Profession pharmacy technician
Pharmacy technicians, under the supervision of a pharmacist, check incoming goods, control stock, handle and store pharmaceuticals properly. Where permitted by national rules, they dispense medication and provide advice on their appropriate use.
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Personality Type
- Conventional / Realistic
Knowledge
- Medicines for self-medication
Medication which can be self-administered by individuals for psychological or physical problems. This type is sold in supermarkets and drugstores and does not require a doctors prescription. This medication mostly treats common health issues.
Skills
- Comply with legislation related to health care
Comply with the regional and national legislation that is relevant to one`s work and apply it in practice.
- Interact with healthcare users
Communicate with clients and their carer’s, with the patient’s permission, to keep them informed about the clients’ and patients’ progress and safeguarding confidentiality.
- Deal with emergency care situations
Assess the signs and be well-prepared for a situation that poses an immediate threat to a person's health, security, property or environment.
- Empathise with the healthcare user
Understand the background of clients` and patients’ symptoms, difficulties and behaviour. Be empathetic about their issues; showing respect and reinforcing their autonomy, self-esteem and independence. Demonstrate a concern for their welfare and handle according to the personal boundaries, sensitivities, cultural differences and preferences of the client and patient in mind.
- Comply with quality standards related to healthcare practice
Apply quality standards related to risk management, safety procedures, patients feedback, screening and medical devices in daily practice, as they are recognized by the national professional associations and authorities.
- Adhere to organisational guidelines
Adhere to organisational or department specific standards and guidelines. Understand the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and act accordingly.
- Maintain adequate medication storage conditions
Maintain proper storage and security conditions for medication.
- Refer healthcare users
Make referrals to other professionals, based on the healthcare user's requirements and needs, especially when recognising that additional healthcare diagnostics or interventions are required.
- Follow clinical guidelines
Follow agreed protocols and guidelines in support of healthcare practice which are provided by healthcare institutions, professional associations, or authorities and also scientific organisations.
- Work in multidisciplinary health teams
Participate in the delivery of multidisciplinary health care, and understand the rules and competences of other healthcare related professions.
- Process medical insurance claims
Contact the patient`s health insurance company and submit the appropriate forms with information on the patient and treatment.
- Communicate by telephone
Liaise via telephone by making and answering calls in a timely, professional and polite manner.
- Transfer medication
Transfer medication from vials to the appropriate number of sterile, disposable syringes using aseptic techniques.
- Prepare prescription labels
Prepare prescription labels, select the type of prescription container and attach the prescription labels to the container.
- Ensure safety of healthcare users
Make sure that healthcare users are being treated professionally, effectively and safe from harm, adapting techniques and procedures according to the person's needs, abilities or the prevailing conditions.
- Listen actively
Give attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of customers, clients, passengers, service users or others, and provide solutions accordingly.
- Manage healthcare users' data
Keep accurate client records which also satisfy legal and professional standards and ethical obligations in order to facilitate client management, ensuring that all clients' data (including verbal, written and electronic) are treated confidentially.
- Communicate effectively in healthcare
Communicate effectively with patients, families and other caregivers, health care professionals, and community partners.
- Respond to changing situations in health care
Cope with pressure and respond appropriately and in time to unexpected and rapidly changing situations in healthcare.
- Operate cash register
Register and handle cash transactions by using point of sale register.
- Follow control of substances hazardous to health procedures
Adhere to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) procedures for activities that involve hazardous substances, such as bacteria, allergens, waste oil, paint or brake fluids that result in illness or injury.
- Provide health education
Provide evidence based strategies to promote healthy living, disease prevention and management.
- Use e-health and mobile health technologies
Use mobile health technologies and e-health (online applications and services) in order to enhance the provided healthcare.
- Ensure quality assurance for pharmaceutical products
Take the necessary steps to guarantee the quality of pharmaceutical products ensuring that the refrigerators/freezers are at the correct temperature and complete the appropriate documentation.
- Obtain healthcare user's medical status information
Gather healthcare user information through various sources such as questioning the healthcare user, caregiver, or healthcare professional to obtain information on the patient`s health and social status, and interpreting records made by other health care professionals when appropriate.
- Promote inclusion
Promote inclusion in health care and social services and respect diversity of beliefs, culture, values and preferences, keeping in mind the importance of equality and diversity issues.
- Report medication interaction to pharmacist
Identify medication interactions, whether they are drug-drug or drug-patient interactions, and report any interactions to the pharmacist.
- Work in a multicultural environment in health care
Interact, relate and communicate with individuals from a variety of different cultures, when working in a healthcare environment.
- Communicate with customers
Respond to and communicate with customers in the most efficient and appropriate manner to enable them to access the desired products or services, or any other help they may require.
- Apply organisational techniques
Employ a set of organisational techniques and procedures which facilitate the achievement of the set goals set such as detailed planning of personnel's schedules. Use these resources efficiently and sustainably, and show flexibility when required.
- Contribute to continuity of health care
Contribute to the delivery of coordinated and continuous healthcare.
- Manage the logistics of medicinal products
Ensure the storage, preservation and distribution of medicinal products at the wholesale stage.
- Take pharmaceutical inventory
Take stock of medications, chemicals, and supplies, entering the inventory data into a computer, receiving and storing incoming supplies, verifying the supplied quantities against invoices, and informing supervisors of stock needs and possible shortages.
- Check information on prescriptions
Verify the information on prescriptions from patients or from the doctor`s office ensuring that it is complete and accurate.
- Accept own accountability
Accept accountability for one`s own professional activities and recognise the limits of one`s own scope of practice and competencies.
- Maintain pharmaceutical records
Maintain accuracy of prescription records and inventories of medications and pharmaceutical products.
- Ensure the appropriate supply in pharmacy
Ensure the appropriate supply, preparation, testing, storage, distribution and dispensing of safe and efficacious medicinal products of the required quality in pharmacies open to the public.
Optional knowledge and skills
inform policy makers on health-related challenges prepare medication from prescription communicate in foreign languages with health service providers apply context specific clinical competences provide medication information employ foreign languages for health-related research prioritise tasks develop a collaborative therapeutic relationship apply health sciences educate on the prevention of illness advise on healthcare users' informed consent prepare intravenous packs provide pharmaceutical advice prepare doses of medication according to patient needsCommon job titles
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