Re: Technician Specialization: My Wish List

[Guest guest]

Dearest Rob,

I think you and I go back a long way on these issues. We KNOW the

history. And we see that future is changing slowly and it needs a

push. I think that you are on the right track.

Personally I am tired of not seeing anything done with the LAST

section and I am working on it personally.

I think you just might be the one to get the ball rolling. I say get

your people in line to work on this. Most people get immediate bursts

of energy on projects and then peter out just when you need them or

for the project to take off. Finding committed people can be

difficult. My philosophy on Tech Education is on my overflow site. I

mention there much about the Tech Specialization and possibilities.

But I firmly BELIEVE that we must have a foundational or BASIC

education FIRST.

So I am working on this.

Regarding the Collaboration!? I have heard NOTHING more on this issue.

Tell me other than the international conference and the 'united' tech

week slogan or campaign what have the organizations collaborated on?

Nothing!

So I ask that YOU be the liason to them for US and tell them that we

want more collaboration and go to them with at least 5 possible

collaboartation projects. These projects must benefit the technician

and not the organizations directly, but rather indirectly by more

membership. In other words it can not be a wolf in sheep's clothing.

I would say I am 'with' you on this topic. But making it happen has

similar chances as making every tech PTCB. Now one out of every three

techs in the US are certified. But look how long (10 yrs) it took PTCB

to get that to happen? So what I am saying is your idea may also take

a very long time. One thing that will shorten the expected time frame

is the fact that NPTA already has some certification processes. So

that particular organizastion is already on that bandwagon adn would

LOVE to see certifcations required since they would/could then offer

more as a product/service ($). But the other non-profit organizations

may not be on the same time frame. Where as PTEC would be more apt to

want help with standardization. Yet nothing that has been done seems

to work.

Sorry about being sooooooooooo direct (crude) but I have NO other way

of expressing the TRUTH either.

But I will say this: When EDUCATION continues to be LAST on everyone's

list including yours ( ) we have a major problem. My surgeons did

not specialize until they mastered the basics! Neither did mynurses ro

my doctors or my pharmacist or my auto mechanics!

Can we please get a LIFE LINE here?

Okay Rob, back in your court!!

Don't cont me out! But you need new blood too!

A Janet says 'strength in numbers'.

Love ya

Jeanetta

>

> Jeanetta,

> I have been thinking the same thing that you said, and I agree, but

> I haven't yet found a more appropriate (and somewhat less crude)

> analogy.

>

> I want to take a moment to say that I appreciate the good that these

> organizations (PTCB, NPTA, AAPT) have done for us as Pharmacy

> Technicians. And I'm not just saying that; I MEAN it.

>

> Why? Because I am in the market for a job--as a Pharmacy Technician.

> And, because for the very first time, I am hearing the first words

> out of the recruiters mouth, " Are you Certified?...Are you PTCB

> Certified? " I'm VERY honored to be able to say with

> confidence, " Why...YES, I AM! "

> What that means to me is that for the first time, people who are not

> in our profession are beginning to distinguish (and recognize) the

> difference between Certified and Non-Certified Pharmacy Technicians.

>

> Here is my " wish list " regarding Pharmacy Technician

> Specialization...

>

> 1)UNITY/ COLLABORATION AMONG PHARMACY TECHNICIAN ORGANIZATIONS

> Last year, I read with anticipation and interest in the " AAPT

> Newsletter " and the " Today's Technician " the statement of unity

> among the leading Pharmacy Technician organizations: PTCB, AAPT, and

> NPTA. They all deserve the credit for making this happen!

>

> This year, the headline that I want to read is:

>

> " Here is the single project each year (2006, 2007, etc.) that we are

> collaborating on AND here's how it's going to benefit YOU! "

>

> 2) LESS SPECIALIZED...SPECIALTIES (or " INDUSTRY-BASED " SPECIALTIES " )

> The specialty should be directly linked to the setting in which you

> intend to practice.

>

> Specialties might be:

> " RETAIL CERTIFICATION "

> to include:

> - Retail

> - Mail-Order, and

> - Pharmacy Benefit Management practice settings.

> Modules for Retail Certification might include:

> - Third Party Billing Issues

> - Diabetes Monitoring

> - Orthopedic Device Fitting/ Prosthetics

> - Extemporaneous Compounding, and

> - Purchasing

>

> " HOSPITAL CERTIFICATION "

> Modules for Hospital Certification might include:

> - Aseptic-Sterile Technique/ I.V. Admixture

> - Chemotherapy Prep

> - Hyperalimentation/TPN

> - Narcotics Management

> - Critical Care/ O.R./ Surgical

> - Extemporaneous Compounding, and

> - Purchasing

>

> " NUCLEAR CERTIFICATION "

> - NUCLEAR

> " CLINICAL CERTIFICATION "

> - CLINICAL

>

> 3) WE NEED TO " TAKE ACTION! "

> Individually, and as a group, we as pharmacy technicians need to

> take action...

>

> Here is what I propose:

> a) Build a consensus amongst ourselves

> Choose a representative to communicate our thoughts

> c) Have that person contact the presidents of AAPT, NPTA, and PTCB

> PERSONALLY, and

> d) Have that person report back to us on the progress...

>

> 4) STANDARDIZATION

> There ought to be collaboration among these groups:

> - NABP

> - PTCB

> - NPTA

> - AAPT

> - ALL Pharmacy Technician Programs

> Standardized Education by NPTA, AAPT, and Tech Programs would be

> directly linked to Standardized Credentialing by PTCB, which in turn

> would be directly linked to Standardized Oversight by NABP!

>

> What do YOU think!

>

> Rob

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Rob,

I know you and commend you as a true advocate in our profession. But

I do feel that you are much too optimistic when it comes to the

professionalism of our vocation.

Your statements of unity among organizations has yet to happen as we

find this " great event, " was only a way for NPTA to become part of the

Committee of European Pharmacy Technicans of which Mike ston and

his entourage will be attending next month in Coppenhagen, Denmark.

If we were to really see some validity to this " signing " we should of

seen some action by now. But, we have not as there simply is none to

be seen. Go ask the leadership teams of both AAPT or PTEC and see

what this statement of unity has done to date....nothing.

Not to downgrade NPTA as they have promoted our profession while

seeking membership dues....but as far as truly being our national

organization and doing what needs to be done our profession is no

better off than it was before the hoopla of NPTA.

You are optimistic which is good...but we sometimes need some sort of

action to make us all the more optimistic. Promises will not

professionalize our profession as much as much needed action.

Joe Medina, CPhT

-------------

Jeanetta,

I have been thinking the same thing that you said, and I agree, but

I haven't yet found a more appropriate (and somewhat less crude)

analogy.

I want to take a moment to say that I appreciate the good that these

organizations (PTCB, NPTA, AAPT) have done for us as Pharmacy

Technicians. And I'm not just saying that; I MEAN it.

1)UNITY/ COLLABORATION AMONG PHARMACY TECHNICIAN ORGANIZATIONS

Last year, I read with anticipation and interest in the " AAPT

Newsletter " and the " Today's Technician " the statement of unity

among the leading Pharmacy Technician organizations: PTCB, AAPT, and

NPTA. They all deserve the credit for making this happen!

This year, the headline that I want to read is:

" Here is the single project each year (2006, 2007, etc.) that we are

collaborating on AND here's how it's going to benefit YOU! "

Rob