Federal Pharmacy Technician Act proposed
February 29, 2008
U.S. Reps. Steven C. LaTourette (R-OH) and Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA) have introduced sweeping federal legislation that will mandate training, education, registration and certification requirements for pharmacy technicians nationwide.
The Pharmacy Technician Training and Registration Act of 2008, or Emily’s Act, is named after 2-year-old Emily Jerry of Concord Township, OH, who died on March 1, 2006, after a pharmacy technician botched her chemotherapy dose.
LaTourette and Lynch said pharmacy technicians do many of the same tasks as pharmacists in retail and hospital pharmacies across the country, but with a fraction of the training and education. They are required to have a high school education or GED and no felony record, and training and oversight vary from state to state.
States are in charge of overseeing pharmacists and technicians, but regulations regarding training, certification and continuing education vary from state to state.
LaTourette and Lynch said their legislation, HR. 5491, will set a floor for states to meet but not weaken any existing state laws. The bill will require states to register pharmacy technicians and have them pass the national Pharmacy Technician Board Certification exam, which triggers mandatory continuing education and renewal every two years. It will also provide grants to the states to comply with the Act, and any state accepting a grant will have to report pharmacy technician errors to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Finally, it indicates it is the Sense of Congress that pharmacists are capped at supervising three technicians at one time.
“It is our hope and expectation that this legislation will lead to stronger training practices for pharmacy technicians while providing uniform safety accountability provisions for all states,” Lynch said. “This bill ensures that people who are administered medical treatment, or pick up their prescriptions, can do so with the confidence that they are receiving the correct medicine and dosage. ”
[Via Rep. Latourette’s Website]
You can see that actual language of the bill on the Library Of Congress website by Clicking Here.
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What happens to the pharmacist who is supposed to be supervising the technicians work? How does a product get mixed and sent without being checked by the pharnacist? I completely believe that technicians should be responsible for their own work, and when ever you’re unsure of the concentration or strength always get a double check with your pharmacist. You’re in big trouble if your pharmacist refuses to make/mix something they’re not sure of, yet they are the final check! I’ve been a tech for over 20 years and I have little to no trust for new pharmacists fresh out of school. Book knowledge is not the same as experience and believe me I have caught many countless mistakes that a pharmacist have made. Thankfully the errors were caught by “A PHARMACY TECHNICIAN”, and no harm was caused! So, it all depends on your technician, most definitely!!! Don’t Blame All Technicians For The Error Of One…Reconsider And Look At Who Is Signing That Product And Giving Their Approval To Administer….THE PHARMACIST!!!!!