THE PCCA BLOG

The Evolving Role of Pharmacy Technicians: An Interview With Mike Johnston of NPTA

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 14:20:49 GMT

By Erin Michael, MBA, MS, CPhT, PCCA Director of Member Engagement

This is the fourth article in a series that explores career opportunities for the pharmacy technicians of today. In the first article, I discussed how technician roles have changed over time. For the second article, I interviewed Jennifer Petska of the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding to get her take on technicians now and in the future. I interviewed Liza Chapman of the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board for the third article to get her insights as well. This one features Mike Johnston of the National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA), whom I also talked to for my first article. Here, he echoes what he shared with me previously: He has seen the role of pharmacy technicians evolve significantly over the years, and as a result, we are seeing it become more advanced and career oriented. I hope you enjoy the interview!

Mike Johnston, CPhT, pictured above, is the CEO of NPTA.

How did you get started in the pharmacy field?

I got my start in the mid-1990s in a retail pharmacy at a time when there were no real regulations or training programs for technicians. It was all on-the-job training. I obtained my Pharmacy Technician Certification Board CPhT certification in 1997 and went on to start NPTA in 1999.

Also on The PCCA Blog: Professional Opportunities for the Pharmacy Technician of Today

How have you seen the role of the pharmacy technician evolve over the years?

The role of the pharmacy technician has evolved immensely over the past 25 years, coinciding with the evolution of the role of pharmacists. Now that we have more regulations, national certification, and generally accepted education and training requirements, we have seen pharmacy technicians be able to take on more of the administrative and dispensing functions while pharmacists have been able to move more into clinical roles.

If you had a crystal ball, what would the role of the pharmacy technician look like in 10 years?

While I don’t try to speculate too much, I feel confident that in 10 years, the role of the pharmacy technician will be even more advanced to support the advancing role of pharmacists.

Also on The PCCA Blog: The Evolving Role of Pharmacy Technicians: An Interview With Jennifer Petska of APC

What advice would you give someone who is a new pharmacy technician or thinking about becoming one?

There has never been greater demand or opportunities for pharmacy technicians, and the opportunities extend well beyond traditional retail and hospital pharmacy.

What advice would you give experienced technicians about advancing their careers?

The best advice I could give experienced technicians about advancing their careers is to never stop learning, growing and networking. There are exciting opportunities for those who are willing to invest in themselves and their careers.

Also on The PCCA Blog: The Evolving Role of Pharmacy Technicians: An Interview With Liza Chapman of PTCB

Erin Michael, MBA, MS, CPhT, PCCA Director of Member Engagement, joined the PCCA staff in July 2006. She has been working in pharmacy for more than 25 years, of which 23 have been in compounding and promoting the practice of pharmacy. She holds an MBA in health care administration and an MS in hospitality management. She was recognized as PCCA Technician of the Month in August 1999 and California Pharmacists Association Technician of the Year in 2003.

A version of this article originally appeared in PCCA’s members-only magazine, the Apothagram.

The Evolving Role of Pharmacy Technicians: An Interview With Liza Chapman of PTCB

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 17:49:22 GMT

By Erin Michael, MBA, MS, CPhT, PCCA Director of Member Engagement

This is the third in a series of articles that explore career opportunities for pharmacy technicians in light of their evolving role within health care. Whether getting certified to administer vaccines through the National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA) or taking on leadership roles within pharmacies and beyond, we’re seeing an incredible expansion of possibilities that go well beyond the traditional idea of the technician.

My first article in the series discussed how technician roles have changed and highlighted NPTA’s vaccination certification program. In my second article, I interviewed Jennifer Petska, CPhT, of the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding (APC), to get her take on technicians now and in the future. Liza Chapman is the second of the professionals we will be featuring in this series. Beyond telling her story, she also provides advice to both new and experienced technicians. I hope you enjoy the interview and find her insights valuable.

Liza Chapman, PharmD, FAPhA, pictured above, is the Vice President of Partnership Development at the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).

