Course Outline of Record

Item	Value
Curriculum Committee Approval Date	12/04/2024
Top Code	122100 - Pharmacy Technology
Units	0 Total Units
Hours	72 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 18; Lab Hours 54)
Total Outside of Class Hours	0
Course Credit Status	Noncredit (N)
Material Fee	No
Basic Skills	Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable	Yes; Repeat Limit 99
Open Entry/Open Exit	No
Grading Policy	P/NP/SP Non-Credit (D),  Letter Non-Credit (L)

Course Description

This noncredit course provides a comprehensive overview of safe medication handling, dispensing, and administration within the pharmacy setting. Students will learn key principles of medication safety, including error prevention strategies, high-alert medications, and quality assurance procedures. The course covers essential inventory management practices such as ordering, receiving, stocking, and controlling medications, with a focus on expiration dates, drug recalls, and accurate recordkeeping. Other topics include quality assurance standards, emphasizing medication labeling, packaging, dispensing accuracy checks, and patient safety through rigorous quality control procedures. This course is part of the Certificate of Completion – Pharmacy Technician. Not Transferable.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

1. Demonstrate knowledge of quality assurance practices by identifying potential errors in medication labeling, packaging, and dispensing, adhering to established protocols, and contributing to quality control procedures to ensure patient safety and medication accuracy in compliance with relevant regulations.

Course Objectives

• 1. Demonstrate processing and handling of medication and medication orders.
• 2. Define the importance of medication safety, identify types of errors, and apply prevention strategies throughout the medication dispensing process.
• 3. Recognize high-alert medications and implement safeguards during dispensing to mitigate specific risks.
• 4. Demonstrate the ability to measure, dispense, and verify medications accurately while ensuring proper labeling and storage.
• 5. Effectively manage pharmacy inventory by optimizing stock levels, minimizing waste, and maintaining medication availability through proper ordering, storage, and handling.
• 6. Understand and apply quality assurance procedures, including error prevention, accurate recordkeeping, and adherence to pharmacy regulations.
• 7. Proficiently identify, quarantine, and manage recalled medications and discrepancies in stock.
• 8. Utilize pharmacy inventory management systems and maintain professional and ethical standards in all aspects of pharmacy practice.
• 9. Introduce the knowledge of current technology in all aspects of pharmacy practice.
• 10. Develop a strong commitment to patient safety, medication accuracy, and continuous learning, ensuring adherence to evolving quality assurance protocols and regulations.
• 11. Demonstrate the knowledge and skills to support Medication Therapy Management (MTM) processes, including medication reviews, documentation, patient communication, and quality assurance.

