Pharmacological Sciences

Pharmacology for Technicians

Pharmacy Law and Regulations

Sterile and Non-Sterile Compounding

Medication Safety

Pharmacy Quality Assurance

Medication Order Entry and Fill Process

Pharmacy Inventory Management

Receive and screen prescription/medication orders for completeness and authenticity, identifying classifications, generic and name brands of pharmaceuticals, strengths/dose, dosage form, physical appearance, route of administration, and duration of drug therapy. Develop an informative brochure explaining the top 200 medications per the criteria previous listed flagging narrow therapeutic index (NTI) medications.

Construct a teaching plan for a senior customer explaining:

Compare and contrast the principles of pharmaceutical equivalents, generic equivalence, bioequivalence, pharmaceutical alternatives, and therapeutic equivalents as defined by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Summarize the criteria for deeming a product therapeutically equivalent.

Differentiate between common and severe side effects or adverse effects, allergies, and therapeutic contraindications associated with the top 200 medications as published in pharmaceutical print and online journals.

Research indications for using legend in the place of selected over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and herbal and dietary supplements. Illustrate findings in an oral, visual, or digital presentation, citing information obtained from print and online medical sites such as the U.S. National Library of Medicine databases.

Design an action plan for a pharmacy related to the storage, handling, and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes (e.g., MSDS) that includes procedures for prevention and treatment of hazardous substances exposure (e.g., eyewash, spill kit, MSDS).

Evaluate the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) rules and regulations surrounding the transfer of controlled substances, verification of a prescriber’s DEA number, and documentation requirements for receiving, ordering, returning, loss/theft, and destruction of controlled substances. Investigate the standards of practice of record keeping for repackaged and recalled products and supplies, including the FDA’s recall classification. Summarize findings in an oral, written, or digital presentation.

Summarize professional standards related to data integrity and security and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) guidelines. Using HIPAA guidelines, create a policy and procedure for the proper use of pharmacy reports such as inventory reports, diversion reports, discrepancy reports, override reports, usage reports, input accuracy reports, and business summary reports. Include a process for handling and destroying confidential/classified information.

In a lab/clinical setting, demonstrate application of concepts and skills of asepsis, Universal Precautions, sanitation, disinfection, and sterilization for pharmacy settings in adherence to standards and guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Perform or check for functions such as proper laminar air flow, hand washing, ensuring a clean room or workspace, and cleaning of counting trays, countertops, and equipment.

Research the professional standards and state and federal laws regarding the roles and responsibilities of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and other pharmacy employees; describe when a pharmacist should provide consultation for a patient/client. Explain the process to determine the state, federal, and local laws and regulations that apply to a practice site.

Formulate a list of facility, equipment, and supply requirements (e.g., space requirements, prescription file storage, cleanliness, and reference materials) required for a retail pharmacy as compared with a hospital-based pharmacy.

Develop a reference toolkit of federal pharmacy requirements for the each of the following:

Research and identify infection control standards utilized in a pharmacy compounding department as established by the CDC and OSHA. Demonstrate application of skills in lab/classroom/clinical setting in order to meet the standards identified.

Demonstrate the following skills surrounding compounding:

Survey most common types of prescription errors and outline in a written or digital presentation industry standards surrounding medication safety. Cite information obtained from textbooks, online and print pharmacy journals, and related websites. Include at minimum the following:

Identify strategies for preventing medication errors by distinguishing medications that either look alike or sound alike, such as Ceftin, Cefotan, Cefzil, Rocephin and Cipro. Include strategies related to recognizing high-alert/high-risk medications such as Sporanox for patients who have ventricular dysfunction.

Interpret quality assurance practices for medication and inventory control systems (e.g., matching National Drug Code (NDC) number, bar code, and data entry) and for infection control procedures and documentation (e.g., personal protective equipment [PPE], needle recapping). Evaluate information sources used to obtain data in a quality improvement process (e.g., the patient’s chart, patient’s medication profile, computerized information systems, medication administration record, immunization registry, medication therapy management [MTM] platforms)

Explain the common assurance measures used to monitor quality in a pharmacy. For example, explain risk management guidelines and regulations (e.g., error prevention strategies), communication channels necessary to ensure appropriate follow-up, medication control systems (e.g. automated dispensing systems, bar coding for floor stock and crash cart stock) and problem resolution (e.g., product recalls, shortages), and productivity, efficiency, and customer satisfaction measures. Summarize information gathered from textbooks, retail pharmacy websites, print pharmacy journals, and/or personal interviews of pharmacists or pharmacy technicians.

