PHR 803 - Pharmacy Technician Internship I

1. Show personal and interpersonal knowledge and skills.
   1. Demonstrate ethical conduct in all job-related activities.
   2. Present an image appropriate for the profession of pharmacy in appearance and behavior.
   3. Communicate clearly when speaking and in writing.
   4. Demonstrate a respectful attitude when interacting with diverse patient populations.
   5. Apply self-management skills, including time management, stress management, and adapting to change.
   6. Apply interpersonal skills, including negotiation skills, conflict resolution, and teamwork.
   7. Apply critical thinking skills, creativity, and innovation to solve problems. 
2. Apply foundational professional knowledge and skills.
   1. Demonstrate understanding of healthcare occupations and the health care delivery system.
   2. Determine the importance of wellness promotion and disease prevention concepts, such as use of health screenings; health practices and environmental factors that impact health; and adverse effects of alcohol, tobacco, and legal and illegal drugs.
   3. Show commitment to excellence in the pharmacy profession and review continuing education and training requirements.
   4. Demonstrate knowledge and skills in areas of science relevant to the pharmacy technician’s role, including anatomy/physiology and pharmacology.
   5. Solve mathematical calculations essential to the duties of pharmacy technicians in a variety of contemporary settings.
   6. Demonstrate understanding of the pharmacy technician’s role in the medication-use process.
   7. Review major trends, issues, goals, and initiatives taking place in the pharmacy profession.
   8. Describe emerging therapies.
3. Assess the processing and handling of medications and medication orders.
   1. Assist pharmacists in collecting, organizing, and recording demographic and clinical information for direct patient care and medication-use review.
   2. Examine prescriptions/medication orders for completeness, accuracy, and authenticity.
   3. Assist pharmacists in the identification of patients who desire/require counseling to optimize the use of medications, equipment, and devices.
   4. Distribute medications in a manner that follows specified procedures.
   5. Assist pharmacists in preparing, storing, and distributing medication products requiring special handling and documentation (e.g., controlled substances, immunizations, drugs with mandated Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies [REMS]).
   6. Assist pharmacists in the monitoring of medication therapy.
   7. Prepare patient-specific medications for distribution.
   8. Maintain pharmacy facilities and equipment, including automated dispensing equipment.
4. Produce medications using nonsterile compounding practices.
   1. Prepare medications requiring compounding of nonsterile products.
   2. Discuss Iowa’s regulations regarding technician compounding of nonsterile products.
5. Develop procurement, billing, reimbursement and inventory management functions.
   1. Initiate, verify, and assist in the adjudication of billing for pharmacy services and goods, and collect payment for these services.
   2. Apply accepted procedures for purchasing pharmaceuticals, devices, and supplies.
   3. Use accepted procedures for inventory control of medications, equipment, and devices.
   4. Explain pharmacy reimbursement plans for covering pharmacy services.
6. Demonstrate the importance of patient and medication safety.
   1. Apply patient and medication safety practices in all aspects of the pharmacy technician’s roles.
   2. Verify measurements, preparation, and/or packaging of medications produced by other healthcare professionals (e.g., tech-check-tech).
   3. Explain pharmacists’ roles when they are responding to emergency situations and how pharmacy technicians can assist pharmacists by being certified as Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Providers.
   4. Demonstrate skills required for effective emergency preparedness.
   5. Assist pharmacists in medication reconciliation and (40) medication therapy management.
7. Assess technology and informatics used in pharmacy practice.
   1. Describe the use of current technology in the healthcare environment to ensure the safety and accuracy of medication dispensing.
   2. Use word processing, spreadsheet, and database skills to improve pharmacy operations.
8. Compare and contrast regulatory issues that influence and regulate pharmacy procedures.
   1. Examine the roles of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in ensuring pharmacy department compliance with professional standards and relevant legal, regulatory, formulary, contractual, and safety requirements.
   2. Maintain confidentiality of patient information.
9. Assess the need for pharmacy quality assurance processes.
   1. Apply quality assurance practices to pharmaceuticals, durable and nondurable medical equipment, devices, and supplies.
   2. Explain procedures and communication channels to use in the event of a product recall or shortage, a medication error, or identification of another problem.