Pharmacy Technicians (Hospital)

THE JOB

HOSPITAL PHARMACY TECHNICIANS, also called Pharmacy Assistants, perform a 
wide range of clerical and technical tasks necessary to the operation of a 
hospital pharmacy.  They enable the licensed pharmacists to concentrate on 
professional functions, such as providing medical staff and patients with 
information and advice.

The primary responsibility of most technicians is to prepare, package, and 
distribute medications prescribed by physicians for hospitalized patients.  
Orders for such medications are written by physicians on the patient's 
chart.  Copies of these "chart orders" are sent daily from all the nursing 
stations to the pharmacy.  After pharmacists review the order for errors or 
potential problems, technicians transcribe the relevant information about 
the patient and the prescribed medications onto the patient's profile.  
These profiles are the basic source of information used by technicians for 
filling medication orders and must be continually updated as new orders are 
received.  Transcribing to the profile from the chart order requires an 
understanding of medical and pharmaceutical terminology and abbreviations.  
Profiles are sometimes generated by computer, using data entered by 
technicians combined with data already stored in the computer.

The most common method used by technicians for preparing and distributing 
prescribed medications is known as "unit dose distribution."  Each day, 
technicians assemble a complete 24-hour supply of medications for every 
hospital patient.  Individual doses of each drug are separately packaged 
and labeled.  All of these unit-doses are then placed in the patient's 
medication cassette.  

Commonly used medications are usually pre-packaged in unit-dose form by 
drug manufacturers, so that technicians need only select the right 
package.  When pre-packaged unit-doses are not available, technicians must 
measure or count the prescribed amount from bulk containers and create the 
package themselves -- generally with the aid of a unit-dose packaging 
device.  When unit doses are to be administered by injection, technicians 
transfer the medication from vials, using aseptic techniques, to the 
appropriate number of sterile, disposable syringes.

Another form in which medications are frequently administered to hospital 
patients is through intravenous (IV) solutions.  To prepare these IV 
admixtures, technicians measure and add drugs or nutrients (IV additives) 
to commercially prepared intravenous solutions.  All mathematical 
calculations must be accurate and very precise, and extreme care must be 
taken to maintain sterile conditions and aseptic techniques.

Inventory control is another area of responsibility for some technicians.  
Technicians keep track of medications, chemicals, and other supplies, and 
prepare orders for additional quantities when stock gets low.  They also 
receive incoming goods, check invoices against quantities received, and put 
supplies into storage.

Additional duties performed by Pharmacy Technicians may include delivering 
drugs and pharmaceutical supplies to nursing stations, keeping pharmacy work 
areas clean and orderly, assisting in the processing of health insurance 
forms, and responding to telephone questions or requests from other hospital 
personnel.


WORKING CONDITIONS

Hospital pharmacies are normally neat, clean, and well-organized.  Pharmacy 
Technicians work under the close supervision of licensed pharmacists.  
Although the work is often repetitive, it is highly precise, demanding good 
judgment, accuracy, and constant attention to detail.  The work also 
requires extreme care in handling and storing drugs and chemicals.  
Physical demands may include moving heavy boxes and delivery carts, 
weighing up to 40 pounds.

In some hospitals, Pharmacy Technicians are represented by the Hospital 
and Institutional Workers Union or other labor organizations.


EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK

The following information is from the California Projections of Employment 
published by the Labor Market Information Division.  The figures represent 
the combined occupations of Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacy Assistants 
which include Pharmacy Technicians (Hospital).

Estimated number of workers in 1990                     6,060
Estimated number of workers in 2005                     7,440
Projected Growth 1990-2005                                23%
Estimated openings due to separations by 2005           1,360

(These figures do not include self-employment nor openings due to turnover)

Because of the increased pharmaceutical needs of a larger, older population, 
growth in this occupation will be almost as fast as the average for all 
others in the state.  Other factors likely to increase the demand for 
Pharmacy Technicians include scientific advances that will make more drug 
products available and developments in administering medication.  
Opportunities will be best in outlying geographic areas.  Pharmacy 
Technician training programs may cause a labor surplus in the areas where 
they are offered.


