB online.

http://www.ptcb.orghttp://www.ptcb.org Long T. Current and future development with pharmacy technicians. Paper presented at APhA Long T. Current and future development with pharmacy technicians. Paper presented at APhA

Annual Meeting. Washington, DC; 2003 Mar 19Annual Meeting. Washington, DC; 2003 Mar 19 Guidebook to certification. PTCB. Retrieved December 3, 2003, from PTCB online. Guidebook to certification. PTCB. Retrieved December 3, 2003, from PTCB online.

http://www.ptcb.orghttp://www.ptcb.org http://www.abhes.org/states.2000.asphttp://www.abhes.org/states.2000.asp. Accessed 12/1/03.. Accessed 12/1/03. McRee, Tina. Pharmacy Technicians in California: Snapshot of an emerging profession. 2003: McRee, Tina. Pharmacy Technicians in California: Snapshot of an emerging profession. 2003:

UCSF Center for the Health Professions. Available from: UCSF Center for the Health Professions. Available from: http://http://www.calendow.org/pub/publications/RXT.pdfwww.calendow.org/pub/publications/RXT.pdf. Accessed 12/2/03.. Accessed 12/2/03.

Murer, Melissa. Charting a New Course PTCB 2002. Presented at 37Murer, Melissa. Charting a New Course PTCB 2002. Presented at 37 thth ASHP Midyear Clinical ASHP Midyear Clinical MeetingMeeting