Pharmacy technicians play an integral role in the dissemination of prescription medicine and helping people regain health when they get sick. They are often the ones on the front lines who answer questions patients may have about their prescriptions.
Pharmacy technicians and the roles they play are subject to the constantly changing world. Working as a pharmacy technician today is different than it was even 10 years ago. What are some of the changes and factors that have contributed to the evolution of pharmacy technician occupation, you ask?
Changing Regulations
Health care will continue to be a hot topic of discussion across the United States as health care policy continues to be worked out in Congress. As the nation witnessed with the passing of the Affordable Care Act, health care reform can have far-reaching effects for health care and its aggregate industries. It appears that things may be on the verge of changing once again in the near future.
Increase in Specialized and Personalized Medicine
Medicine is fairly personal to begin with. Scientific and technological advances in medicine have made and will continue to make it possible for doctors to prescribe medications depending on the patient’s genetic makeup. The increased personalization of medicine is forecasted to continue as the technology becomes more commonplace.
Access to health care is also at an all-time high, which means greater access to prescription drugs. In 2016, nearly 4.5 billion prescriptions were issued, compared to the roughly 4 billion dispensed just five years prior in 2011.
Greater access to prescription drugs means there will be no shortage of work for pharmacy technicians. More people being covered by insurance means more people can pay for specialized medication, which increases the amount of work to be done by pharmacy technicians. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of pharmacy technicians will increase by 12 percent through 2026.
Implementation of 3-D Printing
As 3-D printing technology becomes more widely available, it makes sense that the pharma industry’s use of the tool will become standard in many places. The Food and Drug Administration approved the first 3-D printed drug in 2015.
More people having access to 3-D printing could also mean expanding the marketplace, and smaller biotech companies could use the technology to effectively manufacture pharmaceuticals.
Fewer Sources of Drugs
Medicine has become incredibly specialized and will only continue to become more specialized as time goes on. With this in mind, experts in the field anticipate that the availability of such highly specialized drugs will be limited to a few select distributors. It is also possible that certain regulations may be lifted to favor big pharma under the current administration.
Taking a Bigger Role at Pharmacies
In recent years, pharmacists have been taking a bigger role in patient care due to the evolution of pharmacy technician occupation. They have begun administering vaccines, such as flu shots, and providing other patient care services. Because of this, the BLS suggests that pharmacy technicians may have to take on bigger roles and pick up some of the tasks that pharmacists may no longer be able to cover alone.
This can be an advantage for pharmacy technicians because it would give them the chance to learn more skills. Taking on more responsibility could also result in higher earnings.
Prescribe Yourself a New Career
For those living in the Chicagoland area, you need to look no further than Coyne College. Coyne College is one of Chicago’s top skilled trade education institutions and is proud to offer its Pharmacy Technician program to students like you who are interested in the profession.
In Coyne’s comprehensive Pharmacy Tech program, you will learn the finer points of working as a pharmacy technician and how to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of the American health care system. You can complete Coyne’s program in as few as 48 weeks. In less than one year’s time, you can be ready to start your new career as a certified pharmacy technician.
Coyne has experienced professors who will teach you what you need to know before you enter the field and begin assisting pharmacists. As a student in the program, you will receive extensive instruction on relevant topics such as the following:
- Medical terminology
- Anatomy and pathophysiology
- Laws, ethics and principles of pharmacy practice
- Billing, records and inventory management
- And more!
Coyne College offers its Pharmacy Technician program during days and nights in effort to make continuing your education possible regardless of other commitments. The Pharmacy Technician program is offered at the Coyne College campus, located in the heart of the Chicago Loop at the intersection of State and Madison Streets.
With more than 110 years of experience in helping students realize their dreams, Coyne College has a well-developed network of resources that can help students gain employment following the completion of their studies.
Coyne College offers an array of career services and job placement help for its students, including mock interviews, externships and resume help. These resources can help students secure entry-level employment after completing the program.
Now is a great time to be getting into the pharmaceuticals industry and be part of bettering the health of the world’s population. Write yourself a prescription for a career as a pharmacy technician and get started today by visiting https://www.coynecollege.edu/. Learn more about evolution of pharmacy technician occupation with us!
