Long-Term Care Pharmacy Technicians

Long-Term Care Pharmacy Technicians

Long-term care pharmacy technicians work in settings such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospices, where they provide medication management services to elderly or chronically ill patients. They work under the supervision of a pharmacist and are responsible for tasks such as medication dispensing, medication therapy management, and patient counseling. Some of their duties include:

Help prepare medication orders

One of the primary duties of long-term care pharmacy technicians is to help prepare medication orders for patients in their care. They must ensure that medications are accurately dispensed and packaged according to specific regulations and standards. This may include preparing medications in a variety of forms, such as tablets, capsules, creams, and liquid solutions.

medication therapy management

Long-term care pharmacy technicians must also be skilled in medication therapy management, which involves monitoring patients’ medication regimens to ensure that they are safe and effective. This may include monitoring drug interactions, side effects, and dosages, and communicating any concerns to the supervising pharmacist.

patient counseling

In addition, long-term care pharmacy technicians often play a key role in patient counseling. They may explain medication instructions and side effects to patients, as well as provide advice on healthy living and disease management. They may also assist patients in managing their medications, such as by organizing pill boxes or setting up automatic refills.

be knowledgeable about regulations and standards

Long-term care pharmacy technicians must be knowledgeable about regulations and standards related to medication safety and patient care. They must also be skilled in using electronic health records (EHRs) and other computer-based systems to manage medication orders, patient information, and other related data.

Due to the specialized nature of their work, long-term care pharmacy technicians must undergo specialized training and certification. This may include completing coursework in areas such as geriatric pharmacology, long-term care regulations, and medication safety. They may also be required to complete continuing education courses to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in their field.