ALTH 1121 – Introduction to Pharmacy Technician

Page 1 of 12

I.COURSE TITLE: Introduction to Pharmacy Technician

COURSE NUMBER: 1121CATALOG PREFIX: ALTH

II.PREREQUISITE(S): Acceptance into Pharmacy Tech Program

III.CREDIT HOURS: 2LECTURE HOURS: 1

LABORATORY HOURS: 1 (2 Contact)OBSERVATION HOURS: 0

IV.COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This is an introductory course designed to introduce students to the scope of pharmacy practice. This includes the history of medicine, ethical and legal aspects of drug dispensing, the role of pharmacy technicians, pharmacy terminology and dosage calculations.

V.GRADING:

To satisfactorily complete this course, the student must achieve a grade of B or above according to the following system:

A = 90-100

B = 80-89 (A minimum grade of “B” is required for program continuation)

C = 70-79

D = 60-69

F = 0-59

VI.ADOPTED TEXT(S):

The Pharmacy Technician

Textbook/Workbook

Morton Publishing, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-71731-487-2 (Textbook)

ISBN: 978-1-71731-488-9 (Workbook)

Pharmacy Management Software for Pharmacy Technicians A Work Text, 3rd Edition

DAA Enterprises, Inc

Elsevier, 2017

ISBN: 978-0-323-42832-3 (Software)

VII.COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Upon successful completion of this course the student will be able to:

