Tag Archives: pharmacy

The Day-to-Day Duties of a Pharmacy Technician

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If you’re thinking of becoming a pharmacy technician, you’ll certainly be curious as to what their day-to-day schedule looks like — because it’s what your day-to-day schedule will look like. To help you get a clear picture of what this career consists of, let’s walk through some of the responsibilities typical to pharmacy technicians roles be it in a retail pharmacy, mail order or other pharmacy settings.
Pharmacy Patients
Many pharmacy technicians are expected to provide face to face customer service to patients though some only communicate with patients over the phone and others have no direct communication with patients.  Beyond providing outstanding customer service to patients, many pharmacy technicians are tasked with uploading and processing medication requests and verifying coverage for customers. Before handing prescriptions off to patients, pharmacy technicians must confirm the recipient’s insurance information and personal information so they can accept payment and make adjustments to patient records whenever necessary. Because the costs of some prescriptions can still be high even after being discounted by an insurance company, pharmacy technicians may even help customers apply for manufacturer coupons.
Prescriptions
While physical prescription drop-offs still pass through the hands of some pharmacy technicians such as those in retail, hospital or long term care settings, most drug requests are processed electronically. Once an order has been processed, a pharmacy technician can begin dispensing the medication, which requires them to either retrieve a pre-packaged medication or hand-fill a prescription. This process involves multiple steps of verification to ensure that:
• The medication being dispensed matches the prescription
• The patient receives the appropriate dose and amount of medication
• The prescription label is accurate
• The medication is in stock
• The shipping information is correct for any mail order or specialty pharmacy orders
Third-Party Providers
For a number of prescriptions pharmacy technicians fill, there’s an insurance issue to resolve. On a weekly and sometimes daily basis, pharmacy technicians are placing or receiving calls from third-party providers. That’s because, after submitting a pharmacy claim to an insurance company, pharmacy technicians are often the first to know if the claim was denied for any reason. In some cases, the
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pharmacy technician can easily resolve claim issues by resubmitting it with corrected information or requesting that a patient consult their physician about the timing of their refill.
Join Our Healthcare Talent Network
Could you see yourself in the role of a pharmacy technician? If so, expand your career opportunities with HealthCare Support. Our team of healthcare recruiters can match you with the facilities and job openings that fit your background and future goals. To learn more about our services and gain access to countless healthcare job openings, contact us today at 407-478-0332.

Top Challenges for Pharmacists When Caring for Adolescents

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When treating patients of all ages, genders, and medical histories, pharmacists must consider the best practices on a case-by-case basis. However, adolescent patients often have additional clinical challenges — and even restrictions — that may be a bit harder to prepare for and address as a pharmacist. Here’s a look at some of the top challenges pharmacists face when caring for adolescent patients.

Consent and Confidentiality

Adequate training on the topics of adolescent consent and confidentiality are invaluable to pharmacists with teenage patients, as it will better inform the decision to prescribe or recommend medications. Furthermore, when treating teenage patients, it’s imperative that pharmacists are aware of ways in which the rules of confidentiality may vary among young patients and have a thorough understanding of HIPAA regulations as they pertain to adolescents in particular.

Patient Questions and Concerns

Pharmacists have an opportunity to educate adolescents on medical alternatives that can be pivotal to their health and wellness. However, when answering questions directly from teenage patients or from their parents, pharmacists must understand how to clearly communicate the risks and benefits of such options. And if a patient’s parent is potentially making it difficult for the teen to speak up or ask questions, pharmacists must know when to employ their authority and request privacy, if optional.

Prescriptions and Authority

While the degree of authority that pharmacists have with regards to prescribing medications is growing, it isn’t unlimited. Therefore, pharmacists must be aware of the prescribing restrictions they face on a state-by-state basis. Furthermore, when prescribing medications to adolescents, pharmacists must be especially aware of the necessary dosage adjustments. Considering a medication’s recommended dosage for age, weight, and other factors, pharmacists must employ their best judgement and clinical expertise when amending prescriptions for teenage patients.

Overcome Healthcare Challenges With HealthCare Support

To best prepare for the challenges that face pharmacists, partner with a healthcare recruiter at HealthCare Support. Once you join our talent network, you’ll not only have access to tools designed to help you through the job search and application process, but also ongoing contact with our recruiters. This way, you’ll always be able to get in touch with a professional who can answer your questions or guide you to the best resource for assistance. If you’re interested in joining our talent network, call us today at 407-478-0332.

 

Myths About Pharmacy Careers Debunked

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Plenty of people have misconceptions about what goes on in the world of pharmacy. But if you’re thinking about pursuing a career in the field, even a few wrong ideas can make you second-guess your next move. To help recent grads get started on their careers, let’s get the facts straight about what it actually looks like to work in pharmacy.

