Re: Advice please?

May 27, 2004

Hi Jane,

Welcome to the group! No, it is NOT too late for your son to benefit

from helmet/band treatment. Have your pediatrician refer you to a

neurosurgeon so he can confirm it is plagio. In the meantime, you can

get a free consultation with CT (Cranial Technologies-makers of the

DOC Band) and they can give you an objective assessment of your son's

plagio. If your neurosurgeon and CT see that your son could benefit

from a DOC Band, then you can go from there. Note: There are plenty of

different helmet and band makers - I just used DOC Band as an example,

since that's the one our daughter has. I would act fast, though,

since it sometimes takes two or three weeks from the time plagio is

diagnosed to the time your son actually gets his helmet or band.

Here is an article you may have already read about treatment for older

infants. I printed one out so I could read it from time to time for

encouragement. Just copy/paste the link, scroll down and click on

article number 5 (treatment of older infants). Print and keep - it's

very encouraging!

www.aans.org/education/journal/neurosurgical/sep00/9-3-nsf-toc.asp

I'm sorry to hear your son had to have open heart surgery, but am glad

he's now on the mend! You're at the right place for great advice and

support! Keep us posted on your son's progress.

Best wishes,

J. from SC

(Olivia (4) & Meredith (almost 15 months old, DOC Band 11 1/2 months)

> My son is 13 months old, and I have just looked on the website and

> realised that he has typical headshape for positional plagio - he

has

> already had open heart surgery and recovered, so I guess this took

> second place, and the Drs didn't seem worried - do you think it is

> too late to do something about it????

> Been reading your messages - good luck to you all and your

beautiful

> babies

> janexxxx

May 28, 2004

I just placed the artcle in a file located in the files portion of

this site. It is a pdf file. please let me know if you still cannot

view it. I can save it as another file type if need be.

Ian

Father to Emerson 15mos.

> My son is 13 months old, and I have just looked on the website and

> realised that he has typical headshape for positional plagio - he

has

> already had open heart surgery and recovered, so I guess this took

> second place, and the Drs didn't seem worried - do you think it is

> too late to do something about it????

> Been reading your messages - good luck to you all and your

beautiful

> babies

> janexxxx

August 26, 2005

Dear Carla,

Since your state does not require education for technicians, (that I am aware

of) you would be ahead of the game if you do go to school. That being said I did

check out what the link you gave me pointed to. This is what i found:

" Pharmacy Technician

This online program will provide learning experiences, coordinated with the

texts and lab activities to enable students to obtain basic competency needed

for employments as Pharmacy Technicians in either the hospital or retail

setting. A technician is an individual who, under the supervision of a

pharmacist, assists in the performance of activities of the pharmacy department

not requiring the professional judgment of a pharmacist. The objective of the

Pharmacy Technician Program is to provide graduates with the skills and

knowledge that will enable them to qualify for entry-level positions in

pharmacies as well as prepare for national certification. This self-paced,

web-based program pairs students with an instructor for one-on-one assistance

and includes a forty-hour externship. All materials included.

Fee: $1595 240 hours "

I think the a course that INCLUDES HANDS ON LABS or MOCK LAB SKILLS PLUS an

internship at retail or hospital PLUS formal education, is of acceptable course

content! The above course content MEETS those objections, according to its

description. However I find the amount of 40 hours internship adn oly 200 hours

in class to be very minimal. ASHP requires a minimum of 600 hours I believe. But

in California if thecourse has this many hours it would cost about 5 - 7 times

as much. I think for YOUR state it is a great buy and a fair program.

THE QUESTION IS about whether or not this specific course and teachers are

'reputable'. That I can not answer because I do not live in Michigan and do not

know of it at all. But I can say that it probably is state accredited and you

just have to ask. I do not believe it is ASHP accredited due to its low number

of hours.

In addition, the series of books developed by Mike ston, are co-written by

various authors, experienced in various areas of pharmacy, are to be 6 in total,

of which I know of only four that have been puslished to date.

http://www.pharmacytechnician.org/en/articles/search.asp

" Six Rx Books Created to Provide Skills and Advice Author:

Pearson/Prentice Hall Launches The Pharmacy Technician Series - developed by

Mike ston 21-Jul-05 11:00 AM Click to read: Six Rx Books Created to

Provide...

http://www.pharmacytechnician.org/en/articles/search.asp

21-Jul-05 11:00 AM CST

Six Rx Books Created to Provide Skills and AdviceUpper Saddle River, NJ – July

25, 2005 – Pearson Prentice Hall today announced it is launching The Pharmacy

Technician Series, by Mike ston, textbooks designed to help students achieve

a balance between the necessary skills and professional demeanor required to

become a professional pharmacy technician. A pharmacy technician is a skilled

individual, trained and educated to work in a pharmacy setting under the

supervision of a licensed pharmacist, who performs activities that do not

require the professional judgment of a pharmacist.

