What Does a Pharmacy Technician Do? Top 10 Duties In 2024

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In the fast-paced and constantly evolving field of healthcare, Pharmacy Technicians play a crucial role in ensuring the safe and effective delivery of medications to patients.

With their specialized knowledge and skills, pharmacy technicians are known to be the pillars of the healthcare team.

These professionals have to perform various duties in their daily routine, including typing prescription information for drug labels, approving medicine refills, and coordinating the medication stock in the pharmacy.

In this article, we will discuss pharmacy technicians’ day-to-day duties. If you are looking for a career as a pharmacy technician, read on!

What is a Pharmacy Technician?

First, let’s discuss what exactly is a pharmacy technician. A Pharmacy Technician is a healthcare professional who works under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist to assist in various pharmacy-related tasks.

Their primary role is to support the pharmacist in the preparation and distribution of medications to patients.

Top Duties of a Pharmacy Technician

If you’re looking for a career as a pharmacy technician, you might be curious about what they do.

Below are the duties you can typically expect to see in a job description for a pharmacy technician opening:

1. Preparing prescriptions for patients

One of the primary responsibilities of a pharmacy technician is to help in the processing and dispensing of prescriptions.

Now, when we talk about processing and dispensing, this includes:

Collecting and verifying patient information.
Entering the prescription details into the pharmacy’s computer system.
Counting, measuring, and packaging medications accurately.
Applying appropriate labels and ensuring that those labels have proper instructions to be followed.
Collaborating with pharmacists to address any queries or concerns.

By diligently performing this duty, pharmacy technicians help prevent medication errors and ensure patient safety.

2. Responsible for managing accounts

A pharmacy technician should be able to manage pharmacy accounts, as it comes under clerical duties.

When we talk about managing accounts, we understand that a pharmacy Technician should be effective in performing the various duties like:

Receiving payments from patients
Tallying the payments each day.
Rectifying the errors that occur during the process

3. Managing pharmacy inventory

Pharmacy technicians are responsible for maintaining an organized inventory of medications and supplies.

They are responsible for managing the overall pharmacy inventory.

Their duties in inventory management include:

Receiving and storing the medications in the pharmacy.
Ensuring proper storage conditions like temperature and hygiene.
Keeping a regular check on the inventory levels and placing orders once they are out of stock.
Managing expired or damaged medications according to established standards and procedures.

4. Customer Service

Pharmacy technicians are always engaged with patients, doctors, and co-workers and help them by providing them with excellent customer service and ensuring their needs are fulfilled on time. This includes:

Answering general inquiries and providing medication-related information to their customers.
Handling insurance claims and coordinating with insurance providers.
Resolving any customer-related issues and ensuring customer satisfaction.
Maintaining patient confidentiality and professionalism at all times.

5. Pharmacy Operations

In addition to the direct responsibilities discussed above, Pharmacy Technicians perform various administrative tasks to ensure smooth pharmacy operations.

These tasks include:

Managing patient records, handling insurance claims and billing, and maintaining the confidentiality of patient information.
Pharmacy technicians are often responsible for operating and maintaining automated dispensing machines and other technological systems like bar-code scanning systems used in the pharmacy.
By efficiently managing these operational duties, a Pharmacy technician contributes to an efficient workflow and ensures better patient care.

6. Interacting with patients

There is a regular interaction of pharmacy technicians with patients throughout their day.

Below are a few ways in which pharmacy techs work with patients include:

Answering prescription-related questions
Educating patients about the right use of medication, including the method of intake.
Helping patients purchase their prescriptions
Answering the pharmacy phone

Know more: Traveling Pharmacy Technician

7. Processing medical insurance claims for medications

In cases where patients choose to use insurance for their prescriptions, Pharmacy technicians help in processing insurance claims. This can include determining the patient’s insurance company and information, contacting the insurance company to verify the amount, and updating the overall insurance coverage in the system.