  • Be Familiar with approaches to medicine in times before the 20th century.
  • Describe developments in medicine in the past.
  • Know the contribution of historical figures in the practice of modern medicine.
  • Have an overall understanding of the pharmacy profession as well as the settings and economic environment in which it operates.
  • Have a general understanding of how computers are used in pharmacy.
  • Be Familiar with the overall aspects of the pharmacy technician job and general role of the pharmacy technician in relation to the pharmacist.
  • Know what personal standards are expected of the pharmacy technician.
  • Know the range of training programs, what agencies establish training and certification regulations, and what organization accredits training programs.
  • Know what technicians must do in order to receive and maintain certification.
  • Describe the role of job applications, resumes, and interviews in the career of a pharmacy technician.
  • Know what kinds of communication are important in pharmacies.
  • Understand the role of pharmacy technicians in preventing medication errors.
  • Differentiate the roles of federal and state laws in the regulation of pharmacy.
  • Describe how standards from professional organizations are used to guide pharmacy practices such as compounding.
  • Know the key legislative acts governing pharmacy practice.
  • Understand the importance of protecting patient privacy and treating all patients with respect.
  • Understand the FDA process for new drug approval.
  • Know the requirements for labels and product labeling for stock mediations, prescription containers and over-the-counter drugs.
  • Know the process for FDA drug recalls.
  • Describe the regulations for controlled substances including ordering, dispensing, and recordkeeping.
  • Describe how civil and criminal judgements affect the practice of pharmacy.
  • Describe how ethical principles can be used to guide decision making in the practice of pharmacy.
  • Understand the three types of pharmacy literature.
  • Know the important federal and state pharmacy organizations and legislations.
  • Describe the common pharmacy references and understand when to use them.
  • Know other pharmacy references including journals, newsletters and textbooks.
  • Understand how to gather accurate information from the internet.
  • Be aware of key pharmacy websites and medical mobile applications.
  • Explain the common nomenclature system used in medical science terminology.
  • Be familiar with the medical science terminology associated with major body organ systems.
  • Recognize how the common nomenclature system is used in naming drug classes.
  • Appreciate the complexity of medical abbreviations.
  • Describe different number forms used in pharmacy.
  • Perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division with fractions.
  • Perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division with decimals using significant figures.
  • Convert between common pharmaceutical and household measurement units.
  • Use dimensional analysis to perform pharmaceutical calculations.
  • Use ratio proportion to perform pharmaceutical calculations.
  • Perform calculations using percent and solutions.
  • Perform calculations using allegations.
  • Perform calculations using powder volume.
  • Perform calculations of children’s doses.
  • Identify the differences between hospital and retail prescription processing.
  • Understand the prescription process, including each of the steps involved from the creation of the prescription to patient pick up and counseling.
  • Understand the proper use and interpretation of common abbreviations used in the prescription-filling process.
  • Understand the elements of prescription and the importance of a prescription filling checklist.
  • Understand the differences in responsibilities between pharmacy technicians and pharmacists, as well as legal and safety reasons for never assuming pharmacist-only responsibilities.
  • Understand the importance of preventing and identifying potential medication errors at every step of the prescription-filling process.
  • Know how to determine the days’ supply for third-party billing.
  • Understand refill, transfer and partial fill.
  • Understand the elements of a prescription label.
  • Distinguish between enteral and parenteral routes of administration.
  • Know the common dosage forms used in enteral an parenteral routes of administration.
  • Understand the unique characteristics or limitations of dosage forms used in enteral and parenteral routes of administration.
  • Explain the need for compounded preparations.
  • Understand factors that must be considered before a preparation is compounded.
  • Know the role of state boards of pharmacy, the USP-NF and the FDA in regulating a compounding pharmacy practice.
  • Explain how to determine beyond-use dates for nonsterile compounded preparations.
  • Describe common equipment used in compounding nonsterile preparations.
  • Know how to measure a liquid in volumetric glassware.
  • Explain how to properly mix solids and semisolids.
  • Describe common nonsterile compounding techniques for various preparations.
  • Understand the reasons for using flavoring and sweetening agents in nonsterile compounded liquids.
  • Understand the requirements of a sterile preparation.
  • Describe the differences between LVP and SVP solutions, and explain the purpose of common specialty parenteral solutions.
  • Describe the use of administration sets and positive pressure pumps to administer parenteral solutions to patients.
  • Explain the importance of using primary engineering controls (PECs) and aseptic techniques in compounding parenteral solutions.
  • Describe the common syringes, needles, filters, and needle-free devices used to make CSPs.
  • Explain how to conduct a final inspection of a CSP.
  • Detail common waste disposal procedures for sharps.
  • Describe the importance of quality assurance and infection control.
  • List and explain the factors that affect incompatibilities in parenteral solutions.
  • Compare and contrast the units of measurement unique to parenteral solutions.
  • Explain how a drug produces a pharmacological effect.
  • Explain why a blood concentration-time profile is an accepted method of indirectly determining the concentration of a drug at the site of action.
  • Explain the influence of ADME processes on blood concentration-time curve.
  • Explain how to determine a drug’s half-life.
  • Identify and explain the influence of three factors on the processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion.
  • Define bioavailability and explain the differences between absolute and relative bioavailability.
  • Define bioequivalency and explain how the FDA uses this information.
  • Understand the human variables that influence drug disposition and drug response.
  • Describe how common disease states can lead to altered drug response.
  • Describe the mechanisms of drug-drug interactions that affect the disposition of one or both drugs and result in either increases in therapeutic or side effects.
  • Explain the types of drug-drug interactions that do not alter the drugs’ disposition but interact at the site of action.
  • Describe drug-diet interactions that alter drug disposition.
  • Describe how drugs are named.
  • Describe how drugs are classified.
  • List brand and generic names for commonly prescribed drugs.
  • Identify medication safety issues for commonly prescribed drugs.
  • Understand the goal and concepts of inventory management.
  • Become familiar with inventory systems for maintaining adequate inventory.
  • Be knowledgeable of the technology used in inventory systems.
  • Know the ordering and receiving process related to inventory management.
  • Be familiar with the forms used during inventory and ordering.
  • Understand the procedures for receiving and storing pharmacy inventory.
  • Understand the procedures for returns and disposal.
  • Become familiar with the processes involving special inventory items.
  • Describe how medication prices have changed over time.
  • Describe the role of third-party programs and pharmacy benefit managers.
  • Describe online adjudication.
  • Explain how a pharmacy technician can resolve rejected third-party claims.
  • Describe billing procedures for Medication Therapy Management services.
  • Have a basic understanding of pharmacy practice in the community setting.
  • Understand the importance of good customer service.
  • Be aware of federal and state regulations affecting pharmacy practice.
  • Understand the organization of prescription processing areas, including transaction windows, storage, prescription preparation counters, compounding areas, and prescription pick-up bins and shelves.
  • Understand how to process prescriptions, including various ways prescriptions are communicated to the pharmacy, entering patient profile and billing information into the pharmacy’s computer system, refill and transfer procedures, and filling hard-copy prescriptions.
  • Understand the basics of generating a prescription label, retrieving the correct product, filling and labeling the prescription, and preparing it for final check by the pharmacist.
  • Understand how to serve costumers picking up their prescriptions and know the purpose of signature logs.
  • Recognize the basics of using a cash register and handling payments.
  • Understand the basics of ordering and receiving stock.
  • Understand the importance of separation and removal of trash.
  • Be familiar with over-the-counter medications.
  • Perform basic calculations associated with the business aspect of pharmacy.
  • List various members of the health-care team.
  • Identify various roles the pharmacy technician plays in the hospital setting.
  • Compare and contrast a central pharmacy with pharmacy satellites.
  • Define hospital formulary and therapeutic interchange.
  • Know how pneumatic tube systems work.
  • Describe the different sections of a patient’s medical chart/and or electronic health record.
  • Discuss different types of medication orders.
  • Differentiate between manual and automated ordering processing.
  • Outline the process for hospital drug inventory ordering and receiving.
  • List information required on an extemporaneous compound label and compounding log.
  • Summarize why unit dose medications are used tin the hospital setting.
  • Compare the differences between single and multi-dose medication vials.
  • Define standard precautions.
  • Identify processes in place at hospitals to prevent medication errors.
  • Explain the importance of Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
  • Discuss the different agencies that regulate hospital operations.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of hospital pharmacy calculations.
  • Describe the role of mail order pharmacies.
  • Describe how long-term care organizations handle pharmacy services.
  • Describe the different types of home infusion therapies and what rules govern preparing home infusion admixtures.
  • Describe the role of nuclear pharmacies in health care.
  • Describe the differences between compounding community pharmacies and traditional community pharmacies.

