Hospital Pharmacy Technician

Hospitals need pharmacy technicians to assist the pharmacists in dispensing medicines for patients staying in the hospital.

Even though the educational; requirements for this job role are similar to pharmacy technicians in regular pharmacies and stores, the work in a hospital is quite different.
Know

In hospitals, pharmacy technicians work with doctors and nurses, and in the local hospital pharmacy, they rarely ever interact with patients directly.

How to Become a Hospital Pharmacy Technician

All Pharmacy Technicians, whether they want to work in hospitals or regular pharmacies, are required to go through the same process for becoming one.

Read more: How to Become a Certified Pharmacy Technician

Here are the steps to becoming a Hospital Pharmacy Technician:

First, you must complete your high school diploma or a GED.

After that, you can either go for a formal educational program or undertake training while working.

Formal programs are mostly available in vocational schools and colleges. Some programs are short, lasting one year or less, and upon completion give you a certificate. Others take two years and offer an associate degree.

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) offer nationally recognized certifications.

Know more: Pharmacy Technician Certification 

You have to pass the exam to get the certification to become a Hospital Pharmacy Technician.

Once you get the certification, certain states ask for a Hospital  Pharmacy Technician license. The rules can be different, but usually, you have to pass a test and go through a background check. Make sure you meet all the requirements to work legally in your state.

The world of pharmacy is always changing. New medicines and technologies are constantly being discovered and manufactured. To stay updated with the latest trends and keep your certification valid, it is necessary to renew the license every two years.

What Does a Pharmacy Technician Do in a Hospital?

Hospital Pharmacy technicians help pharmacists give out medications to patients. In hospitals, they ensure patients get the right medicines and take them to the right places. They also help the pharmacist make sure the pharmacy has enough medicine for everyone who needs it.

Their duties don’t just end here. Hospital Pharmacy Technicians have so much in their basket.

Let’s discuss them one by one.

Compounding and Organizing Medicine Supplies

A hospital pharmacy tech needs to learn how to mix different medicines based on what the doctor has prescribed. This helps the pharmacy make specialized doses that suit each patient’s needs.

For example, if a patient is allergic to a certain ingredient in a medicine, compounding allows a pharmacy technician to prepare that medicine without that ingredient so the patient doesn’t get sick.

Filling Patients Orders

A Hospital Pharmacy Technician’s main responsibility is to fill prescriptions written by doctors or physicians in a hospital.

Their duty also includes verifying orders and counting the right number of tablets and capsules.

Keeping Track of Medicines

Whenever the hospital gets new medicine deliveries, the Hospital Pharmacy Tech helps in stocking and checking if the amount matches what they ordered. They also need to keep a count on the medicines regularly to make sure they have enough stock.

Helping with Administrative Tasks

Hospital Pharmacy Techs also have office jobs. They answer the phone and talk to doctors, nurses, and other staff. After filling a prescription, the Hospital Pharmacy Tech writes down the information in the patient’s records.

Additional Sources:
Pharmacy Technician Salary
Pharmacy Technician FAQ
Day in the Life of a Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy Technician License vs Certification
Pharmacy Technician Requirements