Legacy of the Past
What is Mesopotamia?
This ancient civilization recorded "medical recipes" on clay tablets as early as 2600 BCE.
What is processing insurance claims?
A technician’s duty involving the entry of patient information and billing into computer systems.
What is a High School Diploma?
The minimum educational credential required for most pharmacy technician formal programs.
What is retail pharmacy?
This setting includes chain pharmacies, independent shops, and pharmacies located inside grocery stores.
Who is the pharmacist?
This professional has a "broader scope of practice" and performs clinical assessments.
Who is Hippocrates?
Often called the "Father of Medicine," he introduced the theory of the four humors (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile).
What is prescription dispensing?
Techs assist in this process by retrieving, counting, and accurately measuring medications for dispensing.
What is the NAPLEX?
The abbreviation for the licensure exam that pharmacists must pass to become registered.
What is hospital pharmacy?
Technicians in this setting collaborate with doctors and nurses to manage medication technology systems and stocks.
What is limited?
A technician’s scope of practice is described as this when compared to a pharmacist.
What are apothecaries?
Established in the 8th century, these centers (the first pharmacies) originated in Baghdad for compounding and dispensing.
What are sterile products?
These are prepared under sterile conditions and can include intravenous (IV) medications.
What is the NHA (National Healthcareer Association)?
This organization is the largest allied health certification agency in the United States, through which techs take their national exam.
What are specialty pharmacies?
These pharmacies focus on complex conditions such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, or rare diseases.
Who is the pharmacist?
The primary person responsible for interpreting prescription orders and making decisions regarding therapy.
Who is Al-Zahrawi?
He is known as the "Father of Operative Surgery" and wrote the influential medical text Kitab al-Tasrif.
What is medication counseling (or clinical advice)?
Although technicians can provide general information, they are strictly prohibited from providing this clinical service.
What is a Pharm.D. (Doctor of Pharmacy)?
The advanced degree required for a pharmacist, typically taking six to eight years of post-secondary education.
What are long-term care facilities?
Facilities like nursing homes where technicians ensure residents receive their medications accurately and on time.
What are administrative (or pharmacy-related) duties?
The technician’s role is primarily focused on supporting pharmacy operations and performing these types of duties.
Who is Christopher Marshall?
In 1729, this Irish immigrant opened one of the first apothecaries in colonial Philadelphia.
What are influenza and coronavirus vaccines?
In the state of Indiana, technicians can administer these two specific types of vaccines under a physician's protocol.
What is several months to two years?
The typical duration of a formal pharmacy technician education program.
What are wholesale distributors?
These entities manage and distribute medications to various healthcare facilities rather than directly to patients.
Who is the pharmacist?
While both handle medications, only this person is responsible for optimizing medication therapy and collaborating with other healthcare professionals.