Training, utilization and motivation of pharmacy technicians--a five-year analysis

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Practice
• Healthcare Workforce Development
• On-the-Job Training

Background:

• Hospital pharmacy technicians play a crucial role in healthcare delivery.
• Standardized training is essential for ensuring competency and efficiency.
• Existing training programs vary significantly in structure and content.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a comprehensive 600-hour on-the-job training program for hospital pharmacy technicians.
• To evaluate the program's effectiveness in terms of graduation and retention rates.
• To advocate for the establishment of national guidelines for pharmacy technician training.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a 600-hour structured training curriculum.
• Inclusion of both didactic instruction and practical, hands-on experience across all pharmacy service areas.
• Admission criteria included a written examination for qualified applicants.

Main Results:

• The program achieved an 80% graduation rate among accepted trainees.
• 39% of program graduates were employed by the hospital pharmacy department post-training.
• Graduates possessed an average of 42 months of work experience within the department.

Conclusions:

• The described training program is effective in producing qualified hospital pharmacy technicians.
• The high retention rate suggests the program meets the needs of both trainees and the department.
• National guidelines for hospital-based pharmacy technician training programs are recommended to ensure consistent quality and standards.