Expert: The Role of the Pharmacy Technician has Evolved into an Active Patient Care Position

Sindhuja Merugu, pharmacy technician at Health Mart Family Pharmacy discusses the role of the pharmacy technician, how the pharmacy technician profession has changed, and what is to come in the field, to celebrate National Technician Day, on October 17^th.

Pharmacy Times

Can you introduce yourself?

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Sindhuja Merugu

Hi, my name is Sindhuja Merugu and I am a pharmacy technician at Family Pharmacy, which is a Health Mart pharmacy. I've been a pharmacy tech for about six years. I have experience in retail, specialty and now a community independent pharmacy. I'm passionate about providing the best patient care and helping to create a healthcare community.

Pharmacy Times

How have you seen the role of the technician change and evolve throughout your career?

Sindhuja Merugu

In my six years in the pharmacy world, I've seen the role of the pharmacy technician evolve and change dramatically. When I first started, pharmacy technicians were mostly just doing administrative things, such as answering the phone, filling prescriptions, running through insurance claims. However, in the last several years, we've seen a change in pharmacy technicians taking on a more active patient care role. In some of those are things such as vaccine administration, point of care testing, screenings, providing many medications management therapy and helping pharmacist implement patient care plans. Health Mart also has multiple programs that help to support technician development. These programs are ASHP and ACPE — accredited pharmacy programs that can help you train to be a pharmacy technician and become a certified pharmacy technician with the national board, as well as getting your state pharmacy technician license. There's also continuing education programs available through Health Mart for pharmacy technicians. One of those programs is a vaccine administration program which can help you become an immunizer. Another program that I was fortunate to be involved with is the community health worker program. It was a 16-week course which covered how we could help the community not just in a pharmaceutical way, but in helping find food for patients who are food insecure or shelter for patients struggling with finding housing, and also other financial health for things such as electricity bills. There's just a myriad of different ways that we could help the community. Health Mart has also partnered with Find Help. Anybody can go to https://healthmart.findhelp.com/ Once you access that website, you can type in your zip code, and there's so many different resources available to many, many individuals all around the country.

Pharmacy Times

How are you celebrating this National Pharmacy Technician Day?

Sindhuja Merugu

I'm celebrating National Pharmacy Technician Day by taking some time to reflect on all the important work that pharmacy technicians do, day in and day out. Also taking some time to think about all the fantastic pharmacy technicians I've had the opportunity to work with in my career. Just being grateful for all the things that they've passed down to me and all the tips and tricks and different ways that we can provide the best patient care and go above and beyond for patients.

Pharmacy Times

What does the value of the pharmacy technician mean to you?

Sindhuja Merugu

Personally, I think the value of the pharmacy technician is immeasurable. Not only are they highly skilled and knowledgeable, but they are also very compassionate. They go above and beyond for patients to help find them affordable and accessible care and make sure that they are getting the medications that they need, at the price that they can afford. They give them the opportunity to ask questions and be the front line for patients who might be nervous or anxious about starting a new medication and giving them that confidence encouraged to speak with the pharmacist and get all their questions answered.

Pharmacy Times

How do you see the future of pharmacy technicians evolving?

Sindhuja Merugu

I think technicians will continue to evolve. I think there will be a continuation in the active role in patient care —not just with immunizing but with whatever comes in the future. I believe that pharmacy technicians will also have the opportunity to help with advancement and technology for pharmacies, and also professional development. I think pharmacy technicians will also be able to advocate for pharmacies at a federal and state level — not just helping with immunizations authorization for pharmacy technicians, which came through with the PREP Act, but with helping pharmacist fight for provider status.

Pharmacy Times

Is there anything you'd like to add?

Sindhuja Merugu

I just want to acknowledge all the pharmacists for American Pharmacists Month and also all of the pharmacy technicians for National Technician Day and appreciate them for all that they do and all the meaningful work that they do for their patients. I'm also grateful for this opportunity with Pharmacy Times and thank you so much.