Pharmacy Technician Initiative

[Guest guest]

Pharmacy Technician Initiative

" About the Initiative

The Pharmacy Technician Initiative is a partnership between ASHP and individual

state affiliates to advocate for state laws that require, as a prerequisite for

state board registration, completion of an ASHP-accredited pharmacy technician

training and Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) certification. "

http://www.ashp.org/Tech-Initiative

I am posting this in the event that you have NEVER heard of this Initiative that

is 'sweeping' the country.

I pray soon as it is what I called for in 2000 at my work and in 2001 we

implemented a requirement to take the exam before graduation and last year a

requirement to pass it.

I called for a minimum national standard for education and training of Pharmacy

Technicians in 2002 during my National Pharmacy Technician Educator's Award

acceptance speech at NPTA Convention in Las Vegas, NV .

We are WAY behind the times people! Way behind!

NO min std meant a little girl in Ohio had to die (), many babies in Texas

were given od's of heparin as well as in other states, etc etc etc. I ask how

many more have to die or be injured because we did/do not require formal tech

education that could have thwarted these events?

The initiative is great, late but great. The problem is getting it to be

realized and passed. Even with education med errors will still happen. But it is

hoped at a lesser ration or rate. It is hoped the errors will not be as great in

number or severity.

My second question is: What if we don't require formal education?

When you boil it all down my only real questions are: What will it hurt to

require formal education for pharm techs? and once you can answer that honestly

then my last question is: So why haven't we done so yet?

Get it done already!

Respectfully,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

Founder/Owner