WAGES, HOURS AND FRINGE BENEFITS

Wages for entry-level Pharmacy Technicians range from $4.50 to $13.25 per 
hour.  Experienced technicians currently earn from $5.50 to about $21.50 per 
hour.  Most hospital pharmacies remain open 16 to 24 hours per day, seven 
days a week.  Pharmacy Technicians may work day, evening, or night shift.  
For some positions, 10-hour shifts are required.  A full-time workweek is 
five days, 40 hours, including rotating weekends.  Many jobs are part-time 
or per diem/on-call.  Benefits include paid vacation, sick leave, medical 
and dental insurance, and retirement plans.  Many hospitals pay vision 
insurance.


ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS AND TRAINING

Pharmacy Technicians must have the minimum of a high school diploma or the 
equivalent and no history of drug abuse.  While some employers will train 
and up-grade hospital pharmacy clerical assistants or ward clerks, most 
hospitals require completion of a recognized Pharmacy Technician training 
program or one to two years of equivalent hospital experience.  This 
combination of training and experience usually must include preparation of 
unit doses and IV admixtures.  Hospitals also expect applicants to have some 
degree of familiarity with medical and pharmaceutical terminology and metric 
measurements.  Typing speed of 30 to 40 words per minute, good communications
skills, and sufficient math ability to perform pharmaceutical calculations 
are also required.  Familiarity with computer data entry is desirable.

Pharmacy Technicians should have above-average manual dexterity, good 
eyesight and normal color vision.  The ability to work under pressure, and 
to deal with patients, nurses, and physicians is essential.

While in high school, students interested in becoming Pharmacy Technicians 
should take courses in typing, math through algebra, and the physical 
sciences.  Chemistry laboratory classes are especially useful.  Currently 
there are five community colleges in California that have Pharmacy Technician 
training programs: 

  -Foothill College, Los Altos Hills
  -Santa Ana College, Santa Ana
  -Cerritos College, Norwalk
  -Saddleback College, Mission Viejo
  -Santa Monica City College, Santa Monica

All five colleges offer one- to two-year certificate programs and optional 
two-year associate degree programs.  Formal training for Pharmacy Technicians
is also available at several Veterans Administration Hospitals in California.
In addition, all of the military services train selected individuals to be 
Pharmacy Technicians/Pharmacy Specialists.

One must be registered with the California State Board of Pharmacy in order 
to seek employment in California.  An applicant for registration must meet 
on of the following requirements:  (A) At least an associate of arts degree 
in a field of study directly related to the duties of a Pharmacy 
Technician.  Directly related fields of study include:  health sciences, 
biological sciences, physical sciences, or natural sciences; (B) Completion 
of a training course accredited by the American Society of Hospital 
Pharmacists, training provided by a branch of the federal armed forces, or 
any other course that provides a minimum of 240 hours of theoretical and 
practical instruction, provided that at least 120 of these hours are in 
theoretical instruction; (C) Eligible to take pharmacist licenser 
examination; (D) At least one year's experience including 1,500 hours 
performing the tasks of a Pharmacy Technician as outlined in Section 1793.2 
of the California Code of Regulations; (E) A minimum of 1,500 hours 
experience within the last three years working in a community or outpatient 
pharmacy performing the tasks outlined in Section 1793.2 of the California 
Code of Regulations.  The registration includes a fee of $25 plus $32 for 
fingerprint processing.


FINDING THE JOB

Students in Pharmacy Technician training programs are sometimes hired after 
graduation by one of the hospitals in which they performed their supervised 
clinical work experience.  Hospitals frequently advertise openings in 
newspaper want ads.  Some also recruit through private employment agencies 
or the California Employment Development Department Job Service.  Job 
seekers should also apply directly to hospital personnel departments 
throughout the state.  For Veterans Administration Hospital positions, 
applicants must pass a Federal civil service examination.


ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION

American Association of Pharmacy Technicians
P.O. Box 1109
Madison, WI  53701

California Society of Hospital Pharmacists,
725 30th Street, Suite 208
Sacramento, CA  95816
(916) 447-1033


RELATED OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES

Medical Technologists                                 No.  17
Pharmacists                                           No. 159
Laboratory Assistants/Laboratory Technicians          No. 201


OCCUPATIONAL CODE REFERENCES

DOT(Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th ed., Rev. 1)
Pharmacy Technician                               074.382-010

OES(Occupational Employment Statistics) System
Pharmacy Technicians                                   325181
Pharmacy Assistants                                    660260



Source:  State of California, Employment Development Department,
         Labor Market Information Division, Information Services Group,
         (916) 262-2162.