Pharmacy plays a significant role in our lives. We visit the pharmacy for various purposes like purchasing medicine or equipment, to avail some drugs, to be examined by doctors for various ailments, to fill out forms, and many more. In line with this, the pharmacy has become one of the most popular career choices especially for those who have a college education and those who have a license to practice. Almost every country has a pharmacy and there are still millions of people who do not know how pharmacy works. Below is a short and basic knowledge on pharmacy which is very essential for pharmacy professionals.
A pharmacy is usually run by pharmacists or expert consultants. Pharmacy is the medical science that connects pharmacy science with chemistry and is charged with the identification, discovery, synthesis, production, distribution, safety and proper utilization of drugs and medicines. Based on the various rules and regulations of different countries pharmacy professionals can either work independently or as part of a large institution that employs thousands of pharmacist staff. In some countries pharmacy professionals can also work under the supervision of a senior consultant.
A pharmacy technician assists pharmacists or experts by filling out prescriptions or ensuring that drugs are correctly disposed of according to legal requirements. A pharmacy technician helps pharmacists in the preparation of medication by loading tablets and counting them. They also ensure that tablets are properly declared to the dispenser.
On an average, there are about 12 million prescriptions filled per day at pharmacies in the United States. There are about four million people who are involved in health insurance plans and about three million people who are enrolled in Medicare. Almost two percent of the total healthcare bill comes from prescriptions. This means that pharmacists play a major role in the healthcare system.
The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy and the American Council of Health Insurance Professionals (ACPhP) have been promoting pharmacy technicians for many years. Both these organizations offer courses to new pharmacists, and certified technicians who want to enhance their skills. There are about 20 national organizations that offer Pharmacy Technician Certification. Many of them participate in a nationwide certification program that makes it easy for pharmacists to re-certify every two years.
Pharmacy Technicians play an important role in the healthcare system by providing pharmacists with information on the right medication to prescribe to patients. The role of a pharmacy technician is crucial in maintaining proper inventory as well as ensuring that medications are refilled when they are empty. They also help pharmacists carry out laboratory tests on patients and record all the details in a paper checklist.