In-Depth
View all In-depth content
In hospital settings, medication reconciliation stands as a cornerstone in patient safety efforts, ensuring accurate medication histories and preventing adverse drug events. Pharmacy technicians play a pivotal role in this process, offering indispensable support to pharmacists and healthcare teams. As hospital pharmacy leaders and executives navigate the complexities of healthcare delivery, harnessing the full potential of pharmacy technicians in medication reconciliation becomes paramount for optimizing patient outcomes and operational efficiency.
The Role of Pharmacy Technicians in Medication Reconciliation
Pharmacy technicians are instrumental in ensuring comprehensive and accurate medication reconciliation processes within hospital environments. Their responsibilities include gathering medication histories from patients and caregivers, verifying medication lists, and documenting relevant information for pharmacists and clinicians. By meticulously reviewing discrepancies and collaborating with other healthcare providers, technicians help mitigate risks associated with medication errors and improve overall patient safety.
Moreover, pharmacy technicians are adept at utilizing technology-driven solutions for reconciling medications across transitions of care, such as admissions, transfers, and discharges. Their proficiency in pharmacy information systems and electronic health records enables them to streamline workflows and maintain up-to-date medication records, thereby supporting seamless transitions and continuity of care for patients.
Upson Regional Medical Center (URMC) streamlined their medication reconciliation processes in 2021 when they deployed a single pharmacy technician to the Emergency Department (ED) to assist nursing with obtaining medication histories. This initiative resulted after experiencing increased and continuous reports of medication errors related to medication reconciliation. One-year post implementation, their rate of medication errors related to inappropriate or inaccurate medication histories had reduced by 80%. To this date, URMC has added a second pharmacy technician to the ED, allowing seven-day coverage, and have achieved the Leapfrog standard for medication reconciliation. Heather Riggins, Director of Pharmacy at URMC, states that hiring competent pharmacy technicians and ensuring they are trained up to obtain the best possible medication history is critical.
Strategies for Hiring Qualified Pharmacy Technicians
To bolster medication reconciliation efforts, hospital pharmacy leaders should adopt strategic approaches for hiring qualified pharmacy technicians:
1. Competency-Based Recruitment: Implementing competency-based assessments during the hiring process ensures that candidates possess essential skills in medication reconciliation, attention to detail, and proficiency in pharmaceutical software systems. URMC administers a didactic exam that includes matching generic/trade names for the top 200 drugs, identifying appropriate indications for medications, and hypothetical case studies for critical thinking skills.
2. Collaborative Hiring Practices: Involving pharmacists and competent pharmacy technicians in the recruitment process facilitates the selection of candidates who align with the hospital’s patient safety goals and organizational culture. URMC utilizes peer interviews for all hiring candidates, which includes a tour of the pharmacy and hospital. This gives our entire department buy-in on potential new hires. During the tour, staff can observe how the interviewing candidate presents themselves, interacts with others in the organization, and communicates in a more laid-back setting versus at the head of table. Additionally, the peer interview team conducts a mock patient scenario for medication reconciliation to test the candidate’s attention to detail and communication skills.
3. Continued Professional Development: Emphasizing the importance of ongoing education and certification encourages pharmacy technicians to stay abreast of evolving practices in medication reconciliation and enhances their contribution to patient care. URMC candidates are encouraged to obtain specialized training and receive reimbursement for these efforts.
Developing a Strong Training Program
Creating a structured training program is integral to preparing pharmacy technicians for their role in medication reconciliation:
1. Comprehensive Orientation: Offering thorough orientation sessions familiarizes new hires with hospital protocols, medication reconciliation procedures, and the importance of patient safety standards. Society of Hospital Medicine Train the Trainer Materials provides an excellent supplemental guide for training.
2. Hands-On Experience: Providing opportunities for practical training under the supervision of experienced pharmacists and pharmacy technicians allows new hires to refine their skills in medication history taking, data entry accuracy, and effective communication with patients and healthcare teams.
3. Continuous Feedback and Evaluation: Implementing regular performance evaluations and feedback sessions enables technicians to identify areas for improvement and ensures adherence to quality standards in medication reconciliation practices.
4. Integration of Technology: Incorporating training modules on pharmacy information systems and electronic health records equips technicians with the necessary tools to facilitate efficient medication reconciliation processes.
By investing in the recruitment of skilled pharmacy technicians and cultivating a culture of continuous learning and development, hospital pharmacy leaders can strengthen medication reconciliation initiatives. Empowering pharmacy technicians with the knowledge, resources, and support they need fosters collaborative healthcare environments where patient safety remains the top priority.
The role of pharmacy technicians in medication reconciliation is indispensable for ensuring accurate medication histories and promoting patient safety in hospital settings. Through strategic recruitment practices and comprehensive training programs, pharmacy leaders can harness the full potential of technicians to optimize medication reconciliation processes and enhance overall healthcare outcomes. By prioritizing these efforts, hospitals can uphold the highest standards of care and improve the well-being of patients across transitions of care.
References:
https://www.hospitalmedicine.org/clinical-topics/medication-reconciliat…
In June of 2023, Techdow USA Inc., a division of the Hepalink Group, successfully launched Enoxaparin Sodium (Enoxaparin) in multiple strengths of pre-filled syringes. Techdow USA’s Enoxaparin is critically needed and will be used primarily in the outpatient setting to treat and prevent harmful deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms. Techdow USA’s parent company, the Hepalink Group, is a global leader in naturally extracted active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and finished drugs that sources from an extremely diverse and robust supply chain network.
