Pharmacy Technology

This course introduces students to the role of the Pharmacy Technician in providing patient care services. Topics include pharmaceutical terms, abbreviations, and symbols used in prescribing and charting medications, dosage forms, routes of drug administration, patient variables related to drug therapy, and equipment and systems used in parenteral drug administration. Upon completion, students will be able to explain the role of pharmacy technician assistants, read and interpret drug orders, describe quality assurance, and utilize pharmacy references.

This course introduces drug categories, usage, and side effects. It also covers prescription terminology and the top two hundred drugs by category, including both trade and generic names. Upon completion, students should be able to categorize major drugs accurately and identify their indications, side effects, and both trade and generic names.

This course continues PHM 102. It introduces additional drug groups and discusses their uses, side effects, and mechanisms of action. Upon completion, students should be able to categorize major drugs into the correct therapeutic groups and identify indications, side effects, along with trade and generic names.

This course emphasizes the rational use of prescription and non-prescription medications. Topics include how to use licit drugs and chemical substances appropriately, the development of drugs, economic factors that impact health care, drugs, pregnancy, children, and the elderly, and the use of self-help medications for a variety of conditions. Upon completion, students will be able to perform basic supervised dispensing techniques in various pharmacy settings.

This course introduces students to the design, control, and planning of electronic information systems used to implement medication orders, manage the medication distribution system, and handle medication billing. Upon completion, students should be able to prepare patient charges, distribute medications, and operate computers efficiently.

This course covers the development of hospitals, their place in society, and the importance and place of pharmacy in hospitals and nursing homes. Topics covered include the organization, staffing, services, legal requirements, development of institutional pharmacy departments, and interdepartmental relationships to provide comprehensive pharmacy services. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate a basic knowledge of the topic discussed.

This course encompasses all aspects of pharmacy, including retail, inpatient, and ordering, as well as manufacturing. Emphasis is on those aspects of pharmacy that hospital technicians would be required to perform. Topics covered include the theory and practice behind the dispensing of drugs to hospital inpatients and ambulatory patients, demonstrating accuracy in preparing and dispensing drugs or simulating procedures, as well as aseptic technique and equipment used in a laboratory setting. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate proficiency in performing these tasks.

This course provides students with their first exposure to pharmacies and hospitals. Lectures and demonstrations in laboratory settings are used to acquaint students with standard operating procedures at participating facilities. Both retail and hospital pharmacy situations and job skills are addressed. Upon completion, students should be able to apply technical skills and organizational knowledge to support pharmacists in these settings.

This course builds upon PHM 211 and takes the student one step further, transitioning from the theoretical laboratory to actual job experience. Additional experience under the supervision of pharmacists will demonstrate accuracy through clinical evaluation in both hospital and retail pharmacy settings, including tasks such as pouring, compounding, packaging, labeling, and dispensing drugs to patients. Upon completion, students should be able to provide technical assistance and support to retail and hospital pharmacists.