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Lecture Content

Processing and Handling of Medication and Medication Orders Prescription intake, data entry, and regulatory compliance Collect and input all patient information including medical and medication history, demographic information for Pharmacist s Patient Care Process. Promote pharmacy services such as wellness services/ patient screening, immunization, delivery, Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Procedure to interpret and enter prescriptions into the system to ensure accuracy and completeness. Support the pharmacist in identifying patients who need or require counseling to enhance the effective use of medications, equipment, and devices in compliance with state regulation. Explain the importance of notifying pharmacists of potential in appropriateness. Describe techniques for detecting forged, altered, or invalid prescriptions- watermarks, signatures, handwriting, quantity. Determine factors to prioritize prescription processing for stat, maintenance, or waiting status. Utilize insurance billing and claim processing. Pharmacy Law and References Overview of federal and state pharmacy laws Pharmacy technician scope Patient confidentiality (HIPAA) Pharmacy record-keeping Key pharmacy references (e.g., Red Book, Physician s Desk Reference) Role in ensuring accuracy and safety Preparing medication for distribution Describe procedure to prepare patient specific medication to ensure the right medication is administered to the correct patient Understand the use of lot numbers, expiration dates, and National Drug code (NDC) numbers for patient safety and quality assurance Use of current technology to ensure the safety and accuracy of medication dispensing such as bar code scanning Overview of key factors in preparing non-patient-specific medications Compounding non-sterile medications Proper equipment use Quality control Labeling Hands-on compounding skills Creating dosage forms (creams, syrups, capsules, suppositories) Equipment / supplies required for drug administration Equipment for oral drugs Equipment for parenteral administration Medication containers Procedures for identifying, handling, dispensing, and disposing hazardous medication and material Safety Data Sheet (SDS) National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Hazzard Drug List The United State Pharmacopeia (USP) Procedure for identifying and returning dispensable, non-dispensable, expired, recalled medications and supplies Expired drugs Overstock returns Damaged drugs Recalled drugs Reverse distribution Credit return Patient Safety and Quality Assurance Understanding Patient Safety Define patient safety and its important in pharmacy practice Identify common safety risks in pharmacy practice Human factors System factors Environmental factors The role of pharmacy technicians in ensuring patient safety Identify types of medication and prescription errors Type of prescription errors (doses, route, number of refills, incorrect quantity, incorrect patient, incorrect drugs) Medication errors (incorrect medication dispensed to a patient, monitoring errors, miss counseling, inappropriate drug handling and storage) High alert/risk medications and look-alike (LASA) medications Quality Assurance: Error-prevention Str ategies Describe error prevention strategies Procedures to fill and verify medication again label Double-checking procedures Recognize high-alert medication Explain the use of Tall Man lettering Separating inventory Leading and trailing zeros Barcode scanning Limit use of error-prone abbreviation Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Minimizing medication errors Improving workflow Ensuring patient safety Error-prone processes Reporting adverse drug reactions, near-misses, or discrepancies Rise of Pharmacy Technology Bar code scanning, Automatic dispensing of medications, Electronic Prescription Record (EPR) Pharmacist Intervention Drug utilization review (DUR) Adverse drug event (ADE) OTC recommendation Therapeutic substitution Medication misuse Drug interaction Adherence - patient- specific factors on drug and non-drug therapy Culture beliefs Disabilities Language barrier Socio-economic status Post immunization follow-up: adverse effect after immunization Medication Storage & Handling Understand storage requirements for different medication types, handle expiration dates, and practice proper stock rotation to maintain medication quality and minimize waste. Product used in packaging and repackaging (type of bags, syringes, glass, PVC, child-resistant caps, light protective unit dose packaging). Event Reporting Procedures Various kinds of report Medication error Adverse effects and product integrity MedWatch Near miss Root-cause analysis (RCA) Skills in reporting errors and discrepancies Hygiene and Cleaning Standard Handwashing- tip for effective handwashing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Cleaning counting trays, countertop, and equipment Patient Communication & Education Communicate effectively with patients about medication use, side effects, and interactions. Provide patient education on safety measures and encourage reporting of medication issues. Inventory Control & Management Procedure for ordering, receiving, stocking, and managing medications. Physical inventory processes and databases Inventory management systems and cost-saving strategies Inventory checks Documentation and recordkeeping practices Application of formulary, approved, and preferred drug list and its role in healthcare industry. Procedures for handling improperly stored inventory like out-of-range temperature issues Strategies in medication shortage, transfer or borrow medication from another pharmacy to meet patients need Importance of barcode scanning in inventory control, automatic dispensing, and management of drug distribution process Procedure for performing physical inventory for control substances. Concept of clinic and nursing floor stock, crash carts, and use of emergency kits. Concept of PAR, reorder levels, turnover rates, drug usage patterns, and perpetual inventory. Concept of implementation of unit dose medication system in pharmacy practice and its pivotal step to enhance patient safety, improve medication management, and optimize healthcare delivery Bulk drug distribution in pharmacy practice, including its significant benefits in terms of efficiency and cost-effectiveness, as well as the legal requirements that help mi tigate potential risks. Storage requirements and storage conditions to ensure drug stability DEA regulations for controlled substances, including storage requirements Medication Therapy Management (MTM) MTM Overview and Core Components Medication Therapy Review (MTR) Personal Medication Record (PMR) Medication-Related Action Plan (MAP) Intervention and/or Referral Documentation and Follow-Up Pharmacy technicians role in MTM Supporting MTM preparation and documentation Medication history and data entry Patient outreach and follow-up MTM software and tools for patient reconciliation and documentation Pharmacy management systems Medication Therapy Review (MTR) Workflow Barcode scanning and electronic documentation MTM in chronic disease management Supporting chronic disease management Preventing Drug-Related Problems (DRPs) Patient communication and education Education on medication use and safety Motivational interviewing techniques Culturally sensitive counseling Quality assurance and MTM tracking Error prevention and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Tracking MTM outcomes and reporting Technology Integration for Safety & Inventory Role of technology in promoting medication safety and inventory management Use of electronic health records (EHR) Barcode scanning Pharmacy software systems Cultural Competence in Pharmacy Practice Definition and importance Relevance to in healthcare, primarily pharmacy Cultural Awareness Better patient outcomes Trust in health care system Patient-Centered Care Understanding cultural backgrounds Enhance quality of service and communication with patience Cultural Health Beliefs and Practices Cultural beliefs influence perceptions of illness, wellness, and medication Understanding preventive care, chronic illness management, and role of medication Herbal Remedies and Alternative Therapies Common alternative therapies or herbal treatments within specific cultural groups Interaction with prescribed medications Reporting information to pharmacist Communication across cultures Verbal and non-verbal communication Language and translation resources Active listening and empathy Building Trust with Diverse Populations Applying Cultural Competency to Pharmacy Operations Lab Skills and Equipment Proficiency Equipment Mortal and pestle Digital balance Automated packaging systems Pharmacy software Prepackaging medications Calibrating equipment Preparing labels using barcode technology Performing inventory checks Compounding skills Professional Responsibilities & Continuous Learning

