9781422273371

CAREERS WITH EARNING POTENTIAL

PHARMACY TECHNICIAN

CAREERS WITH EARNING POTENTIAL

BECOME INVALUABLE IN THE WORKPLACE: SET YOURSELF APART MACHINERY MAINTENANCE & REPAIR PHARMACY TECHNICIAN POLICE OFFICER & DETECTIVE WEB DEVELOPER WELDER

THE ARTS CAR MECHANIC CHEF COSMETOLOGIST DOG GROOMER FARMER MASSAGE THERAPIST PRESENTING YOURSELF

CAREERS WITH EARNING POTENTIAL

PHARMACY TECHNICIAN

Melissa Albright-Jenkins

mason crest PHILADELPHIA MIAMI

MASON CREST PO Box 221876, Hollywood, FL 33022 (866) MCP-BOOK (toll-free) • www.masoncrest.com

Copyright © 2022 by Mason Crest, an imprint of National Highlights, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Printed in the United States of America

First printing 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

ISBN (hardback) 978-1-4222-4478-4 ISBN (series) 978-1-4222-4479-1 ISBN (ebook) 978-1-4222-7337-1

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Developed and Produced by National Highlights, Inc. Editor: Regency House Publishing Ltd. Cover Design: Creatively Tara.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

KEY ICONS TO LOOK FOR: Words to Understand: These words with their easy-to-understand definitions will increase the reader’s understanding of the text while building vocabulary skills. Sidebars: This boxed material within the main text allows readers to build knowledge, gain insights, explore possibilities, and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Educational Videos: Readers can view videos by scanning our QR codes, providing them with additional educational content to supplement the text. Examples include news coverage, moments in history, speeches, iconic sports moments, and much more! Text-Dependent Questions: These questions send the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. Research Projects: Readers are pointed toward areas of further inquiry connected to each chapter. Suggestions are provided for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. Series Glossary of Key Terms: This back-of-the-book glossary contains terminology used throughout this series. Words found here increase the reader’s ability to read and comprehend higher-level books and articles in this field. CHAPTER 1: The Life of a Pharmacy Technician . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 CHAPTER 2: What Do Pharmacy Technicians Do? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 CHAPTER 3: Terms of the Trade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 CHAPTER 4: Preparing for the Field and Making a Living. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 CHAPTER 5: Key Skills and Methods of Exploration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 CHAPTER 6: Looking to the Future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Series Glossary of Key Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Further Reading & Internet Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Educational Video Links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Author Biography & Photo Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

The pharmacy technician is usually the first person you see when you enter a pharmacy.

WORDS TO UNDERSTAND

computer system: a computer, including the hardware and software required to make it functional for a user medication: a medicine or drug that is used to treat an illness or condition

prescription: a doctor’s written order to provide medication in a specific dose and frequency

6 CAREERS WITH EARNING POTENTIAL: PHARMACY TECHNICIAN

A pharmacy technician is usually the first person you see when you go to a pharmacy. They take in prescriptions , verify that the information is correct, and lets you know when you can expect your prescription to be ready. If you are considering a career as a pharmacy technician, it’s important to understand what it’s like to work in the field. A pharmacy technician works under the supervision of a pharmacist. They might fill prescriptions, work at the cash register, gather medications, or answer phones throughout the day. The job is to help the pharmacist manage the pharmacy under their direct supervision. The exact details of the job description vary from pharmacy to pharmacy. CHAPTER 1 THE LIFE OF A PHARMACY TECHNICIAN

THE LIFE OF A PHARMACY TECHNICIAN 7

WORKING IN A RETAIL PHARMACY Retail pharmacies are the most common type of pharmacy. They have set hours and tend not to be open late. While youmight end up working in a retail pharmacy that is open twenty-four hours a day, this is not generally the case. Each day is a chance to work with the public and to help make filling prescriptions easier. A pharmacy technician might need to call an insurance company to verify coverage or might need to explain the different levels of copayment amounts to a customer. It takes time to fill a prescription, and some customers might not understand why it takes so long. As a pharmacy technician, you are able to receive prescriptions from customers. You must verify that the prescription is written correctly and must be able to enter the prescription into the computer system . Once you know the prescription is correct, you will contact an insurance company to make sure the individual has prescription drug coverage. Payment for the prescription can be denied due to a number of reasons. The pharmacy technician will need to contact a customer’s insurance company to find out why the prescription is not being paid for. It might be a medication that just

A pharmacy technician works under the supervision of a fully qualified pharmacist.