Myth #1: Pharmacists need bachelor’s degrees

A career in pharmacy undoubtedly requires years of higher education; however, a bachelor’s degree isn’t a necessary prerequisite for pharmacy school. Of course, more education will look better on a pharmacy school application, but many students enroll in a pharmacy program with just two to three years of undergraduate education.

Myth #2: Pharmacists can’t specialize  

Because pharmacists earn a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) rather than a Doctor of Medicine (MD), many people assume that they’re already in a specialized field. However, pharmacists can specialize their field of practice from a choice of multiple areas, such as:

  • Cardiology
  • Geriatrics
  • Oncology
  • Pediatrics

Myth #3: Pharmacists never interact with patients    

Pharmacists aren’t entirely the behind-the-scenes professionals that many believe them to be. In fact, if patients have a question about their prescription or just need a recommendation for an over-the-counter solution, they often go to pharmacists rather than make an appointment with their general practitioner.

Myth #4: Pharmacists only count pills  

Certainly, pharmacists are responsible for distributing medications and ensuring accurate dosages. However, there are a lot of other tasks that can pop up in their day to day, including:

  • Assisting in product research and clinical trials
  • Filling prescriptions and dispensing drugs
  • Training incoming pharmacists
  • Informing patients on the side effects and proper usage of their prescriptions
  • Fulfilling insurance documents
  • Verifying script and cross-referencing patient records for drug interactions
  • Advising physicians with patient prescription dosage and type

Myth #5: “Pharmacist” is the only job title you’ll see

You will also see titles such as;

  • Staff Pharmacist
  • Clinical Pharmacist (Compounding)
  • Home Infusion Pharmacist
  • Mail Order Pharmacist
  • Prior Authorization Pharmacist

Myth #6: All Pharmacists work in grocery stores

While most are aware of the in-house pharmacists at their local grocer, some are unaware of the variety of other work settings such as;

  • Mail Order Pharmacies / Pharmacy Benefit Management Companies (warehouse/call center settings)
  • Hospital
  • Long Term Care
  • Specialty Pharmacies
  • Retail stores (including independent pharmacies, supermarket chains, mass merchandisers)
  • Closed door pharmacies

Start Your Pharmacy Career Here

If you’re eager to get your foot in the door of pharmacy, talk with the healthcare recruiters at HealthCare Support. Our talented team is dedicated to placing professionals in the right position based on skills, experience, and preference. Through resume building, interview prep, and inside recruiter knowledge, we can help you find your fit in pharmacy and equip you with the tools to succeed. To learn more about our talent network and take the next steps in your career, call us today at 407-478-0332.

How to Network in Pharmacy

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Networking isn’t exclusive to potential job candidates; it’s something professionals must continuously practice in their career. Whether you’re new to the world of networking or want to fine-tune your communication skills, here’s our guide to cultivating the right connections.

Places to Network as a Pharmacist

Even if you know how to network, you might not know exactly where to start. Here are some of the best places to go to when you want to grow your list of professional contacts.

  • Charitable organizations – You don’t have to be a student to rack up some community service hours. Volunteering in your field is a great way to offer your skills to a respectable organization and add some like-minded individuals to your network.
  • School functions – If you’re still in pharmacy school, take advantage of all the student resources on campus. Attend job fairs, interview your professors, and join clubs that can help you network with pharmacists or pharmacy technicians.
  • Pharmacist conferences – Conferences are a key networking tool, because you can select ones specific to your industry. And, you can attend panels, workshops, or individual sessions to expand your knowledge and your network.

Networking Tips for Pharmacists

Networking comes easier to some than others, but it’s still a skill that anyone can master with practice. Here are some tips to help take the edge off of any professional interactions you might have in your networking journey.

  • Learn to actively listen. Making eye contact, nodding your head, and even repeating phrases back to another person lets them know that you are fully engaged in the conversation.
  • Practice your elevator pitch. Whether you’re trying to stand out to an employer or just want to effectively introduce yourself to another medical professional, you need a strong elevator pitch with personal and professional information.
  • Dress professionally. If you want to effectively extend your network of professionals, dress like a professional. Wear neutral colors, groom your hair, and put some extra overall effort into your appearance.
  • Ask questions. To use networking to your advantage, ask employers what they look for in pharmacist applicants. Likewise, when networking with other pharmacists, ask them any questions you have about their career that can help yours.
  • Keep in contact. Email and LinkedIn are professional ways to stay in touch with your connections. After an event, draft an email or send a message reminding them where you met and some key points you talked about.

Start Building Your Pharmacy Network

If you want more networking advice to enhance your professional network, partner with the healthcare networking professionals at HealthCare Support. We’ll work to optimize your resume, improve your elevator pitch, and elevate your professional communication. For more information on our talent network services, call 407-478-0332.