Ashp's Impact: Pharmacy Technicians' Evolving Roles In Hospitals

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) is the largest association of pharmacy professionals in the United States, representing 60,000 pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians. ASHP is committed to advancing the role of pharmacy technicians and recognizing their vital role in pharmacy practice. ASHP's national survey highlights the evolving role of hospital pharmacy technicians, who are taking on more non-traditional activities, such as advanced analytics and expanded responsibilities in medication safety, to support pharmacists' increased focus on direct patient care.

Pharmacy technicians' roles are expanding and evolving

ASHP has been championing innovation in pharmacy practice and professional development for over 80 years. They are committed to advancing the role of pharmacy technicians and recognising their vital role in pharmacy practice. This includes expanding the duties of pharmacy technicians to improve medication safety and allow pharmacists to increase their direct patient care.

The organisation has a collaborative partnership with The Pharmacy Technician Society (TPTS) to advocate for pharmacy technicians. TPTS, created by ASHP, supports the career advancement and professionalisation of pharmacy technicians through education, networking, policy development, and advocacy.

As pharmacies expand their patient care services, the role and need for pharmacy technicians are also expanding. Pharmacy technicians are taking on more advanced roles, such as management of information technology, 340B Drug Pricing Programs, regulatory compliance, and supervision of other technicians. They are also devoting more time to non-traditional activities, with an increased focus on analytics to improve outcomes and reduce adverse events.

ASHP provides comprehensive resources to support pharmacy professionals throughout their careers and is the accrediting body for pharmacy residency and technician training programs. Their resources include tools, education, and professional resources to help pharmacy technicians advance their practice.

ASHP advocates for pharmacy technicians

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) is the largest association of pharmacy professionals in the United States, representing 60,000 pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians. ASHP has been advocating for its members and patients for over 80 years, championing innovation in pharmacy practice and advancing education and professional development.

ASHP is committed to advancing the role of pharmacy technicians and recognizing their vital role in pharmacy practice. The organization offers a range of tools, education, and professional resources to help pharmacy technicians advance their practice. ASHP also supports the expansion of patient care services in pharmacies, which in turn expands the role and need for pharmacy technicians.

ASHP has a collaborative partnership with The Pharmacy Technician Society (TPTS) on advocacy for pharmacy technicians. TPTS, created by ASHP, is the collective voice of pharmacy technicians who practice in hospital systems, community pharmacies, clinics, and other settings. It supports the career advancement and professionalization of pharmacy technicians through education, networking, policy development, and advocacy.

ASHP also conducts national surveys to understand the evolving role of pharmacy technicians and how technology is being leveraged to improve medication safety and quality. The surveys have found that hospital pharmacists are spending more time on clinical activities, including independent prescription of medications, and that pharmacy technicians are taking on more advanced roles. ASHP's surveys also highlight the increasing adoption of decentralized drug distribution and automated dispensing technologies in hospitals, which impact the responsibilities of pharmacy technicians.

ASHP provides resources for pharmacy technicians' career development

ASHP is committed to advancing the role of pharmacy technicians and recognizing their vital role in pharmacy practice. They offer a wide range of tools, education and professional resources to help pharmacy technicians develop their careers.

ASHP has a collaborative partnership with The Pharmacy Technician Society (TPTS) to advocate for pharmacy technicians. Together, they support the career advancement and professionalization of pharmacy technicians through education, networking, policy development and advocacy.

ASHP provides a comprehensive collection of training programs, certification courses and continuing education opportunities. These resources are designed to help pharmacy technicians stay ahead of industry trends, boost their skills and confidence, and enhance patient care.

The ASHP Professional Certificates educational product line offers practical and high-quality education and training for pharmacy personnel. The learning modules are presented in manageable, 100% online segments. Participants can claim CE as each module is completed and must pass a comprehensive exam to earn an ASHP Professional Certificate.

ASHP also offers Competency Assessment Centers to help manage and monitor competency completion among pharmacy technician and pharmacist staff. This training provides comprehensive learning objectives, study tools and assessments online, developed by a team of over 90 experts from across the country.

ASHP supports the use of technology to enhance medication safety

ASHP, or the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, has been championing innovation in pharmacy practice and professional development for over 80 years. It is the largest association of pharmacy professionals in the United States, representing 60,000 pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians across various patient care settings, including hospitals, clinics, and health-system community pharmacies.

ASHP also recognizes the expanding role of pharmacy technicians in medication safety. While traditional activities like purchasing and inventory management are still prevalent, more advanced roles are emerging. These include management of information technology, 340B Drug Pricing Programs, regulatory compliance, and supervision of other pharmacy technicians.

ASHP's collaborative partnership with The Pharmacy Technician Society (TPTS) further underscores its commitment to advocating for and advancing the role of pharmacy technicians. Through education, networking, policy development, and advocacy, TPTS supports the career advancement and professionalization of pharmacy technicians, recognizing their vital role in pharmacy practice.

ASHP also explores innovative technologies such as 3D pharmaceutical printing to address drug shortages and accelerate personalized medicine. For instance, FABRX, a biotech company, utilizes 3D printing to produce chewable tablets with improved palatability for children with rare metabolic disorders. ASHP's initiatives and partnerships demonstrate its proactive approach to harnessing technology and advancing pharmacy technician roles to enhance medication safety and patient care.

ASHP promotes decentralised drug distribution

ASHP, or the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, is a membership organisation for hospital and health-system pharmacists. They are committed to advancing the role of pharmacy technicians and recognising their vital role in pharmacy practice.

ASHP has a collaborative partnership with The Pharmacy Technician Society (TPTS) to advocate for pharmacy technicians. They support the career advancement and professionalisation of pharmacy technicians through education, networking, policy development, and advocacy. This includes offering various tools, education, and professional resources to help pharmacy technicians expand their practice.

By offering this information, ASHP helps hospitals and health systems decentralise drug distribution by allowing them to plan and manage their drug supplies effectively. This ensures that medications are distributed efficiently and equitably, especially during times of drug shortages or allocation constraints. ASHP's efforts in promoting decentralised drug distribution empower pharmacy technicians to play a crucial role in ensuring patient access to necessary medications.

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