PHR 180 - Pharmacy Technician Orientation and Law

1. Demonstrate ethical conduct in all job-related activities.
   1. Define the term “ethics.”
   2. Explain the difference between ethics and law.
   3. Recognize situations that might present ethical questions for technicians. 
2. Assess an image appropriate for the profession of pharmacy in appearance and behavior.
   1. Describe what is appropriate for a technician to wear to work.
   2. Discuss the importance of personal hygiene in technicians work.
   3. Explain typical situations that may challenge self-control in technicians work.
   4. Develop techniques for maintaining self-control in challenging situations.
   5. Differentiate professional and informal communication.
3. Evaluate clarity when speaking and in writing.
   1. Pronounce technical terms accurately.
   2. Communicate effectively with patients who are non-English speakers or who have other special needs, such as vision or hearing problems, low reading level, or difficulty understanding instructions.
   3. Assess if a listener understood a verbal or written communication (e.g., repeating back).
4. Prioritize listening skills.
   1. Interpret non-verbal aspects of listening skills, such as body language.
   2. Apply verbal aspects of listening skills, such as acknowledging and reflecting back.
5. Use effective strategies to communicate with patients who are non-English speakers or who have other special needs, such as vision or hearing problems, low reading level, or difficulty understanding instructions.
   1. Identify types of patients who require special communication strategies (e.g., vision or hearing problems, low reading level, difficulty understanding instructions)
   2. Explain how communication strategies can be adapted when needed.
6. Demonstrate a respectful attitude when interacting with diverse patient populations.
   1. Explain the importance of demonstrating a respectful attitude when interacting with diverse patient populations.
   2. Identify types of diverse populations, such as diversity of culture, religion, race, age, gender, sexual orientation, transgender, disability, economic status.
   3. Describe actions that convey respect or disrespect.
7. Apply time and workflow management skills.
   1. Determine how common technician tasks are typically prioritized and scheduled.
   2. Explain the difference in priority to be given a STAT versus a PRN order.
8. Evaluate stress management skills.
   1. Identify common sources of stress in a pharmacy technician’s job.
   2. Describe stress management techniques that can be used in a pharmacy technician?s job when needed.
9. Apply change management skills.
   1. Explain why dealing with change is an important skill for pharmacy technicians.
   2. Discuss principles of change management.
10. Demonstrate effective interpersonal and teamwork skills in work with healthcare teams and resolve conflicts effectively.
    1. Identify and describe interpersonal skills needed to work effectively with health care teams.
    2. Explain effective conflict management skills, including negotiation skills.
11. Apply critical thinking skills to solve problems common in a pharmacy technician’s work.
    1. Explain the kinds of problems that can occur in a technician?s work.
    2. Apply critical thinking skills to solve problems.
12. Demonstrate creativity and innovation to solve problems common in a pharmacy technician’s work.
    1. Describe how creativity can be used to solve problems.
    2. Discuss how innovation can be used to solve problems.
13. Describe how different healthcare occupations interact in the healthcare delivery system.
    1. Identify and describe healthcare occupations.
    2. Explain how patient care is delivered in the health care system.
14. Demonstrate understanding of wellness promotion and disease prevention practices.
    1. Explain the importance and methods of health screenings.
    2. Identify health practices and environmental factors that impact health.
    3. Explain adverse effects of alcohol, tobacco, and legal and illegal drugs.
15. Show commitment to excellence in the pharmacy profession and to continuing education and training.
    1. Explain the importance and benefits of technicians staying current with advances in pharmacy practice.
    2. Discuss resources and practices for staying current (e.g., journals, newsletters, educational conferences, membership in professional organizations).
    3. Define technician certification (vs licensure and registration), its benefits, and the process for attaining.
16. Summarize the pharmacy technician?s role in the medication-use process.
    1. Explain how the medication-use process differs in different patient-care settings.
    2. Discuss the role of the technician in the medication use process.
17. Describe major trends, issues, goals, and initiatives taking place in the pharmacy profession.
    1. Summarize the Pharmacy Practice Model Initiative (PPMI) and its impact on the pharmacy profession.
    2. Describe other major trends, issues, goals and initiatives taking place in the pharmacy profession.
18. Demonstrate understanding of nontraditional roles of pharmacy technicians.
    1. Identify and explain how pharmacy technicians are employed in roles that do not involve drug acquisition, preparation, and dispensing in outpatient and inpatient settings.
