Friday, July 15, 2011

The Role Of The Pharmacy Tech

By Susan Bean


The modern pharmacy often proves to be a hectic environment that many times calls for more than one person to be working throughout the day. As the pharmacist fills people's orders, he or she sometimes needs the assistance of another to answer phone calls, wait on customers, and keep the inventory stocked. As such, the pharmacy tech who works in these places many times proves himself or herself to be valuable to the pharmacists on duty.

Indeed, this career choice often requires that people who want to work as techs go to school to learn how to work in a pharmaceutical setting. They need to learn about pharmacology, chemistry, and even skills like accounting in order to work in a fast-paced environment. Many training schools offer short term courses that teaches people what they need to know before they go into this field.

Working as a technician involves dealing with the public. In fact, clients often speak to technicians before they speak with the pharmacist on duty. Techs take down information like what kinds of medications people may be taking, what kinds of food and drug allergies they have, and what their address and phone numbers are so as to provide the right order to the correct person waiting in line.

A pharmacy's phone often rings many times throughout the day. Pharmacists are not always able to take the calls, so they allow their technicians to answer them on the pharmacy's behalf. These calls include those from doctors' offices and billing insurers. Techs take messages, relay information, accept orders, and provide information needed for a person's bill to be accepted or rejected by the billing party.

In addition to their phone answering and customer service duties, technicians keep their work areas stocked. This involves unpacking boxes of medications and stocking them in a manner that lets the pharmacists find what they need quickly. It also includes keeping restricted medications in a safe place, away from the public's viewing and reach.

They also stock the sales floor with over-the-counter items and hygienic products. Many of these companies sell cough syrups, pain medications, wart removers, toothpaste, and deodorants, among other things. Technicians help keep the shelves stocked with non-prescription products that they may need to live on a daily basis.

Today's pharmacy tech carries out several duties that help out pharmacists as they prepare clients' orders. They answer phones, wait on customers, and stock inventory inside the pharmacy and on the sales floor. Their duties make it easier for pharmacists to concentrate on counting pills and mixing drugs in order to get patients their medications as quickly as possible.




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