Cross training of hospital pharmacy technicians

Cross training is a job design method that can increase the efficiency and effectiveness of a hospital pharmacy department. Although employee satisfaction is often improved, some employees may fear that cross training makes them expendable. Good communication and employee participation are keys to successful implementation of a cross-training program. Methods of implementing cross-training programs and avoiding potential pitfalls are also described.     

Current status of hospital pharmacy technicians in Michigan

The results of a comprehensive statewide survey of hospital pharmacy technicians are presented. Although this was only a statewide survey, its findings should be of interest to technicians and pharmacists everywhere since very few data of this type are available. In addition, Michigan is a very progressive pharmacy state and has recently implemented a formal technician certification process (described in an appendix) via the Michigan Pharmacists' Association. The survey instrument was mailed to the Directors of Pharmacy at 252 Michigan hospitals. The response rate was 68.7% (173) hospitals). The survey pointed out that Michigan hospitals employ on the average one technician for each pharmacist. Most hospitals required high school graduation and typing skills as a minimum for hiring of a technician. Numerous technician work responsibilities were identified, including the admixture of sterile products. Technicians in this survey had a variable work schedule, and the future job market appeared to be healthy. Most of the technicians were females under the age of 30. Average hourly wages for regular technician position ranged from $5.05 to $6.25 (June 1981). Numerous categories of technicians were noted, and about 20% of the technicians were unionized. Many of the hospitals utilized a formal on-the-job technician training program. The performance of the majority of technicians was evaluated annually, and many opportunities existed for continuing education. The concept of technician certification appeared to be looked upon favorably by most of the pharmacy directors.     

美国药师与药学技术员培训与认证

目的:了解美国药师和药学技术员的认证体系,为我国药学专业人员的认证与培训体系的发展提供借鉴。方法:通过访问美国药学认证委员会、药学专家委员会等官方网站并检索国内文献,了解美国临床药师与药学技术员认证所针对的学员及准入资格、认证流程与再认证等内容。结果:美国药师和药学技术员的培训与认证机构繁多,针对不同阶段、不同专科药学人员有不同的机构设置和授权机构。药学专家的认证是针对"临床药师"的专业认证,下设不同专科,且认证有周期性;药学技术员的培训准入及通过的要求相对较低。结论:美国对药师和药学技术员的培训与认证的准入资格、性质等要求明确,流程严谨。中国可以之为鉴,尽快建立、完善药学工作者认证制度,明确药学工作者的职责与价值,推动临床药学事业健康、快速发展。     

Attitudes of pharmacy students toward mental illness

Undergraduate pharmacy students' attitudes toward mental illness were measured by a questionnaire that also included questions about students' demographic variables and previous exposure to mental illness. Baccalaureate pharmacy students entering their first week of clinical rotations were asked to voluntarily complete a questionnaire that included Whatley's social distance scale and Morrison's Client Attitude Questionnaire version B (CAQ-B). Information was also sought about demographics, socio-economic factors, and prior exposure to mental illness. Possible total scores for Whatley's social distance scale range from 8 to 24, with lower scores implying more favorable attitudes toward mentally ill patients. Possible total scores for the CAQ-B range from 20 to 60, with scores lower than 40 indicative of a medical-model orientation and scores higher than 46 indicative of a psychosocial-model orientation. A total of 250 students completed the questionnaire. The first 85 students received Morrison's CAQ-B; the other 165 students completed both scales. The mean +/- S.D. score of 13.6 +/- 3.5 on the social distance scale indicates that the pharmacy students generally had favorable attitudes towards patients with mental illness. The mean +/- S.D. score of 32.8 +/- 3.6 on the CAQ-B indicates that the pharmacy students accepted a medical-model orientation. Students reporting a family history of psychiatric diagnoses and hospitalizations, a personal psychiatric diagnosis, or a history of visiting a psychiatric hospital had more favorable attitudes toward mentally ill patients. Female students and students who had a family history of psychiatric hospitalizations and diagnoses were significantly more oriented toward the medical model than students without this history.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Using hospital pharmacy technicians to check unit dose carts

This study was undertaken to evaluate the accuracy of technicians checking unit dose carts as compared with pharmacists checking unit dose carts. The final (after check) fill in both arms of the study was evaluated for accuracy on the same five criteria: 1) correct drug, 2) correct dose, 3) correct dosage form, 4) correct quantity, and 5) expiration date. In the technician arm, 7571 doses were checked with 10 errors, giving a 99.76% (1 error in 420) accuracy. In the pharmacist arm of the study, 3116 doses were checked with 34 total errors, giving a 98.91% (1 error in 92) accuracy. The results of this study indicate that technicians would have as high if not a higher accuracy rate than pharmacists. Using pharmacy technicians in this role should continue the same level of care by maintaining a high accuracy in medication dispensing and provide greater economic benefit to the organization by using technical rather than professional personnel.     

Errors remaining in unit dose carts after checking by pharmacists versus pharmacy technicians

The accuracy of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in checking unit dose carts was compared. One-half of the unit dose patient medication drawers, for a 92-bed medicine service in a 450-bed teaching hospital, were checked by pharmacy technicians and the remaining by pharmacists. These drawers then were checked again to determine the number and type of checking errors committed by technicians and pharmacists. During the 10-day study, carts checked by pharmacists contained over twice as many errors (1.85%) as similar carts checked by technicians (0.87%). The results suggest that pharmacy technicians could probably be trained to perform the cart-checking task in unit dose drug distribution systems. Time-extended studies should be done to determine if technician performance is maintained after the novelty of the task wears off.     

Accuracy of medication histories collected by pharmacy technicians during hospital admission

Background

Transitioning activities that do not require clinical judgment from pharmacists to pharmacy technicians has been endorsed as a strategy to increase patient access to clinical pharmacy services. One role becoming increasingly common is using pharmacy technicians to collect the medication history within medication reconciliation processes.