    2. Explain the value of these nontraditional roles in advancing the pharmacy practice
19. Compare and contrast the roles of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in ensuring pharmacy department compliance with professional standards and relevant legal, regulatory, formulary, contractual, and safety requirements.
    1. Explain the importance and role of federal, state, and local laws.
    2. Discuss the importance and role of regulations and professional standards.
    3. Use electronic resources to identify federal, state, and local laws, regulations and professional standards, such as USP, FDA, DEA, NABP, ASHP, APhA.
20. Maintain confidentiality of patient information.
    1. Give examples of patient information that should and should not be shared with third party payers.
    2. Explain patient confidentiality issues related to data collection by pharmacy information systems and electronic medical records.
    3. Explain patient confidentiality issues related to transmission and storage by pharmacy information systems and electronic medical records.
21. Comply with state laws and regulations regarding collection of patient specific information.
    1. Explain how state laws determine what activities regarding collection of patient specific information can be delegated to technicians.
    2. Discuss how regulations determine what activities regarding collection of patient specific information can be delegated to technicians.
22. Act in accordance with state laws and regulations related to receiving and screening of medication orders.
    1. Summarize how state laws and regulations determine what activities regarding receiving and screening prescription/medication orders can be delegated to technicians.
    2. Determine the requirements for completeness and authenticity when receiving and screening new prescription/medication orders.
23. Act in accordance with state laws and regulations regarding preparing medications for distribution.
    1. Explain how state laws and regulations determine what activities regarding preparing medications for distribution can be delegated to technicians.
    2. Describe why it is important to notify the pharmacist when a non-formulary medication has been ordered.
    3. State Iowa’s laws governing pharmacist review of medications prior to distribution.
24. Follow established laws and protocols to select the appropriate product.
    1. Summarize federal and state laws governing the substitution of medication products.
    2. Explain the purpose and use of a formulary (e.g., state, health system, buying group).
    3. Discuss the influence that the formulary and/or policies of third-party payers have on the selection of products.
    4. State the function of an NDC number.
25. Follow established policies and procedures to maintain a record of controlled substances received, stored, and removed from inventory.
    1. State the legal requirements for recording controlled substances received, stored, and removed from inventory.
    2. State procedures for destroying controlled substances.
26. Act in accordance with state laws and regulations regarding the technician?s role in immunizations.
    1. Explain how state laws and regulations determine what activities regarding immunizations can be delegated to technicians.
    2. Determine state requirements for reporting vaccination administration to other members of the health care team.
27. Comply with state laws and regulations regarding patient counseling.
    1. Describe the legal obligations for patient counseling, including documentation, as specified in OBRA 90 and in state laws and regulations.
    2. Explain how state laws and regulations determine what activities regarding patient counseling can be delegated to technicians.
28. Act in accordance with state laws and regulations regarding technician?s role in monitoring of medication therapy.
    1. Explain how state laws and regulations determine what activities regarding monitoring of medication therapy can be delegated to technicians.
    2. Identify patients eligible for medication therapy management by a pharmacist.
    3. Assist the pharmacist by organizing appointments and follow-up with patients.
29. Explain how state laws and regulations determine what activities regarding verifying the measurements, preparation, and/or packaging of medications produced by other technicians can be delegated to technicians.
    1. Describe additional training requirements that may be necessary for technicians who verify the measurements, preparation, and/or packaging of medications produced by other technicians.
    2. Summarize the purpose of “tech-check-tech” activities.
30. Assess the correctness of medications produced by other technicians, including measurements, preparation technique, and packaging.
    1. Explain federal/local laws and institutional policies/procedures governing under what circumstances technician verification of the work performed by other technicians may be performed.
    2. Identify federal/local laws and institutional policies/procedures governing what level of pharmacist verification of technician work must occur before medications are ready for distribution.
    3. Describe a methodical approach for technicians checking other technicians’ work.
31. Determine items that are taxable.
    1. Describe the concepts of taxable and nontaxable.
    2. Discuss the legal obligation to tax required items.
32. Follow established policies and procedures for prevention of theft and/or medication diversion.
    1. Explain the difference between tolerance and physical dependence.
    2. Describe common methods for preventing theft and/or medication diversion.
    3. Discuss methods of reporting theft and/or medication diversion.