Course Syllabus
THE PHARMACY TECHNICIAN
- Describe the origins of pharmacy.
- Describe the 2 stages of development of pharmacy during the 20th century.
- Compare and contrast the functions of the pharmacist and the pharmacy technician.
- Explain the educational and licensing requirements of pharmacist and pharmacy technicians.
- Identify the duties and work environments of the pharmacy technician.
- Differentiate among the various kinds of pharmacies.
PHARMACY LAW, STANDARDS, AND ETHICS FOR TECHNICIANS
- Distinguish among statutory law, common law, regulatory law, ethics and professional standards for the practice of pharmacy.
- Describe the impact of major statutory federal drug laws on the practice of pharmacy in the 20th and 21st centuries.
- Differentiate between the duties that can be performed by a pharmacist and a pharmacy technician.
MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY, DOSAGE FORMS AND ROUTES OF ADMINISTRATION
- Identify common Latin and Greek word parts used in medicine and pharmacy.
- Interpret basic terminology by organ system.
- Interpret abbreviations and symbols used in prescriptions and medication orders.
- Differentiate between different dosage forms that are commonly prescribed.
- Understand the common routes of administration and which dosage forms are given by a specific route of administration.
THE PRESCRIPTION
- Explain the difference between a prescription and a medication order.
- Describe the role of and elements of a patient profile.
- Identify the required elements of a prescription.
- Interpret “standard prescription” terminology.
- Describe the steps in the dispensing process.
- Describe the required elements of a prescription label.
- Identify ways to avoid dispensing errors.
- Identify guidelines for the safe use of pharmacy abbreviations.
DRUG CLASSIFICATION
- Identify a therapeutic classification for the top 200 drug products.
- Identify drugs that belong to the same chemical class of drug products.
- Name a common trade name for the top generic drug products.
HOW DRUGS WORK
- Define the terms- absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion.
- Identify factors of patient variability that affect ADME.
- Discuss the different mechanisms of action for drug interactions.
- Identify a common drug interactions and their categorization.
- Explain the impact of drug-food interactions.
HOSPITAL AND INSTITUTIONAL PHARMACY PRACTICE
- List the members of the healthcare team within the hospital and the common departments found in a hospital.
- Understand the origins and purpose of the hospital formulary.
- Describe the functions of a drug information center.
- Explain the difference between central pharmacy, satellite pharmacy inpatient pharmacy and outpatient pharmacy.
- Explain the concept of Universal Precautions.
- Describe proper aseptic technique, including the use of horizontal and vertical airflow hoods.
- Describe the equipment and procedures used in preparing parenterals.
- Describe unit-dose and floor stock distribution systems.
- Explain the proper procedure for repackaging of medications.
- Describe proper procedures for handling and disposal of hazardous agents.
- List institutional pharmacy practice sites other than a hospital.
COMMUNITY AND OTHER PHARMACY SETTINGS
- Identify the major elements of a patient profile.
- List the required elements for a prescription.
- List the required elements for a prescription label.
- Describe the elements of Disease State Management Programs.
- Identify ways to protect a patient’s privacy in a community pharmacy.
- Describe the role of the pharmacy technician in inventory management.
EXTEMPORANEOUS COMPOUNDING
- Compare the terms manufacturing and extemporaneous compounding and describe common situations in which compounding is required.
- Identify and describe the appropriate use of equipment used for the weighing, measuring, mixing, molding and packaging of pharmaceuticals.
- Describe the proper technique for weighing pharmaceutical ingredients.
- Describe the proper technique for measuring liquid volumes.
- Explain the use of the geometric dilution method.
- Explain the processes by which solutions, suspensions, ointments, creams, powders, suppositories, and capsules are prepared.
THE BUSINESS OF PHARMACY
- Explain different inventory management systems and concepts including POS systems, backorders, invoices, expiration dates, stocking and storage systems.
- Describe the use of Material Safety Data Sheets
- Describe different types of automated dispensing systems and their use in the pharmacy
- Explain how insurance and 3rd party payors impact the practice of pharmacy.
- Understand the concepts needed to perform basic business math
PHARMACY MATH REVIEW
- Demonstrate competency in number conversion between different measuring systems used in the practice of pharmacy
- Calculate dosages based on weight and frequency
- Understand the relationship between fractions and decimals
- Determine IV flow rate calculations
- Compound prescriptions utilizing ration and proportions and allegation methods.
PHARMACY COMMUNICATION, JOBS SKILLS AND REVIEW FOR THE PTCB EXAM
- Identify appropriate methods of communication with colleagues and customers
- Review for the certification exam.