Drugstore Chains Rely on Pharmacy Technicians

Drugstore chains are turning to pharmacy technicians to cope with rising prescription orders and a shortage of pharmacists.

The problem is, many are teenagers with no more than high school diplomas — working in many states that don't certify the technicians as they do pharmacists or mandate the ratio of pharmacists to technicians to ensure prescription safety.

Most Americans aren't aware of the danger. In a December 2007 study, 73 percent believed falsely that technicians "are required by law to be trained and certified before they can help prepare prescriptions."

Walgreens, the nation's largest drugstore chain by sales and profits employs about 24,000 pharmacists and 39,000 technicians. CVS employs 20,000 pharmacists and 41,000 technicians who do work pharmacists used to perform such as prescription data entry, counting pills, filling vials and ringing registers. Pharmacists make more than $100,000 annually. Technicians earn an average of $23,000 a year.

While they free pharmacists to perform more clinical functions and counsel patients, technicians sometimes make mistakes time-strapped pharmacists don't notice. No national standards exist for the number of technicians a pharmacist can capably supervise and state standards vary widely. Sixteen impose no limits. Six require a 4-to-1 ratio of technicians to pharmacists. The rest of the states require ratios of 2-to-1 or 3-to-1.

Pharmacists must pass pharmacy board exams in each state. The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board test exists for technicians but many states don't require it.

Nearly 26,000 of Walgreen's 39,000 technicians are certified. The chain subsidizes test fees and gives raises to technicians who pass. CVS says about 12,000 of its 41,000 technicians are certified, and it pays for study guides and registration fees. Both chains have companywide training systems, but Walgreens is the only chain whose training is approved by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. CVS requires technicians to pass internal training at three levels as they move up to more difficult tasks.

Tips to Prevent Mistakes with Technician Use Increasing

• Become an expert on your condition.
• Count your pills after the prescription is filled.
• Read all warnings on the label and read the label carefully.
• Visit your library and photocopy information about your drug in the current year's Physician's Desk Reference. This is the same book used by your doctor. Find your drug's name by using the index and particularly note any warnings or danger signals described.

Source: CNN.com