Course

Course Summary
Credit Type:
Course
ACE ID:
WALG-0003
Organization:
Location:
Hybrid
Length:
Total of approximately 90 hours of coursework, plus on-the-job training. The technician's total training time lasts for a minimum of 15 weeks and 600 hours and includes the Advanced PPL lessons
Dates Offered:
Credit Recommendation & Competencies
Level Credits (SH) Subject
Lower-Division Baccalaureate 3 Pharmacy Practice Laboratory
Upper-Division Baccalaureate 3 Pharmacy Management
Upper-Division Baccalaureate 2 Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences
This course is recommended for 3 semester hours at the lower-division baccalaureate/associate degree category and 5 semester hours in the upper-division baccalaureate degree category for a total of 8 semester hours.
Description

Objective:

The course objective is to prepare the student to assist in the preparation and dispensing of medications and other health initiatives, and to provide high quality patient care in a retail pharmacy environment.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Demonstrate a respectful attitude when interacting with diverse patient populations
  • Apply self-management skills, including time management, stress management, and adapting to change
  • Demonstrate understanding of healthcare occupations and the health care delivery system
  • Demonstrate understanding of wellness promotion and disease prevention concepts, such as use of health screenings
  • Health practices and environmental factors that impact health
  • Demonstrate knowledge and skills in areas of science relevant to the pharmacy technician's role, including anatomy, physiology and pharmacology
  • Demonstrate understanding of major trends, issues, goals, and initiatives taking place in the pharmacy profession
  • Distribute medications in a manner that follows specified procedures
  • Prepare patient-specific medications for distribution
  • Maintain pharmacy facilities and equipment, including automated dispensing equipment
  • Use material safety data sheets (MSDS) to identify, handle, and safely dispose of hazardous materials
  • Prepare medications requiring compounding of non-sterile products
  • Initiate, verify, and assist in the adjudication of billing for pharmacy services and goods, and collect payment for these services
  • Apply accepted procedures in purchasing pharmaceuticals, devices, and supplies
  • Apply patient- and medication-safety practices in all aspects of the pharmacy technician's roles
  • Explain pharmacists' roles when they are responding to emergency situations and how pharmacy technicians can assist pharmacists by being certified as a Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Provider
  • Assist pharmacists in medication therapy management
  • 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
  • Maintain confidentiality of patient information
  • Explain procedures and communication channels to use in the event of a product recall or shortage, a medication error, or identification of another problem
  • Demonstrate ethical conduct in all job-related activities
  • Present an image appropriate for the profession of pharmacy in appearance and behavior
  • Communicate clearly when speaking and in writing
  • Apply interpersonal skills, including negotiation skills, conflict resolution, and teamwork
  • Apply critical thinking skills, creativity, and innovation to solve problems
  • Adverse effects of alcohol, tobacco, and legal and illegal drugs
  • Demonstrate commitment to excellence in the pharmacy profession and to continuing education and training
  • Perform mathematical calculations essential to the duties of pharmacy technicians in a variety of contemporary settings
  • Demonstrate understanding of the pharmacy technician's role in the medication-use process
  • Demonstrate understanding of non-traditional roles of pharmacy technicians
  • Identify and describe emerging therapies
  • Assist pharmacists in collecting, organizing, and recording demographic and clinical information for direct patient care and medication-use review
  • Receive and screen prescriptions and medication orders for completeness, accuracy, and authenticity
  • Assist pharmacists in the identification of patients who desire or require counseling to optimize the use of medications, equipment, and devices
  • Prepare non-patient-specific medications for distribution (e.g. batch, stock medications)
  • Practice effective infection control procedures, including preventing transmission of blood borne and airborne diseases
  • Assist pharmacists in preparing, storing, and distributing medication products requiring special handling and documentation (e.g., controlled substances, immunizations, chemotherapy, investigational drugs, drugs with mandated Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS)
  • Assist pharmacists in the monitoring of medication therapy
  • Prepare medications requiring compounding of chemotherapy or hazardous products
  • Apply accepted procedures in inventory control of medications, equipment, and devices
  • Explain pharmacy reimbursement plans for covering pharmacy services
  • Verify measurements, preparation, and or packaging of medications produced by other healthcare professionals (e.g., tech-check-tech)
  • Demonstrate skills required for effective emergency preparedness
  • Assist pharmacists in medication reconciliation
  • Describe the use of current technology in the healthcare environment to ensure the safety and accuracy of medication dispensing
  • Apply quality assurance practices to pharmaceuticals, durable and non-durable medical equipment, devices, and supplies

General Topics:

  • The overview of pharmacy workstations and workflow
  • Overview of the pharmacy computer system
  • Responding to system popup messages
  • Using the system work queues
  • Patient and customer service
  • The phone system
  • Generic equivalents
  • Working the out window
  • Filling prescriptions and filling workstation fundamentals
  • Greeting patients
  • Locating patient information
  • Scanning RX hard copies
  • Viewing and manipulating images
  • Handling image challenges
  • Entering prescription refills
  • Prescription entry
  • SIG codes, abbreviations and symbols
  • Roman numerals
  • Conversions
  • Drug names and look-alike drugs
  • Fixing prescription entry errors
  • Working with comments
  • Patient registration
  • Third party plans and workers' compensation
  • Drive-thru workstation responsibilities
  • Handling special patient requests
  • Answering patient questions
  • Compounding
  • Prescriber registration
  • Resolving exceptions
  • Resolving third party rejects
  • RX returns process
  • Change manufacturer process
  • Coordination of benefits (COB)
  • Partial fills
  • Electronic prior authorization
  • Flavoring prescriptions
  • Flu and pneumonia immunization program
  • Vaccine storage and handling
  • Medicare Part B
  • Medicare Part D
  • Robotic dispensing systems
  • Discrimination and harassment prevention
  • Safety and health awareness
  • Safety during robberies
  • RX vendor ordering
  • Techbuilder pharmaceutical calculations
  • Quality in the pharmacy
  • HIPAA privacy
  • Using the cash register
  • Retail pharmacy (PTCB/ASHP)
  • Pharmacy law (PTCB/ASHP)
  • Pharmacology (PTCB/ASHP)
  • Hospital pharmacy (PTCB/ASHP)
  • PTCB pre-test examination
Instruction & Assessment

Instructional Strategies:

  • Audio Visual Materials
  • Case Studies
  • Classroom Exercise
  • Computer Based Training
  • Discussion
  • Laboratory
  • Lectures
  • Practical Exercises

Methods of Assessment:

  • Examinations
  • Performance Rubrics (Checklists)
  • Quizzes

Minimum Passing Score:

70%
Supplemental Materials

Other offerings from Walgreens