Pharmacy Technician Scope Of Practice
WHAT DO PHARMACY TECHNICIANS DO?
The scope of practice for pharmacy technicians changes from province to province. It's essential to keep updated on what the differences are for Canadian jurisdictions. In June 2019, the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) published a document to outline pharmacy technicians' scope and practice differences across Canada.
When considering pharmacy technicians' scope of practice, it's essential to understand the groups, categories, and definitions of a pharmacy technicians' tasks. CAPT is happy to provide a general definition for these groups and categories as a resource for pharmacy technicians and the general public.
Learn More About UsCompounding
Part Of The Pharmacy Tech Scope
Compounding refers to mixing two or more ingredients, including at least one drug or pharmacologically active component, to create a product for dosing.
Develop A Master Formula Or Compounding Protocol
Developing a Master Formula or Compounding Protocol involves creating a process that describes the formula. This includes all of the steps to be followed during preparation for the compounder to comply with. The new formula or protocol must consist of all of the information necessary to recreate this compound. The development of any formulas or protocols must be based on scientific data and include all appropriate references.
Compound Drugs According To A Master Formula Or Compounding Protocol
Pharmacy technicians can combine ingredients following the protocol from a previously created Master Formula or Compounding Protocol to create a final finished product.
Determine A Beyond-Use Date
Establishing a beyond-use date, the date and time after which a compounded preparation needs to be disposed of can no longer be used, based on stability and sterility data. The data must come from already available and academically recognized scientific literature.
Dispensing & Receiving Prescriptions
New & Refill Prescriptions
Receive A Verbal Order From A Prescriber For A Drug
Pharmacy technicians in certain jurisdictions can receive and transcribe verbal orders for drugs and products, except for controlled substance prescriptions, from an authorized prescriber.
Perform A Technical Check Of A New Prescription
Technical checks of new prescriptions include determining the validity, clarity, completeness and authenticity of new prescriptions. This also includes verifying the prescription label against the original prescription. Pharmacy technicians will verify patient information, drug, dosage, strength, how to administer, directions of use, the prescriber, quantity, refills and the auxiliary labels. Pharmacy technicians do not handle patients' assessments or verify the appropriateness or suitability of the prescription/drug for its use; this falls under the pharmacist's scope.
Perform A Technical Check Of A Refill
Technical checks of refills include determining the validity, clarity, completeness and authenticity of the refill. This also includes verifying the prescription label against the original prescription. Pharmacy technicians will verify patient information, drug, dosage, strength, how to administer, directions of use, the prescriber, quantity, refills and the auxiliary labels. Pharmacy technicians do not handle patients' assessments or verify the appropriateness or suitability of the prescription/drug for its use; this falls under the pharmacist's scope.
Perform A Technical Check Of Controlled Substance Prescription
Technical checks of new prescriptions include determining the validity, clarity, completeness and authenticity of new prescriptions. This also includes verifying the prescription label against the original prescription. Pharmacy technicians will verify patient information, drug, dosage, strength, how to administer, directions of use, the prescriber, quantity, refills and the auxiliary labels. Pharmacy technicians do not handle patients' assessments or verify the appropriateness or suitability of the prescription/drug for its use; this falls under the pharmacist's scope.
Transfer Prescriptions (Excluding Controlled Substances)
Pharmacy technicians can transfer prescriptions from the pharmacy currently dispensing medication to another licensed pharmacy. Controlled substances cannot be transferred to another pharmacy. A pharmacy technician must verify the prescription as current, the most recent prescription is available, and the prescription is inactivated at the originating pharmacy following the transfer.
Provide Instructions
Provide Instructions On How To Operate Medical Devices
Pharmacy technicians will provide instructions for patients on how to use, operate and maintain their health aids, monitoring devices, drug administration devices, and other medical devices. Technicians will not explain anything involving the interpretation of the results or any additional information that requires clinical analysis, patient assessment or application of therapeutic knowledge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Provide Information
Provide Medication Information To Patients
Pharmacy technicians can provide information about medications to patients as long as it does not require the application of therapeutic knowledge, assessment of the patient, or clinical analysis.
Schedule A CallPerform A Procedure
Perform A Procedure On Tissue Below The Dermis
In some circumstances, including the patient's consent or their authorized agent, a pharmacy technician may perform procedures that will pierce a patient's dermis under the supervision of a pharmacist. For example, to demonstrate the proper use of lancet-type devices to educate the patient on their chronic disease self-monitoring.
Malpractice Insurance
Dispensing Location
Supervise A Remote Dispensing Location
A remote dispensing location refers to a location that drugs are dispensed and sold to the public while a pharmacist is not physically present but still supervising. These remote dispensing locations are staffed with regulated pharmacy technicians.
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