How did you get started in the pharmacy field?

It was not until the summer before I went off to college that I ever considered a career in the profession of pharmacy. For as long as I could remember, I always wanted to be a teacher — high school science, to be exact. During freshman orientation at Berry College, my advisor, Dr. James Rhodes, shared with me a few occupations that I should think about, and one was becoming a pharmacist. He said that, based on my interests and personality, I may be well suited for a profession in pharmacy. From that point on, I began doing my research to identify the prerequisite classes for admission into a college or school of pharmacy. I even shadowed a pharmacist from my hometown to determine if pharmacy was the best career for me. I quickly fell in love with all aspects of community practice and was very driven and focused, with my eye set on the goal of being accepted into pharmacy school.

After applying, being interviewed and taking the PCAT, I was accepted to Mercer University College of Pharmacy in Atlanta, Georgia, and I graduated in May of 2002. After graduation, I completed a PGY1 Community-Base Pharmacy Residency with Mercer University and The Kroger Co. I have Dr. Rhodes to thank for setting me on the path of a lifelong and meaningful profession in pharmacy.

How have you seen the role of the pharmacy technician evolve over the years?

In my opinion, the role of pharmacy technicians has evolved dramatically over the past 23 years from when I entered the profession. Two decades ago, pharmacy technicians weren’t providing patient-care services as they are today. Technicians at that time were serving in supportive roles, assisting with billing, paperwork, dispensing, ordering supplies, and other administrative tasks. Today, technicians are highly qualified and trained to administer vaccinations and conduct point-of-care screenings. Technicians have stepped up and are performing medication histories in both community and institutional practice settings while compounding the majority of medications in sterile and nonsterile environments. Technicians are serving in leadership and supervisory roles as well, such as store and district management of large pharmacy corporations, while some have become owners of neighborhood pharmacies. The days of pharmacy technicians only serving in customer service and dispensing roles are memories of the past.

Also on The PCCA Blog: Professional Opportunities for the Pharmacy Technician of Today

If you had a crystal ball, what would the role of the pharmacy technician look like in 10 years?

The opportunities, along with the roles and responsibilities for pharmacy technicians, have expanded greatly over a very short period of time and will continue to do so as the demand for patient care continues. My crystal ball tells me that employers and regulators value the expanded responsibilities of technicians and are taking notice of the enhanced supportive roles that are allowing pharmacists to perform and practice at the very top of their licenses. With this, employers are creating greater career opportunities with establishing ladders for success within their organizations, and regulators are taking the necessary steps to change rules and regulations and even legislation to allow pharmacy technicians to meet their highest potentials. Technician job satisfaction is increasing while more and more individuals are choosing to establish lifelong careers. Ultimately, patients are winning as their care is optimized through the work of pharmacists and technicians.

What advice would you give someone who is a new pharmacy technician or thinking about becoming one?

If you have any interest in learning more or are considering a career as a pharmacy technician, I strongly encourage you to do your research about the profession, including speaking with several technicians working in different practice settings. Receiving firsthand information about the job requirements is a great way to determine if the career is something to consider. With HIPAA, it can be difficult to shadow or volunteer in a pharmacy these days, but it is still worth seeing if there are any shadowing opportunities at a local pharmacy. It is truly worth asking the owner if any options exist.

Also, I would recommend seeking out career fairs for organizations hiring pharmacy technicians. Attending a job fair may also allow you to gain more information and ask important questions about the requirements of the profession. Consider applying for a job, too, because there is no better way to know if you have what it takes to work as a technician. Visiting your state board of pharmacy website will also be extremely helpful to determine the necessary requirements to serve as a pharmacy technician in your specific state. Doing ample research will answer many questions and help you to determine if being a pharmacy technician is a true fit for you.

What advice would you give experienced technicians about advancing their careers?

