Expanding Role of Technicians Gives Pharmacists More Time with Patients

In this video filmed at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores-Total Store Expo (NACDS-TSE 2018), Anthony Pudlo, PharmD, MBA, Vice President of Professional Affairs at The Iowa Pharmacy Association, explains the expanding role of pharmacy technicians in Iowa, and how it allows pharmacists to have more time with patients.

TranscriptAnthony Pudlo, PharmD, MBA: "Pharmacy Technicians, I've always seen, are the backbone of any pharmacy, really. They're the ones that really, through their ability, to fill the product, and some of the research that we've been seeing actually help with the product verification piece. It is allowing the pharmacist to have more time in front of the patients. So pharmacy technicians, in Iowa we have a couple different pieces in terms of their need to be registered with the Board of Pharmacy and nationally certificied. So, there is kind of a standard in terms of what a technician can and cannot do, but because of that extra training, and extra certification, that's actually allowed technicians this project to conduct a product verification, but we also see technicians play roles in medication reconcilation, advanced sterile compounding as well. Really, the scope is pretty wide in terms of what technicians are already doing in Iowa, and I know other states are looking at broadening that as well."