The Future of Pharmacy Technicians in Idaho P. Allen Frisk, MS May 14, 2011

To consider future trends in Pharmacy technician careers, we must take a look back at where we have came from…

Mr. Gower’s Pharmacy

Whitehead Drug, 8 th & Main Boise

Jan 1966 ASHP approves and publishes first “Statement on Hospital Pharmacy Technician – “Statement on Hospital Pharmacy Technician – Helpers” Helpers” (May 1964 APhA Journal article: “Pharmacy Services to Nursing Homes by Nampa Drug Store Pharmacist John Nursing Homes by Nampa Drug Store Pharmacist John Rawlings mentions Connie Douglas and Janet Vail in Rawlings mentions Connie Douglas and Janet Vail in describing Unit Dose Distribution to local nursing homes) describing Unit Dose Distribution to local nursing homes) Nov 1969 ASHP establishes “Task Force on the Pharmacy Practitioner and Role of the Subprofessinal” Practitioner and Role of the Subprofessinal” Apr 1970 ASHP approves “Training Guidelines for Hospital Pharmacy Supportive Personnel” Pharmacy Supportive Personnel”

Nov 1971 Allen Frisk teaches ASHP Training Guidelines to Supportive Personnel at Rhode Island Hospital during his Residency Dec 1971 ASHP splits away from APhA at ASHP Midyear Clinical meeting in Las Vegas Dec 1974 John Rawlings named Chairman of SIG on Nursing Home Pharmacy (Allen Frisk, Secretary) Dec 1975 ASHP roles out Training Guidelines for Accredited Technician Programs Dec 1975 Jim Dilley leaves Potter Drug to join Saint Al’s program, first career tech

1976 Vicki Vargason joins staff at Saint Als. Becomes first graduate of state approved Technician Training Program. (see below) 1980 ISHP announces first Technician of the Year: Vicki Vargason 1982 Boyd Jeffery (and Allen Frisk) establish first Technician Training Program in Idaho (approved by Idaho Board of Labor. ISU College of Pharmacy and Idaho Board of Pharmacy refused to recognize)

1989Allen Frisk approaches Butch Groothius at AIHT to start first formal Pharmacy Technician Training Program (today’s Carrington College) 1992 IdahoBoard ofPharmacy establishes Technicial Committee for Pharmacy Technicians. Publishes Curriculum Guide for Pharmacy Technicians (grant from State ofIdaho Division of Vocational Education. Allen Frisk secretary)

1993Idaho State Board of Pharmacy officially officially recognizes Pharmacy Technician. Establishes 1:1 ratio in Retail settings and 2:1 setting in Hospitals. No longer use the term “Supportive personnel” in Don Ness’s Hospital Pharmacy Regulations (written in 1986, with assistance of Allen Frisk) 1994 ISU College of Pharmacy’s Drug Info Pharmacist, Brenda Storey Phelan Dunn, develops ISU correspondence course, through Trade & Technology School (Materials Review Committee headed by Allen Frisk) 2000 Board of Pharmacy approved 2:1 ratio for all settings 1993Idaho State Board of Pharmacy officially officially recognizes Pharmacy Technician. Establishes 1:1 ratio in Retail settings and 2:1 setting in Hospitals. No longer use the term “Supportive personnel” in Don Ness’s Hospital Pharmacy Regulations (written in 1986, with assistance of Allen Frisk) 1994 ISU College of Pharmacy’s Drug Info Pharmacist, Brenda Storey Phelan Dunn, develops ISU correspondence course, through Trade & Technology School (Materials Review Committee headed by Allen Frisk) 2000 Board of Pharmacy approved 2:1 ratio for all settings

2000 Kellina James joins ISHP and becomes Instrumental in maintaining Pharmacy Tech group. Begins teaching others how to pass PTCB Exam 2001 Apollo College purchases AIHT, expands Pharmacy technician program to both morning and evening classes. Taught by Steven Eide as Al Frisk returned to St.Als 2002 Academy of professional Careers (now Milan college) opens second pharmacy tech school in Boise. Chris Murray becomes educator for that program 2004 Chris Murray joins staff at Apollo

2005 Idaho Board of Pharmacy expands “Tech” Ratio to 3:1 in all settings 2006 Saint Al’s gets Board approval to start “Tech-check-Tech” trial program. (St Al’s and St Lukes both have 4-tier career ladders for Technicians. Both utilize Technicians for Pharmacy Buyers 2007 Pharmacists officially declared 50% clinicians & 50% dispensers 2008 USP 797 Guidelines for Sterile and Non-Sterile Compounding establish need for additional technicians & training

2009 ASHP 2020 Vision recommends all Pharmacy Technicians to have finished an ASHP-accredited Technician Training Program 2009 Idaho Board of Pharmacy approves “Tech” Ratio of 6:1. Approves “Tech-check-Tech” Program. (Project spearheaded by Larry Munkelt). Approves Bob Wheatley’s Remote Pharmacy project (Telepharmacy)

2010DeVry University purchases Apollo College and changes name to Carrington College Expands program to as many as 3 on-going classes. Offers expanded track to allow 9-month program to be expanded to two year program with Associates Degree offered College of Western Idaho in Nampa starts Technician Training program taught by Lori Urban 2010 ISU College of Pharmacy students (and Ann Kator) teach Renaissance High School student Rx Tech Program

Recent ASHP Membership Survey: Support current expanded role 82% Support Rx Tech-check-Tech program 75% Support further expansion of Rx Tech 59%

Expanded Role in Informatics (IT) Current Large Hospitals have 1.9 FTE’s (range ) with computer degree Expanded Role in Robotics Difficult task of operating automated high tech equipment Compounding of Pharmaceuticals -USP 797 Guidelines -Biotechnology

Expanded Role in Quality Assurance Programs -Medication Error Reduction -Training of Pharmacy Technicians -Interdepartmental relationships Expanded Responsibilities in Dispensing -Telepharmacy operations -Point of Service Mobile Units Support Pharmacist’s Clinical Activities -Patient Counseling -Information Gathering -Maintenance of Logs/Study Information Expanded Role in Quality Assurance Programs -Medication Error Reduction -Training of Pharmacy Technicians -Interdepartmental relationships Expanded Responsibilities in Dispensing -Telepharmacy operations -Point of Service Mobile Units Support Pharmacist’s Clinical Activities -Patient Counseling -Information Gathering -Maintenance of Logs/Study Information

Expansion of Educational Requirements -9-month expanded to two years -Two years expanded to four years -Mini-Residency programs for Technicians Other?