VIII.COURSE METHODOLOGY:

Class will include a variety of learning experiences which may include but not limited to: lecture, discussion, journaling, group work, audio-visual materials, critical thinking exercises, chapter and workbook assignments, publisher supplemental materials, computer assisted learning, student presentation, student projects, research paper, skill demonstration, skill competency, practical scenarios, human patient simulation, written tests, and other as assigned by the instructor may be utilized as appropriate to meet the course objectives.

Students are expected to apply information and knowledge gained in this course to other health science courses, including practicum assignments.

IX.COURSE OUTLINE:

1.Pharmacy & Health Care

2.The Professional Pharmacy Technician

3.Pharmacy Laws, Regulations & Ethics

4.Information

5.Terminology

6.Calculations

7.Prescription

8.Route & Formulations

9.Nonsterile Compounding

10.Sterile Compounding & Aseptic Techniques

11.Basic Biopharmaceutics

12.Factors Affecting Drug Activity

13.Common Drugs and Their Uses

14. Inventory Management

15.Financial Issues

16.Community Pharmacy

17.Hospital Pharmacy

18.Other Environments

SAMPLE Calendar Outline:

Week 1 / Orientation
Chapter 1-2
Assigned Homework
Read Chapter 3 for next week
Week 2 / Homework for Chapter 1-2 due at beginning of class!
Chapter 3
Assigned Homework
Exam Chapter 1-2 (exams on Blackboard)
Read Chapter 4-5 for next week
Week 3 / Homework for Chapter 3 due at beginning of class!
Chapter 4-5
Assigned Homework
Exam Chapter 3 (exams on Blackboard)
Read Chapter 6 for next week
Week 4 / Homework for Chapter 4-5 due at beginning of class!
Chapter 6
Lab: Ethics case study lab and pharmacy values lab
Assigned Homework
Exam Chapter 4-5 (Bb)
Read Chapter 7 for next week
Week 5 / Homework for Chapter 6 due at beginning of class!
Chapters 7
Assigned Homework
Exam Chapter 6 (Bb)
Read Chapter 8 for next week
Week 6 / Homework for Chapter 7 due at beginning of class!
Chapter 8
Assigned Homework
Exam Chapter 7 (Bb)
Read Chapter 9 for next week
Week 7 / Homework for Chapter 8 due at beginning of class!
Chapter 9
Assigned Homework
Exam Chapter 8 (Bb)
Read Chapter10 for next week
Week 8 / Homework for Chapter 9 due at beginning of class!
Chapter 10
Assigned Homework
Read Chapter11 for next week
Week 9 / Homework for Chapter 10 due at beginning of class!
Chapter 11
Exam Chapters 9-10 (Bb)
Lab: Parts of a prescription
Assigned Homework
Read Chapter 12 for next week
Week 10 / Homework for Chapter 11 due at beginning of class!
Chapter 12
Lab: Prescription Reading
Assigned Homework
Read Chapter 13 for next week
Week 11 / Homework for Chapter 13 due at beginning of class!
Chapter 13
Exam Chapters 11-12 (Bb)
Assigned Homework
Read Chapter 14 for next week
Week 12 / Homework for Chapter 13 due at beginning of class!
Chapter 14
Assigned Homework
Exam 13 (Bb)
Read Chapter 15 for next week
Week 13 / Homework for Chapter 14 due at beginning of class!
Chapter 15
Exam 14 (Bb)
Assigned Homework
Read Chapter 16-18 for next week
Week 14 / Homework for Chapter 15 due at beginning of class!
Chapter 16-18
Exam 15 (Bb)
Assigned Homework
Week 15 / Homework for Chapter 16-18 due at beginning of class!
Exam 16-18 (Bb)
Review for the final exam
Week 16 / Final Exam

