Certified Pharmacy Technician

The main role of the pharmacy technician is processing prescriptions. The pharmacy technician will process and fill prescriptions and prepare them for pharmacist verification. The pharmacy technician’s job also includes many other duties such as administrative and bookkeeping tasks, inventory control, stocking shelves, and data entry. Pharmacy technicians are detail oriented. They work well in fast-paced conditions, and they have strong customer service skills.  

Responsibilities of the Pharmacy Technicians include: 

Accepting Prescriptions 

Processing Insurance Claims 

Processing Prescriptions 

Other Pharmacy Technician Duties: 

The pharmacy technician has many duties other than filling prescriptions. They also perform monthly inventory counts, file paperwork, and stock inventory. When an order comes in, the manifest will be checked for accuracy, and then the medications must be stocked on the shelves. 

Every month, the entire inventory has to be checked for expired medications. Medications which are near expiring are shipped back to the pharmaceutical company. Supplies such as pill bottles, bags, and labels have to be ordered. The shelves have to be organized and cleaned on a regular basis. Patient information must be carefully stored or disposed of. Due to privacy regulations, even the trash must be properly packaged and disposed of. The pharmacy technician is responsible for taking care of these duties as well. 

Attention To Detail Skills 

Great attention to detail is necessary while dispensing prescription medication. You must follow the pharmacist’s orders when measuring, mixing, dosing and dispensing the appropriate amounts. Processing prescriptions requires an utmost level of accuracy and even the slightest error could be detrimental to a patient’s health. It is vital that you pay attention to any allergies and drug intolerances when checking prescriptions. 

Effective Communication Skills 

Being a compassionate and empathetic listener is part of communicating effectively. Diplomacy and tact are important skills to acquire when working as a healthcare team member. The ability to comprehend verbal and written instructions means you need to be knowledgeable about medical and pharmaceutical terms. 

Outstanding Customer Service Skills 

When working with customers and patients, it is important to be respectful. Depending on the setting, pharmacy technicians are often required to interact with people with a variety of backgrounds. Customers and patients will often have questions about their prescribed medications or may need help in finding a particular product within the pharmacy. 

Outstanding customer service is necessary as you interact one-on-one with patients and customers. The ability to connect with your patients personally is an important part of your job. Employers often look to hire technicians who are able to be exceptionally personable when handling customer’s prescriptions and over the counter medications. 

To demonstrate excellent customer service skills you should refer to customers by name when addressing their problems or concerns. Staying positive and being polite regardless of how busy you are can make a customer’s day much better when they are picking up medication for themselves or a sick loved one. 

Organization Skills 

Organizational skills are a must to keep the pharmacy operating efficiently and smoothly. An organized pharmacy helps ensure that medication orders are filled accurately and in a timely matter and dispensed to the right patients. Being organized can also help you recognize mistakes before a medication reaches the patient. 

Computer Skills 

Pharmacy technicians will need at least a basic understanding of computer skills and the ability to learn the software and necessary programs that are being used at the job site. Computers are used as a system to contribute to safe and effective patient care within a pharmacy setting. 

Time Management Skills 

It is important that you make optimal use of the time available to you on your job. Having good time management skills will prove of immense value when it comes to managing your workload while prioritizing what prescriptions need to be filled first and what other job tasks need to be taken care of. 

You cannot fill every single order at one time, but prioritizing helps to ensure that the most important orders are filled and ready to be available when patients need them. Scheduling and keeping a to-do list are great ways to avoid forgetting important tasks and helps to keep you focused on what needs to be accomplished each day. 

Inventory Management 

You are required to know the proper storage and handling of all medications and drug supplies within the pharmacy. In addition, the responsibility of returning expired medications and damaged pharmaceuticals lies with pharmacy technicians.