Identify all information a pharmacist or pharmacy technician should obtain from the patient/client before filling and dispensing any medication. Information should include at minimum: name of patient/client, date of birth, address, insurance policy, physician’s name, and any drug allergies. Practice interviewing skills in a lab/clinical/classroom setting.

Create either an electronic or paper profile detailing the order entry process per industry standards for each of the following: a hospital, a free-standing pharmacy, and a retail-based pharmacy.

Calculate correct doses required when given a simulated prescription for a pediatric dose, adult dose, and geriatric dose based on weight, using the correct formulas, calculations, ratios, proportions, alligations and conversions. Also calculate length of administration, times per day of administration. Document results using appropriate Sig codes (e.g., b.i.d., t.i.d and Roman numerals), abbreviations, medical terminology, and symbols for quantity dispensed, dose, concentration, and dilutions.

Demonstrate the following skills of the prescription fill process:

Demonstrate the following skills of prescription labeling requirements :

Select equipment/supplies required for drug administration (e.g., package size, unit dose, diabetic supplies, spacers, oral and injectable syringes). Demonstrate the following skills of prescription packaging requirements:

In a classroom lab, demonstrate the following skills of the dispensing process:

Distinguish between the functions and applications of NDC number, lot numbers, and expiration dates of inventory found in a pharmacy. Articulate the importance of this information as it relates to protecting the safety of the public.

Define the concept of a formulary or approved/preferred product list. Research at least three different insurance companies for a listing of their approved formulary drug list. Compare and contrast the three lists with the top 200 drugs identified earlier in this course. Explain how the phrases “Dispense as Written” or “Do Not Substitute” can affect the formulary. Synthesize research into an informative essay.

Assess procedures for ordering medications and supplies including:

Research common software and databases used by pharmacies to manage electronic medical records and prescriptions. Understand the uses and capabilities of these programs as they relate to the roles and responsibilities of the pharmacy technician.

Definitions of various drug interactions including drug-disease, drug-drug, drug- dietary supplement, drug-OTC, drug-laboratory, and drug-nutrient.

Effects of patient-specific factors on drug and non- drug therapy (e.g., cultural beliefs, disabilities, language barriers, socioeconomic status)

Proper storage of medications (e.g., temperature ranges, light sensitivity, restricted access

Receiving, ordering, refilling, labeling, dispensing, returning, take-back programs, and loss or theft of non-controlled substances

OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (i.e., Employee Right to Know)

Availability of medications (i.e., legend, over the counter, and behind the counter)

Non-controlled substance prescription transfer

OBRA-90 requirement for consultation

Process to determine the state, federal, and local laws and regulations

Restricted drug programs

Handling and disposal requirements (e.g., receptacles, waste streams)

Documentation (e.g., batch preparation, compounding record)

Determination of product stability (e.g., beyond-use dating, signs of incompatibility)

Selection and use of equipment and supplies

Sterile and non-sterile compounding processes

Procedures to compound non-sterile products (e.g., ointments, mixtures, liquids, emulsions, suppositories, enema)

Error prevention strategies for data entry (e.g., prescription or medication order to correct patient)

Patient package insert and medication guide requirements (e.g., special directions and precautions)

Issues that require pharmacist intervention (e.g., DUR, ADE, OTC recommendation, therapeutic substitution, misuse, missed dose)

Common safety strategies (e.g., tall man lettering, separating inventory, leading and trailing zeroes, limited use of error-prone abbreviations)

Procedures for responding to FDA recalls of medications, devices, supplies, supplements,

Guidelines for ensuring the stability of drugs such as oral suspensions, insulin, reconstitutables, injectables, and vaccinations

Procedures for performing root cause analysis and reporting events such as medication errors, adverse effects, near miss, and product integrity

Requirements and strategies for addressing errors in practice (e.g., quality improvement teams, adverse drug reaction reporting, opportunity/suggestion cards).

Determine prioritization of prescription/medication order processing (e.g.,stat, maintenance, waiting)

Select appropriate product

Apply special handling requirements

Measure and prepare product for final check

Stage prescriptions for final verification

Auxiliary and warning labels

Expiration date

Patient-specific information

Type of bags

Syringes

Glass

PVC

Child resistant

Light resistant

Validation of prescription with pharmacist

Documentation and distribution

Inventory control practices and record keeping (e.g. par and reorder levels, turnover rates, drug usage patterns, and perpetual inventory)

Suitable alternatives for ordering (e.g. transferring or borrowing medications from another pharmacy

Procedures to address improperly stored inventory (e.g., out of range temperature issues)

Procedures for identifying and returning dispensable, non-dispensable, and expired medications and supplies (e.g., credit return, return to stock, reverse distribution)

Pharmacy Information System Usage and Application