While the focus at pharmacies is often on the Pharmacist, the Pharmacy Technician plays an immensely important role. Thats because, according to Health Care Salary World, he or she is responsible for:
Counting pills according to the prescription;
Creating package and label prescriptions;
Taking in written prescriptions and processing the medication for pharmacists to verify;
Ensuring that the security and proper storage of drugs is maintained;
Responding to simple patient queries and directing them to pharmacists for clarification on issues concerning drug information;
Maintaining drug inventory and place drug orders;
Properly labeling drugs, supplies, and chemicals;
Mixing pharmaceutical compounds and prepare intravenous injections according to the written prescription;
Maintaining patient profiles and records of all medications given;
Keeping the work environment and equipment clean;
Processing medical insurance claims and accepting payments;
Assisting in giving medications to the patients in the hospitals
At Canadas Pharmacy Technician programs, such as the one offered at Centennial College, students can obtain training that will make them efficient at all of these tasks. The Centennial College program lasts two years and is based on the belief that the institutions learner-centred environment transforms Pharmacy Technician students to work within their scope of practice through a dynamic curriculum that is based on the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) competencies.