Pharmacy technicians are the backbone of successful pharmacy operations. In health system inpatient pharmacies, they handle complex tasks such as sterile compounding, inventory management, controlled substance security, automation oversight, and handling of hazardous medications. They work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure patients receive safe and quality pharmaceutical care. The ongoing shortage of qualified pharmacy technicians is a significant barrier to progress in an evolving healthcare landscape in the era of technological revolution.
We envision a world where women are free to be open and honest about their intimate health, because women care about their health, and they know there is no issue too small to tackle—but they don’t always have the right tools. We believe in providing those tools so women can live life uninhibited—and that means breaking the taboos that surround women’s health. This is not just for AZO® users and not just for women, but also to enrich our society. When everyone is supported, healthy and safe, our world is better.
VIDEOS
VIEW ALL VIDEOS
Dr. Rabiah Dys, Senior Vice President of Clinical Services and Program Development at CPS, shared insights at ASHP on her role and passion for advancing health equity. She emphasized the importance of improving health literacy by helping patients understand their diagnoses and care plans, starting at hospital admission. Dr. Dys also highlighted the need for better continuity of care between hospital discharge and community pharmacy settings to ensure patients can manage their health effectively.
Last fall, Jennifer Biar, Chief Pharmacy Officer at Prisma Health, sat down with Pharmacy Angle, sharing her journey in pharmacy leadership, which began unexpectedly during her 27-year tenure at the organization. She highlighted the evolution of healthcare, from single hospitals to large systems, and discussed how pharmacies are now focusing not only on reducing costs but also on generating revenue. Jennifer also emphasized the importance of advocacy for the pharmacy profession, especially for pharmacists to be recognized as providers.
Last Fall, Lisa Dyer, director of ambulatory services at UW Northern Illinois, shared with Pharmacy Angle her journey, from managing the outpatient pharmacy to overseeing a wide range of services, including ambulatory care and home infusion pharmacies. She shares her early inspiration from a local pharmacy director, her experience transitioning from retail to hospital pharmacy, and her passion for creating career opportunities through initiatives like the pharmacy apprenticeship program.
Dawn Rana, a pharmacy executive at Vizient, sat down with Pharmacy Angle to discuss the challenges faced by healthcare facilities, particularly drug shortages and workforce issues. Rana emphasizes the role of Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs) in helping healthcare providers manage these challenges by securing drug supplies and offering support in various operational areas. She also highlights the ongoing efforts to address workforce shortages, particularly for pharmacy technicians, through creative solutions and collaboration with educational institutions.
Industry News
View all Industry News
Philadelphia, PA – GSK has released promising new data from the AReSVi-006 Phase III trial, which evaluated the efficacy and safety of a single dose of AREXVY, the world’s first Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine, in preventing lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by RSV in adults aged 60 and older. The data, spanning three full RSV seasons, includes results for adults at increased risk due to underlying health conditions.
The trial results show that a single dose of AREXVY provided a clinically meaningful cumulative efficacy of 62.9% against RSV-related LRTD (97.5% CI, 46.7-74.8) and 67.4% against severe RSV-LRTD (95% CI, 42.4-82.7) across three RSV seasons. In the third season alone, the vaccine demonstrated 48.0% efficacy against RSV-LRTD (95% CI, 8.7-72.0). These findings are based on the analysis of data from 24,966 adults aged 60 years and older.
Safety and reactogenicity findings were consistent with earlier data from the Phase III program, confirming the vaccine was generally well tolerated. The most common adverse events reported within four days of vaccination included injection site pain, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, and joint pain.
AREXVY's efficacy was consistent across various RSV subtypes and populations, including adults aged 70-79 and those with underlying medical conditions such as COPD, asthma, and chronic heart failure, which place them at greater risk for severe RSV outcomes. Given that RSV can exacerbate these conditions and lead to severe health complications, the vaccine's protection over three seasons is expected to significantly impact public health.
“The potential health impact of a single dose of AREXVY protecting older adults for three RSV seasons is substantial, especially given the increased risk that RSV poses to this population,” said Tony Wood, Chief Scientific Officer at GSK. “This is the only RSV vaccine with safety and efficacy data extending over three seasons. We remain committed to sharing further data on long-term protection and revaccination schedules to support public health decisions.”
RSV is a highly contagious virus that affects the lungs and respiratory passages, with an estimated 64 million people globally contracting RSV each year. Adults, particularly those with comorbidities or compromised immune systems, face heightened risks of severe outcomes, including hospitalization and death. In the U.S. alone, approximately 177,000 adults aged 65 and older are hospitalized annually due to RSV, with an estimated 14,000 deaths resulting from these cases.
GSK will continue to share long-term data on efficacy, immune response, and revaccination to inform future immunization guidelines. The results highlight the potential of AREXVY to provide year-round protection for older adults and help prevent RSV-related complications.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is informing public health officials, clinicians, and affected patients, their families, and caregivers about a potential public health risk among individuals ordering what they believe to be prescription medications from online pharmacies. On September 30, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced an indictment against individuals running illegal online pharmacies.
Paris and Tarrytown, NY, - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Dupixent (dupilumab) as an add-on maintenance treatment of adults with inadequately controlled chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and an eosinophilic phenotype. Dupixent is the first biologic medicine approved in the US to treat these patients.
NEW YORK, NY - Pfizer Inc. announced it is voluntarily withdrawing all lots of OXBRYTA ® (voxelotor) for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD) at this time, in all markets where it is approved. Pfizer is also discontinuing all active voxelotor clinical trials and expanded access programs worldwide.