Pharmacy Techs

   This weekend I worked in a nice store in one of the southern suburbs. It's a store I'd been in before and I was happy to be reassigned there. The space is a bit small, but it doesn't feel cramped. It's well organized. As a bonus, it's near the front of the store so I can see outside.
   I got to work with a very experienced tech. Her name is Anna. She has been a tech for a long time at several stores in different chains. She showed me a few things that I didn't know how to do and little tricks that are very helpful.
   Pharmacy techs do not get nearly as much credit or respect as they should. The fact of the matter is that the quality of the pharmacy techs can make or break a pharmacy. The techs are the ones that hold things together and many times are the first person on a pharmacy staff that a customer meets. They are the ones that take care of the many details so a pharmacist can focus on her work.
   Techs are professionals. While many pharmacy chains do have training programs for those hired as technicians, some trade schools have pharmacy tech training that those wishing to enter the profession can take. There is even a national certification program. Techs are also required to complete continuing education just like pharmacists, nurses, doctors and other health care professionals.
   It wasn't always like this. When I first started working as a pharmacist a person could be a tech as long as they were at least 16 years old. Back then tech duties were mainly data entry, counting pills, waiting on customers and doing some clerical type work. Eventually the age was raised to 18 and a high school education was required. As the duties of technicians expanded so did the need for education. Now training is required and certification is preferred. That's a good thing.
   Unfortunately the perception of pharmacy technicians is not what it should be. In the last large chain drugstore that I worked for techs were considered interchangeable with the grocery cashiers. Management doesn't understand that techs have skills and need to be able to do things that are not required of floor cashiers.When a chain is looking to control payroll cost the first thing that they do is cut the tech hours.
   This is a huge mistake in my opinion. Without adequate support staff, a pharmacy cannot run well. When tech hours are cut then pharmacists have to spend time making up for that lack. The result is that customer care goes down.
    I've been grateful to have worked with many good techs over the years. I dislike it when a tech says, "I'm only a tech." to me or to a customer. They are techs, period. If you are a tech, be proud of yourself and your profession. You are a vital part of pharmacy operations. Believe it.