If you want to advance your career in the profession of pharmacy, I would first suggest speaking with your supervisor about growth opportunities and establishing a path for advancement. Asking about the options available for promotion and the requirements involved will also allow management to know that there is interest in moving up within the organization. If you aren’t nationally certified, I would encourage you to pursue certification. This will open up more doors for you to assume greater roles and responsibilities, and it validates your commitment to the profession to fellow colleagues and employers. Certified technicians are able to perform additional tasks, such as product verification, prescription transfers and immunization administration, while increasing the pharmacist-to-technician ratio in states that have regulations that allow such responsibilities. If you are a PTCB-certified pharmacy technician, you now also have the opportunity to earn the Advanced CPhT (CPhT-Adv) credential by pursuing assessment-based certificate programs in various areas to demonstrate expertise and interest as well as work experience. Finally, you should be willing to take on additional challenges and chances, and seek opportunities even when options are not readily available.

Also on The PCCA Blog: The Evolving Role of Pharmacy Technicians: An Interview With Jennifer Petska of APC

Erin Michael, MBA, MS, CPhT, PCCA Director of Member Engagement, joined the PCCA staff in July 2006. She has been working in pharmacy for more than 25 years, of which 23 have been in compounding and promoting the practice of pharmacy. She previously worked for an independent pharmacy owner and was the general manager of multiple locations. Erin was instrumental in developing and implementing programs to promote and grow the compounding and traditional parts of that business. She holds an MBA in healthcare administration and an MS in hospitality management. She was recognized as PCCA Technician of the Month in August 1999 and California Pharmacists Association Technician of the Year in 2003.

A version of this article originally appeared in PCCA’s members-only magazine, the Apothagram.

Profile In Personalized Medicine - Amy Hoefer

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 12:56:56 GMT

This Profile in Personalized Medicine highlights Amy Hoefer, CPhT, Laboratory Manager and Technician of O'Brien Pharmacy, owned by Eric Everett and Lisa Everett Anderson in Mission, Kansas. They have been proud PCCA members since 1984.

How long have you been compounding?
About 12 years.

Did you always want to work in the field of pharmacy? What led you to pursue it as a career?
I live in a small town, so there wasn't much available locally, and I felt very lucky to have found a position at the town drug store. I started there at 18 years old and found that I really enjoyed it. I started in retail, then eventually accepted a position with a hospital pharmacy, where I helped with IVs and total parenteral nutrition (TPN) bags, and from there went to O'Brien. I've been with O'Brien Pharmacy for about 17 years.

When did you learn about compounding, and why did you start doing it?
O'Brien Pharmacy was my first real experience with compounding. I had no idea it was a thing until I walked through those doors for the first time. It was very exciting to find out that we actually made prescriptions versus only counting out pills. The pharmacy was very small when I started, so everything was done by pharmacists — formulating, weighing, mixing and finishing. I was eventually part of the cleanup crew. Then I moved to mixing and finishing on the nonsterile side of the business. It was exhilarating! Now I no longer work with nonsterile, unless help is needed. I am a sterile trained technician and have done that for about six years now.

What do you find most fulfilling about compounding?
I love the fact that it's customizable. Being able to compound makes the relationship with the clients more personal. I truly feel that we, as compounders, are making a huge difference in people's lives.

What are some of the challenges you have been able to overcome?
We have a client thawho has issues related to drug absorption. They were on all sorts of medications, feeding tube and constant watch, and they were wheelchair bound when they first came to us. They spend a great deal of time in the hospital and have to carry around all sorts of machines wherever they go.
We started supplying a compounded medication in an IV bag that the patient’s doctor had prescribed to help with absorption, which eventually helped them get off some of the machines and medications, and they can also eat some regular food. They are able to get out of their wheelchair, be more mobile and visit the pharmacy to let us know how they're doing. This client has become very special to the staff at our pharmacy.

What advice would you give to a new compounder?
No matter what may be happening around you, always remember that you are making something with your own two hands, and that finished product is making someone better. Some compounds are tedious, but the results make it all worth it!