Pharmacy technicians, supporting our past, shaping our future: Implementing an ASHP-ACPE-accredited pharmacy technician training program in an academic medical center

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

Abstract

PURPOSE: Pharmacy technician training and education vary depending on practice site and state law. Although technician certification provides a national standard for credentialing, not all states require it, making certification a voluntary process for technicians or the organizations employing them. As the role of the pharmacist has evolved, the need for highly trained pharmacy technicians has grown. The pharmacy technician's expanded role in specialized areas of pharmacy practice has created new opportunities that require advanced training. SUMMARY: Research is lacking on return on investment for workforce development programs, making it difficult to advocate for pharmacy technician training programs. Therefore, it is important to create internal metrics that link one's program to business performance. This begins with conducting a job market analysis for the geographic area. It is imperative to identify the current occupational outlook for pharmacy technicians, identifying areas with potential for growth as well as where there are shortages or high turnover. Successful development of an American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)-accredited pharmacy technician program requires a long-term strategy to address key market issues as well as social and economic barriers and financial data to secure funding. CONCLUSION: This case study details Yale New Haven Hospital's journey from proof of concept to implementation of an ASHP-ACPE-accredited pharmacy technician training program.

First Page

179

Last Page

186

DOI

10.1093/ajhp/zxab242

Publication Date

1-24-2022

Identifier

34105721 (pubmed); 10.1093/ajhp/zxab242 (doi); 6295284 (pii)

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