Often when people visit their local pharmacy, they assume that all the person behind the counter does is dispense medications. While that’s certainly a vital part of the job, the pharmacy technician’s responsibilities extend far beyond filling prescriptions, especially in recent years.
One hundred million Americans face barriers to accessing primary care. At the same time, nearly 90% of Americans live within five miles of a local pharmacy, perfectly positioning them to help bridge the gap in care.
And in some communities, they already are. Today, 58% of Americans say they are likely to visit a local pharmacy as a first resort when facing a non-emergency medical issue. The pharmacy industry is evolving for a variety of reasons. For one, the pandemic shed a bright light on the integral role pharmacists play in providing accessible care, even in moments of great turmoil. But even before then, many clinical duties had extended to the pharmacy, which in turn, began expanding roles across teams.
Read on to learn more about how pharmacies and pharmacy technicians are playing a more integral role than ever before in providing top-notch healthcare.
The Growing Role of Pharmacy Technicians
NHA’s 2024 Industry Outlook report found that 85% of employers require certification for pharmacy technicians, and for good reason. As more consumers entrust their health to alternative settings like pharmacies, it’s imperative that they’re able to deliver care at the highest level.
Pharmacy technicians play a critical role in ensuring things run smoothly by handling key duties including:
- Managing inventory
- Receiving prescription requests
- Accurately measuring medications
- Establishing and maintaining patient records
- Accepting payment for prescriptions and processing insurance claims
In addition to these long-standing responsibilities, pharmacy technicians are becoming increasingly relied upon as patient advocates. While they’ve always served as a sort of connector between patient and pharmacist, today, pharmacy technicians are also being tapped to help build strong relationships and provide safeguards for better health outcomes.
Here are a few ways pharmacy technicians are filling the critical role of patient advocate:
- A friendly facilitator: As pharmacists assume more clinical responsibilities, pharmacy technicians can help with tasks like checking patients in, delivering vaccines and facilitating a streamlined experience for all.
- Guardians against drug interactions: Medications can be complex, and interactions can occur between different drugs. This can lead to unintended side effects. Pharmacy technicians play a crucial role in reviewing an individual’s medication history to identify any potential adverse interactions and work closely with pharmacists to ensure patients receive a safe and effective medication regimen.
- Promoting Medication Adherence: Taking medications as prescribed is essential for optimal health outcomes, but that can be a challenge for various reasons. Pharmacy technicians can be a valuable resource for patients, offering support and guidance on how to properly administer drugs and developing strategies to help patients stay on track with their medication schedule.
- A Listening Ear and Health Ally: Patients often have questions and concerns about their symptoms and medications. Pharmacy technicians can provide clear and concise answers regarding drug usage, side effects, proper storage and more. Ultimately, it is their job to empower patients with the knowledge they need (or direct them to a pharmacist for more detailed counseling) to safely complete a medication regimen. Patients who leverage pharmacy technicians as the valuable resource they are, are likely to experience better health outcomes.
Unsurprisingly, demand for pharmacy technicians is outpacing other professions. Whereas the average job outlook for all occupations in the U.S. for 2022 to 2032 is 3%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 6% rise in pharmacy technician jobs in that same period. This discrepancy demonstrates the evolving nature of the entire healthcare landscape, but more specifically, the growing importance of this allied healthcare specialty as more people turn to pharmacies for a range of needs.
Pharmacy as a Profession is Undergoing a Renaissance
“Pharmacists are uniquely trained and positioned to impact many facets of patients’ lives,” said David Mott, professor in the Social and Administrative Sciences Division at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “Pharmacy as a profession is undergoing a renaissance.”
In 2024, patients don’t just visit their pharmacy to grab medications and go. They also seek care and counsel in these highly accessible ambulatory settings. For instance, someone might get tested for one condition and vaccinated for another, ask about nagging symptoms, receive medication therapy management and pick up a prescription all in one stop.
Legislation is beginning to reflect this change in how patients find care. According to the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations, 178 bills pertaining to pharmacist scope of practice, payment for pharmacist-provided patient-care services, and/or the designation of pharmacists as providers were introduced in 38 states in 2022. Naturally, as the pharmacist role continues to expand, so too will that of the pharmacy technician.
Building a Team to Meet Every Healthcare Need
Although recent disruptions have forced most care teams across clinical, acute and ambulatory settings to alter the way in which they work to address evolving patient demand, workforce shortages and more, it’s not all bad news. Certain changes present exciting potential for both providers and patients.
“I have chosen to become and remain NHA-certified because it has opened so many doors,” said Jennifer Torres, CPhT (Certified Pharmacy Technician). “The opportunities in the field have become limitless.”
Amid such growth and evolution, allied healthcare professionals like pharmacy technicians are finding more opportunities to expand their skill sets and contribute to their teams in new and meaningful ways, including as patient advocates. Often, this translates into better patient experiences and health outcomes.
From streamlining processes and helping build patient rapport to ensuring safe medication regimens to offering counsel and much more, pharmacy technicians are an essential member of their teams.
NHA is with you every step of the way. See how to leverage our full suite of resources to implement or customize your pharmacy technician training program. NHA’s immersive learning features, facilitator toolkits, exclusive learner insights and more provide all you need to support your students or staff throughout their entire certification or training journeys.
