February 25, 2022

Washington, DC – In recognition of the support technicians need as their roles evolve, the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), the nation’s first and most-trusted pharmacy technician credentialing organization, is constantly finding opportunities to improve and support patient care and safety. Through the PTCB Partnership Funds Program, PTCB supports organizations participating in its State Associate Program by providing access to programs and resources to help support the work of pharmacy technicians. This month, PTCB announced that it has awarded grants to the Iowa Pharmacy Association (IPA), the Virginia Pharmacy Association (VPA), and the Minnesota Society of Health-System Pharmacists (MSHP).

“We know how critical pharmacy technicians are to patient care teams. This has become even more obvious over the past several years as they are meeting the increased demand for healthcare services, taking on a range of responsibilities from conducting point-of-care testing to administering vaccines,” said PTCB Executive Director and CEO William Schimmel. “We recognize that as technicians take on more, they also need more support to help them best fulfill their duties, whether that’s in the form of training programs or financial assistance. We are proud to dedicate funding to these state organizations who are providing those resources so dedicated technicians can continue advancing their careers.”

The Iowa Pharmacy Association (IPA) aims to support the growth of pharmacy technicians by advancing their role to provide expanded pharmacy care services, particularly point-of-care testing services, which increases access to care for patients across various communities. IPA recognizes that the pandemic has exacerbated financial inequalities, and many technicians wishing to pursue continuing education and advanced credentials may face financial barriers. This funding will alleviate some of that financial burden and allow IPA to provide full reimbursement for technicians pursuing PTCB’s Point-of-Care Testing Certificate and CE Impact’s Advanced Certificate in Point-of-Care Testing.

The Virginia Pharmacy Association (VPhA) will allocate funds towards developing a curriculum that will help pharmacy technicians gain knowledge and skills that will allow them to serve as community health workers (CHWs). Technicians can strengthen relationships with patients by focusing on Social Determinants of Health, helping to identify gaps in patient care - an especially critical need in rural and underserved areas. This cross-training of technicians as CHWs will allow pharmacy teams to better serve patients in overcoming healthcare barriers to improve outcomes and overall quality of care while promoting overall patient and medication safety. 

The Minnesota Society of Health-System Pharmacists (MSHP) will use funds to help advance their mission of advocating for expanded roles of pharmacy technicians through the development of a Pharmacy Technician Preceptor Training and Certificate Program. This program recognizes that technicians need solid resources and support to keep up with their expanding roles and will help provide career advancement opportunities by increasing their responsibilities, providing leadership training, and enhancing medication safety. MSHP anticipates that this opportunity will result in increased job retention and overall engagement of pharmacy technicians.

 

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To obtain information, schedule an interview, or request a comment, contact mediarelations@ptcb.org