Prep ALTH 1122: Per Instructor

You will complete drug cards for Chapters 15-28 in addition to learning the Top 200 Drugs (Example: 20 handwritten cards per week for 10 weeks). Use the ALTH 1122 Packet and Drug Card Template to begin completion for your Drug Card Notebook now.

X.OTHER REQUIRED BOOKS, SOFTWARE AND MATERIALS:

It is highly recommended that students have a home computer (minimum computer requirements recommended for Blackboard Instruction), printer, internet access and USB storage device. Other as determined by instructor (refer to instructor requirements)

XI.EVALUATION:

Knowledge of content is evaluated by written exam, student performance of competency based skills, assignments, and work projects per instructor. All exams are comprehensive. A quiz may be given at instructors’ discretion. Competency-based skill performance is required on each skill discussed and demonstrated. After completion of this course, the student will be requested to complete a form to assist in evaluation of course content and instruction.

Class participation will be evaluated by the student’s ability to contribute to class discussion.

Points will be deducted on all assignments and quizzes for incorrect spelling or grammar.

Students must earn a passing average score of 80% on exams and must pass 100% of all competencies with accuracy rate of 85%. Failure in any of these areas will result in failure of the course.

No make-up tests will be given.

Sample Final Grade Percentage Calculation:

Chapter Exams and/or quizzes70% of final grade (passing score required as above)

Assignments and/or homework 15% of final grade (passing score required as above)

MidTerm and/or Final exam15% of final grade

XII.SPECIFIC MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS:

Students registered for the online course must visit the introduction page for specific management requirements.

To meet the objectives of the online/hybrid course, the students must visit the course web site by the first day of the semester or they will be dropped from the course. The student must visit and comply with the Online Course Requirements, Instructor Requirements and complete the Online Readiness Checklist available on the SSCC website. Students are strongly advised to complete the Online Success Workshops.

Plagiarism – basically, copying someone else’s ideas and/or words and passing them off as yours. This includes copying and pasting material from your peers, books, the Internet, videos, and all copyrighted material without express permission and proper documentation (use quotation marks and citations/footnotes). Honesty and integrity are major elements in professional behavior and are expected of each Health Science Division student. Cheating is considered unacceptable behavior within all Health Science Division courses. Students having academic difficulties should seek guidance assistance from the instructor, academic advisor, or college counselor.

Students observed or found to be cheating in any Health Science Division course will be given a “zero” on the test or assignment. A written report of the incident, signed by the instructor and the student, will be placed in the student’s permanent file. This notice will remain on file and in effect for the remainder of the student’s enrollment in the Health Science Division. Should a second incident of cheating occur in any Health Science Division course, the student will be given a failing grade for the course and will be dismissed from the Health Science Division for one year (all re-application guidelines apply) and possibly from SSCC, as per college guidelines.

The “zero” grade for dishonesty will not be used as the drop grade in a course in which a drop grade option is given. If a student allows another student to copy or cheat from their work, the same ramifications will be given to that student as well. The student witnessing cheating is morally obligated to report the incident to the instructor.