8. Data Entry and Documentation

Pharmacy technicians enter and maintain patient and medication information in the pharmacy’s computer system. Data entry and documentation include:

Updating patient profiles and recording prescription details within the computer system.
Maintain the confidentiality and security of sensitive information.

Read more to know about who is a Data Entry Pharmacy Technician.

9. Compounding and Basic Pharmacy Tasks

Another duty of Pharmacy Technicians is that they also get involved in medication compounding and preparation, especially when it comes to hospitals and compounding pharmacies. Their duties in this area include:

Measuring and mixing ingredients to prepare customized medications.
Packaging and labeling compounded medications accurately.
Collaborating with pharmacists to ensure quality control and overall safety of the pharmacy.

11. Compound Intravenous IV Arrangements:

As a pharmacy technician, you will need to handle bodily and other fluids, ointments, and powders to be utilized for intravenous blending or compounding procedures.

Apart from this, you can also be asked to ensure that the IV room, and the equipment, are properly sanitized & cleaned.

Top Skills Required for a Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacy technicians need a combination of technical, interpersonal, and organizational skills to excel in their roles.

Here are some of the top skills required for a pharmacy technician:

1. Attention to Detail: Accuracy is critical in dispensing medications. Pharmacy technicians must carefully measure, count, and label medications to ensure patients receive the correct dosage.

2. Communication Skills: Good communication is essential when interacting with patients, healthcare professionals, and colleagues. Pharmacy technicians need to explain medication instructions clearly and address any questions or concerns.

3. Mathematical Proficiency: Accurate calculations are necessary for measuring and dispensing medications. Pharmacy technicians must have a strong grasp of basic math skills to avoid dosage errors.

4. Organizational Skills: Pharmacy technicians manage inventory, handle multiple prescriptions simultaneously, and maintain detailed records. Strong organizational skills help them stay on top of tasks and maintain an efficient workflow.

5. Customer Service: Interacting with patients requires a friendly and helpful demeanor. Pharmacy technicians should be approachable, patient, and able to provide information clearly and understandably.

6. Technical Proficiency: Pharmacy technicians use various technologies, including prescription processing software and automated dispensing systems. Proficiency in using these tools is essential for efficiency and accuracy.

7. Knowledge of Medications: A solid understanding of pharmaceuticals, including generic and brand names, dosage forms, and common side effects, is crucial. This knowledge helps pharmacy technicians answer patient questions and ensure proper medication dispensing.

8. Ethical and Legal Understanding: Pharmacy technicians need to adhere to ethical standards and legal regulations governing the pharmacy profession. This includes patient confidentiality, proper handling of controlled substances, and compliance with healthcare laws.

9. Teamwork and Collaboration: Pharmacy technicians work closely with pharmacists and other healthcare professionals. The ability to collaborate effectively in a team is important for maintaining a smooth workflow and ensuring patient safety.

10. Adaptability: Healthcare environments can be fast-paced and dynamic. Pharmacy technicians should be adaptable, able to handle unexpected situations, and willing to learn and implement new processes or technologies.

Conclusion

After knowing these various duties, it can be concluded that Pharmacy Technicians play an important role in the healthcare system. They are supporting pharmacists and ensure the safe and efficient delivery of medications to patients.

By performing these vital responsibilities with professionalism and compassion, pharmacy technicians contribute significantly to the well-being of patients and the smooth functioning of pharmacies. Day in the Life of a Pharmacy Technician has lots of things to do. As a pharmacy tech, you ensure the well-being of patients.

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About the Author

Grant Aldrich

Grant founded OnlineDegree.com with a purpose-driven mission: make college accessible and affordable for everyone. After graduating college with an overwhelming amount of debt, he was determined to change how students embark on their education. He's a frequent speaker and author in higher education, and has been featured in Forbes, Bloomberg Businessweek, Business Insider, American Express, AOL, MSN, Thrive Global, Reader's Digest, Inside Higher Ed, Evolllution, EducationDive, and nearly 100 radio shows and podcasts.

What Does a Pharmacy Technician Do? Top Duties

What is a Pharmacy Technician?