PROMISING GROWTH FOR PHARMACY TECHS
Finding a new career here at UF Health
With a growing need for pharmacy technicians, various groups within UF Health came together to create an empowering solution that led to a new career path for UF Health Shands employees. In 2016, UF Health Shands launched the Pharmacy Technician Training Program for entry-level candidates. Since then, the training program has been a huge success with a 100% passing rate on the Registered Pharmacy Technician exam. Candidates have completed the program to find more than a job and a learning experience. Thirty-five UF Health staff members have found a new career path to launch them forward in health care.
Martina Holder, Pharm.D., BCPS, education coordinator of UF Health Shands Pharmacy Services and the pharmacy residency program director, has seen the transformation in her students’ lives through this opportunity.
“I am amazed that through the development of this program we created a technician career ladder, so not only are we giving people the opportunity within the pharmacy department to become pharmacy technicians,” Holder said, “we are also giving them the opportunity for further growth opportunities.”
A pharmacy technician’s main responsibilities are filling prescriptions, counting tablets and measuring medications, updating patient profiles, managing inventory, compounding or mixing medications and providing customer service. This training program provides 165 hours of didactic self-study and practical training over 10 weeks in all these areas in preparation for a qualifying exam.
It prepares candidates to function as competent pharmacy technicians under the supervision of a pharmacist. As each candidate has diverse and unique interests and skills, they can become proficient in a specialty area for which there is a departmental need or an expressed desire by the candidate.
“We all have ‘developing self and others’ on our job descriptions (as UF Health Shands employees), and that really speaks to what these practicing pharmacists and technicians are doing,” Holder said. “They are developing themselves to learn how to be a teacher, but they are also developing our tech trainees through this experience.”
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of pharmacy technicians is projected to grow by 12% from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. In parallel with this growth, the training program prepares candidates for an approved qualifying exam and makes them eligible to register as a pharmacy technician in Florida. In addition, once the pharmacy technician registration is received from the Board of Pharmacy, trainees will be eligible for promotion to a Level 1 pharmacy technician position, as well as the opportunity for future promotions.
“Here at UF Health, as we add geography, new sites, new beds and more, the need for trained pharmacy experts is growing,” said Diana Richardson, UF Health Shands vice president of operations. “It’s a necessary role to deliver and prepare medications for patients, whether it’s in the outpatient or inpatient setting, and we cannot do it without these individuals.”
UF Health is committed to quality patient care, which means a commitment to personal and professional development for all employees. When the candidates successfully complete the program, they are eligible for tuition reimbursement.
“The Pharmacy department’s solution to develop our own in-house pipeline for pharmacy techs has been so positive, and it’s great to see the popularity of the program each time we offer enrollment opportunities,” said Gayla Beach, UF Health Shands Human Resources associate vice president.
The program leaders look forward to more interest. Stay tuned for announcements about the application process and dates for the next training program.