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Hi all-

Couldn't get a good link to the Drug Topics Jan 26 article on tech

standards so here's the cut and paste:

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COMMUNITY PRACTICE

Has time come for national standards on technician training?

Is the group that set up the educational requirements for an entry-

level pharmacist degree about to push for an equally profound change

relative to the training of technicians? All eyes are on the

Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) to see what it's

going to do next.

The 10th and last open hearing on whether there should be uniform

national standards set up for technician training was held at the

ASHP midyear meeting in New Orleans last month. A few days later,

ACPE closed its deadline for receiving comments on this issue. The

council is now reviewing all the comments it has received and will

hold a board meeting to discuss this issue before the end of this

month.

Why is there a need for the profession to tackle this issue? Because

of the pharmacist shortage, technicians are playing an increasingly

important role in the delivery of pharmacy services. Against this

backdrop is a jumble of prerequisites out there for technician

employment, with some states demanding certification and others

requiring only a high school diploma.

In fact, an ACPE analysis revealed that more hours are required for

training a barber, cosmetologist, or stylist than a technician. A

2002 white paper on technicians stated, " It would seem ironic that

persons in certain other occupations (for example, barbers or

cosmetologists) whose services have far less impact on public health

than do those of pharmacy technicians have training programs that, on

average, are longer than are technician programs. " While there is a

process set up for technician certification, it is only voluntary in

nature, and only about half of all technicians—163,000—are

certified.

According to Rouse, assistant executive director at ACPE,

comments on whether technician training should be standardized have

been received from many sources. In addition to pharmacists and

technicians, others who have provided input include tech educators,

chains and independent owners, state boards of pharmacy, and state

and national associations. Their reactions have run the gamut. Among

chains and independent owners, the prevailing sentiment is that ACPE

should not set mandatory standards but leave it up to employers to

provide on-the-job training. This community group is a significant

force to be reckoned with since it provides work for more than 70% of

the 250,000 pharmacy techs practicing in the country today.

In stark contrast are the comments of ASHP, which were released by

president Ashby at the open hearing in New Orleans. He said

the association not only backs consistency in standards developed by

ACPE, it will drop out of the accreditation business for tech

training and let ACPE do it exclusively. To date, ASHP has accredited

about one-third of the 300 institution-based tech-training programs

in existence in 42 states. Since ACPE has a great deal of experience

accrediting pharmacist education programs, it stands to reason for

the organization to take care of tech training accreditation as well.

What's more, ASHP thinks standardized training should be mandated by

2010.

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(scrrrittch thump,thump) That's the sound of me pulling out my

soapbox.

I find it appalling that despite the huge focus on medication errors

the majority of chain and independent pharmacies oppose mandatory

standards for tech training. To leave the training up to the employer

pretty much leaves us where we are now...inconsistent in training,

skills, and abilities across the board. Not only is this bad news

for the customer/patient, it leaves techs lacking unity as a group

and unrecognized as a true profession. Just another job where the

staff is minimally trained and paid as such.

To do the *right* thing--that is to establish minimum standards and

competencies--would infringe on profits...simply unacceptable.

Nevermind that the person behind the counter often has less education

than a hairdresser. No need to worry about that...the patient or

customer will be just fine. The pharmacist has all the education

needed `behind the counter' and will always catch all the

errors----

NOT!!!!

If there were required national standards for technicians it would

limit (yes, and cull) who would be qualified to work in a pharmacy.

Patient safety is our number one priority. The number of

prescriptions filled per year is growing at a phenomenal rate.

Combine that with the continued pharmacist shortage and lack of

competently trained support staff--its a disaster waiting to happen.

For some its a disaster that's already happened--everyday you read

about death or disability to due drug error. Techs need more

education---now! I hope the ACPE recognizes the need for tech

competencies and will pursue establishing national standards

regardless of the chain store opinions.

Vehemently,

Dora

Group Moderator