A Day in the Life of a Pharmacy Technician

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If you are thinking about becoming a pharmacy technician, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the daily tasks and situations you will need to handle in this field of work. Pharmacy technician work is a fast-growing career path in the medical field and can be a great job for those who are qualified.

Read through the information below to learn more about a typical daily experience for a pharmacy technician.

Working with Customers

Perhaps the most important part of a pharmacy technician’s job is working with customers. This is a crucial element in your career that requires you to provide quality customer service, answer questions, and help solve problems every step of the way.

You will work with customers to accept, fill, and dispense prescriptions. You may also need to work a cash register or drive-through window, and you will need to be able to answer customer questions by phone as well. Although a pharmacy technician cannot legally provide information about drug interactions or dosages, you can and will need to answer any other questions from your customers.

Working with Medical Professionals

You will also spend time working with medical professionals in this career, especially by phone. Doctors, nurses, surgeons, and other specialists will call in prescriptions for their patients throughout the day. Some of these may also come through via email, fax, or special programs designed for doctors and pharmacies to use.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding these prescriptions—or if the patient does—you will need to reach out to the prescribing medical professional to find out more information. Because of this, you will need to be able to communicate professionally and understand what the doctors tell you when you contact them, too.

Working with Coworkers and Head Pharmacists

Next, you will need to know how to work well as part of a team. As a pharmacy technician, you will be a part of a working machine that is your place of business. You will serve a purpose and fill a role, and there will likely be other techs who fill the same role during your shift—unless you work in a very small practice. There will also be a lead pharmacist on staff.

You will need to be able to work cohesively with your fellow techs and take instruction from the head pharmacist. You will also need to go to the head pharmacist with any questions you cannot legally answer regarding medication.

Working with Insurance Companies

Insurance companies may sometimes provide the most complicated part of your job as a pharmacy technician. When you receive a prescription for a patient, you will need to look up that patient’s insurance information and then submit a claim for coverage. From there, the insurance company will let you know whether or not the medication is covered, and if so, by how much.

Sometimes, you may know the information provided by an insurance company is wrong. Other times, a doctor or patient will tell you the information is wrong instead. In these situations, you’ll need to handle insurance claims disputes.

Working with Inventory

As a pharmacy technician, you will be required to stock inventory throughout most shifts. Inventory usually includes a variety of medications, some of which may be very sensitive and require extra care and attention while stocking.

Most pharmacies will require you to keep track of every pill you stock through digital recording methods. Your specific pharmacy will, of course, train you on the best way to do this and ensure you understand the importance of keeping track of all stocked and dispensed medication.

Working with Computers

As part of this career path, you will also be expected to work regularly with computers. All pharmacies in the United States have either already moved to a digital-only format or are in the process of doing so, and it is crucial to know how to operate the computer programs that are part of daily work in this field.

You will be trained on the specific programs used by your pharmacy, but you will also need to already have some basic computer knowledge and experience before you begin. You will also need to feel comfortable filing, taking payment, and recording information on a computer.

Final Thoughts

If you are interested in becoming a pharmacy technician, be sure to look into a variety of pharmacy technician schools like UMA to find out more. When you choose the right school, you can give yourself the best possible chance for success by setting yourself up with a quality education.

Working with pharmacy technician schools, you can also ensure you will have the right type of hands-on experience to help you learn more about pharmacy technician work, too. With a combination of experience and knowledge, you can find the perfect job and enjoy your new career.

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