Endorsed by the National Pharmacy Technician Association, the six books

comprising the series are: ·

Fundamentals of Pharmacy Practice – Introduces the core concepts behind and

foundations of what every pharmacy technician needs to know.

Pharmacy Calculations – Comprehensive resource covering mathematical concepts,

formulas, conversions, calculations and problem-solving techniques.

Certification Exam Review – Preparation guide for Pharmacy Technician

Certification Board (PTCB) national certification, covering exam information,

study techniques, specific information needed for the exam, and multiple

practice exams.

Compounding – Explores the art and science of extemporaneous compounding,

covering the principles of compounding, terms, equipment, dosage forms,

formulations, techniques and a " how-to " on preparing standards compounds.

Pharmacology – Investigates the science behind pharmacology, covering principles

of pharmacology, terms, usage, dosage forms and an in-depth look at every major

drug classification.

Sterile Products – Explores the complex practice of sterile product preparation

and correct aseptic technique. Topics include principles of aseptic technique,

terms, methods, products and a " how-to " on standard sterile product

preparations.

“The knowledge base that students gain from this series will aid in providing

greater pharmaceutical care and a more collaborative pharmacy practice

environment,” said ston. “The many talented people involved in this project

helped us to publish six high quality books simultaneously. Pearson Prentice

Hall committed itself to our vision and ultimately has shifted the standards and

expectations of pharmacy technician education.”

http://www.pharmacytechnician.org/en/catalogs/?cat=Pharmacy+Books+and+Guides

In regards to:

Certification Exam Review " Each exam has 125 multiple choice questions, weighted

according to PTCB content guidelines, and completion time providing a true

replica of the certification exam process. "

I know of NO other Certification book that states this. I personally do not

know how the PTCB 'weighs' each exam question other than the fact that they can

weigh differently to get a scaled score of 900 max out of 125 possible questions

that count. Therefore this is one advantage of this book over any other study

book.

http://www.pharmacytechnician.org/en/catalogs/?cat=Pharmacy+Books+and+Guides

According to the page count of the books listed on the site, IF these four books

were ONE book it would have a content of 693 pages! Now some pages would have

overlapping material. But it would be safe to say about 450 pages easily. That

is a failrly arge size book! The format is that of 'textbook' syle.

Aseptic Technique and Pharmacology are not on the market as of yet, to my

knowledge.

These books can be used by the individual seeking self -study or distance

learning. However they are designed to meet the needs of a full curriculum.

I do hope this helps you out. I would begin with the Fundamentals of Pharmacy

and progress to Pharmacy Calculations and then Certification Review. This should

take you through the YEAR before you begin your porgram. But there is NO reason

why you cannot study in this time period of one year with those (or any study

books) and this site and then take the PTCB exam within 6 to 12 months.

What are your state requirements?

As far as the price of the course to which you refer, I think for 240 hours and

an internship it is good. A course in california with at least 600 hours

can/would cost a min of $7000 and as high as $15,000, but with an AS in private

college up to $26, 000. So I would say you have a 'deal' for an 'entry level'

course and min experience of only 40 hours. To give you a comparison my students

get a 320 hour internship and 8.5 months in class and it totals 972 hours. the

price is close to $10,000.

I hope this helps you out. Go for it!

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

Pharm Tech Educator

Founder/owner

Carla <ccarter@...> wrote:

Hi,

I am a 45-year-old SAHM interested in becoming a Certified Pharmacy Tech. I

ve been at home for 10 years and only worked part time in an insurance

agency in customer service before that.

I won't be able to start a community college course for pharmacy technicians

until next fall, but wanted to get a head start by studying on my own. I've

found this series of books, The Pharmacy Technician Series by Mike ,

and wonder if this series is suitable for self educating?

Also, I found an online tech training course that is now affiliated with our

local community college and would appreciate any input about how reputable

this program is? http://www.gatlineducation.com/montcalm/

Thanks for any help.

Carla

Crystal, MI

August 30, 2005

Dear Jeanetta,

Please let me first apologize for not thanking you sooner for the

information you so graciously offered! We are in the middle of family

crisis that came to light Friday when my husband's 19-year-old niece was

diagnosed with acute leukemia. The family is reeling from the information

and the uncertainty of the situation. She was already very ill with an

infection that of course wouldn't get better and chemotherapy has been

delayed a day because she came down with pneumonia. They are looking at

chemotherapy and then a bone marrow transplant. She has no full-blooded

siblings so we are very concerned about finding a match.

As for my pharmacy tech education, I am now leaning toward attending the

pharmacy tech classes at Lansing Community College for the second semester

starting in January. I also ordered 2 of the Pharmacy Tech Series books

from Amazon.com so I can get a bit of a head start. I am very excited about

starting and thankfully I love to learn and studying is something I actually

enjoy doing.