8 CAREERS WITH EARNING POTENTIAL: PHARMACY TECHNICIAN

COCA-COLA’S MEDICINAL PAST

Invented in 1885 by pharmacist John Pemberton, the first recipe of Coca-Cola contained cocaine in the coca leaf form. Cocaine was an acceptable, legal medication at the time.

isn’t covered by the insurance company, or the insurance coverage might no longer be valid. The ability to solve problems is important to the work of a pharmacy technician. The person for whom you are trying to fill a prescriptionmay get angry because the process is taking so long. You might need to spend extra time on the phone trying to figure out what is going on. The longer you have to wait on the phone, the longer the whole process takes. FILLING THE PRESCRIPTION Once you have received approval from the insurance company, the prescription needs to be filled. A pharmacy technician might be responsible for locating the correct medication, printing out the label, and counting out the units of medication. This role is vital to the overall running of a pharmacy. As a pharmacy technician, you will be very busy, and there are only a few things that the pharmacist must do that you are not able to. A pharmacy technician isn’t allowed to give medical advice. If a customer comes up to the counter and asks what you recommend for a cold or flu, you will need to get the pharmacist to come and answer the question. While a pharmacy

THE LIFE OF A PHARMACY TECHNICIAN 9

technician is a professional who understands dispensing medication, the pharmacist is there to answer medical questions from the public. As a pharmacy technician, you might talk with the pharmacist before the shift starts and get a list of work that needs to be done throughout the day. For example, you might be responsible for contacting customers who have filled prescriptions that have been waiting more than a few days. If the pharmacist is filling a prescription and there is a problem, youmight be asked to solve the problemwhile the pharmacist moves on to the next prescription. It’s important to remember that you and the pharmacist work together, but the pharmacist is in charge of the pharmacy itself. Both of you are important to the success of the pharmacy. Most pharmacists understand how valuable a good pharmacy technician is to the overall progress of the workflow in the pharmacy. Once you continue working in the field, you might be ready to become a shift supervisor in a busy pharmacy. You would be responsible for overseeing the work done by pharmacy technicians, while being supervised by the pharmacist at the same time.

The life of a pharmacy technician.

10 CAREERS WITH EARNING POTENTIAL: PHARMACY TECHNICIAN

WORKING IN A HOSPITAL SETTING

Pharmacy are responsible for helping licensed pharmacists prepare and distribute medication prescribed by a doctor. When you work in a hospital pharmacy, you will help fill the orders and make sure that they get to the right patient in the hospital. Another part of your job is to help make sure there are enough medications in stock to meet the needs of the patients in the facility. Job growth for pharmacy technicians

When a customer arrives at a pharmacy with an illness such as a cold, they may ask for over-the-counter medication to treat their condition.

technicians is on the rise, and you can expect opportunities in the field for years to come. As jobs open up and there are fewer technicians to fill open positions, you are likely to see wages increase.

THE FIRST PRESCRIPTION DRUG AD

The first prescription drug advertisement aired in the United States on May 19, 1983. The ad was for the prescription pain reliever Rufen.

THE LIFE OF A PHARMACY TECHNICIAN 11

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A PHARMACY TECHNICIAN A pharmacy technician’s day is full of activity. From the moment you walk in the door, you may be answering phone calls or taking prescription orders from an automated system. You might need to count money in your drawer before you begin working and get yourself ready to start handling customers as the pharmacy opens. If there are retail products to put out, part of your job may be to put them on the shelves. Customers might come in the door within a few minutes after the pharmacy opens. You will greet them and start to tend to their prescriptions as they come in. In your downtime, you could be responsible for cleaning up, taking the trash out, or organizing. You might be asked to take inventory of the medications you have on stock in order to figure out what needs to be ordered for the following week. At the end of your day, you will probably need to count your cash drawer to make sure everything balances. You are responsible for collecting money throughout the day and dealing with debit and credit card transactions.

All the members of staff are vital to the smooth running of a pharmacy. At the beginning of a shift, a pharmacy technician will be provided with their tasks for the day ahead.

12 CAREERS WITH EARNING POTENTIAL: PHARMACY TECHNICIAN

RESEARCH PROJECT

Are there other drink products that were first created as medicines and are now used recreationally? Do any drinks on the market today promise health benefits? Do you think that there are actual health benefits to such drinks? If not, suggest ways that the industry could be better regulated.

TEXT-DEPENDENT QUESTIONS

1. Does a pharmacy technician count medication? 2. Why does filling a prescription take so long? 3. May a pharmacy technician give advice on what cold medicine to try?

THE LIFE OF A PHARMACY TECHNICIAN 13

A pharmacy technician is not just a specialist in knowing about all the different kinds of medication. They also need to understand how to advise customers who may be upset, ill, or worried about their illness.

WORDS TO UNDERSTAND

copayment: the amount a customer pays out-of-pocket for a medication. This amount varies, depending on the type of insurance coverage they carry health insurance verification: contacting a customer’s insurance company, either by phone or electronically, to verify that they are covered prescription drug coverage: medical insurance that pays for all or part of medication that is prescribed by a physician

14 CAREERS WITH EARNING POTENTIAL: PHARMACY TECHNICIAN