Lab Content

Processing and Handling of Medication and Medication Orders Hands-on practice in prescription intake and data entry: prescription interpretation and system input; and patient information collection and documentation Skill evaluation for identifying forged or altered prescriptions Practice prioritizing prescription processing based on urgency Preparing Medication for Distribution Demonstration and practice in preparing patient-specific medications: Labeling, measuring, and dispensing accuracy Use of lot numbers, expiration dates, and National Drug Code (NDC) Compounding non-sterile medications: Skill practice in creating dosage forms (e.g., creams, syrups, capsules) Barcoding and scanning procedures for safety and accuracy Medication Safety and Quality Assurance Identifying and managing high-alert medications: Implementing safeguards for look-alike and sound-alike (LASA) medications Conducting double-checking procedures and error prevention strategies Use of Tall Man lettering and error-prone abbreviation avoidance Hands-on application of continuous quality improvement (CQI) principles Inventory Control and Management Practical exercises in inventory checks and documentation: Handling expired, recalled, or damaged medications Managing stock rotation and minimizing waste Training on the use of inventory management systems: Barcode scanning for inventory control Hygiene, Cleaning Standards, and Safety Procedures Handwashing and personal protective equipment (PPE) skill evaluations Cleaning and sanitizing pharmacy equipment and work areas Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Processes Support MTM preparation and documentation: practice conducting medication history reviews with peers Event Reporting and Error Management Skills in reporting medication errors, adverse effects, and near-misses: Use of MedWatch and root-cause analysis Practice documentation procedures for error reporting

Method(s) of Instruction

• Enhanced NC Lect (NC1)
• Enhanced NC Lab (NC2)

Instructional Techniques

Lecture and direct instruction Digital presentations Classroom discussions Individual and group projects and/or presentations Clinical simulations and demonstrations Demonstration and practice of problem solving Oral pair and group work Instructor written and oral feedback Problem solving activities Interactive quizzes and games Medication review exercises Case studies Role-reversal exercises Reading assignments Videos

Reading Assignments

Students will spend approximately 1 hour per week reading from the assigned textbook and additional instructional material provided by the instructor.

Writing Assignments

Review a hypothetical case study involving a medication error due to inadequate patient history. Identify and describe the potential points of error in the case, listing at least three preventive steps a pharmacy technician could implement to prevent similar occurrences. Explain how the use of error-prevention strategies can improve patient safety. Write a 1 2 page report on how Medication Therapy Management (MTM) contributes to quality assurance in pharmacy practice. Include a brief overview of MTM elements and discuss how each element helps identify, prevent, and manage Drug-Related Problems (DRPs). Reflect on a pharmacy technician s role in supporting MTM.

Out-of-class Assignments

Complete a series of dosage calculations based on real-world scenarios (e.g., calculating dosages for pediatric and adult patients based on weight, dosage adjustments for high-alert medications). Select a common medication used to treat chronic conditions (e.g., insulin or blood pressure medication). Research cultural beliefs that may affect patients' adherence to this medication. Consider factors like cultural health beliefs, alternative therapies, and common barriers such as language or socioeconomic status. Develop a brief patient education plan that a pharmacy technician could use, incorporating culturally sensitive communication techniques, such as active listening and empathy, and identifying when to use translation resources.

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

Review a hypothetical case study involving a medication error due to inadequate patient history. Identify and describe the potential points of error in the case, listing at least three preventive steps a pharmacy technician could implement to prevent similar occurrences. Explain how the use of error-prevention strategies can improve patient safety.

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Write a 1 2 page report on how Medication Therapy Management (MTM) contributes to quality assurance in pharmacy practice. Include a brief overview of MTM elements and discuss how each element helps identify, prevent, and manage Drug-Related Problems (DRPs). Reflect on a pharmacy technician s role in supporting MTM.

Eligible Disciplines

Pharmacy technology: Any bachelor's degree and two years of professional experience, or any associate degree and six years of professional experience.

Textbooks Resources

1. Required Bonnie S. Bachenheimer. Manual for Pharmacy Technicians, 5th ed. ASHP Publications, 2019 Rationale: Industry standard manual for pharmacy technicians. Has not been updated more recently. 2. Required Stockton, S. J.. Stoklosa and Ansel's Pharmaceutical Calculations, 16th ed. LWW, 2021