Standard

Rev : 02/15/05

PHR 102 - Principles of Dispensing Medications

Course Description

This course introduces the student to principles of receiving, storing, and dispensing medications. Topics include: purchasing, packaging, and labeling drugs; pharmacy policies and procedures; distribution systems; documentation; inventory and filing systems; compounding; contamination control; storage and control; pharmacy equipment; and health care organizational structure. This course provides laboratory and clinical practice.

Competency Areas		Hours
Purchasing, Packaging, and Labeling Drugs		Class	4
Pharmacy Policies and Procedures		D. Lab	4
Distribution Systems		P. Lab/O.B.I.	0
Documentation		Credit	6
Inventory and Filing Systems
Compounding
Contamination Control
Storage and Control
Pharmacy Equipment
Health Care Organizational Structure
Prerequisite:	PHR 100
Corequisite:	PHR 105

Course Guide

Competency	After completing this section, the student will:	Hours
		Class	D.Lab	P.Lab/ O.B.I.
PURCHASING, PACKAGING, AND LABELING DRUGS		7	6	0
Purchasing	Prepare a written report of a physical inventory.
	Demonstrate use of a computer terminal for purchasing.
Packaging	State the precautions and procedures necessary when handling caustic, poisonous, and flammable substances.
	Describe pharmaceutical solutes, solvents, and basic solution theory.
	Describe safety considerations regarding pharmacy equipment operation, control of microbiological contamination, cleaning and housekeeping, and control records.
	Repackage and label unit doses from a bulk supply of drugs.
	Complete all necessary control records for unit doses prepared from a bulk supply.
	Select necessary equipment.
	Assemble and use equipment.
	Clean and store equipment.
	Select each ingredient.
	Demonstrate the accurate calculation and measurement of each formulation and packaging request.
	Demonstrate the correct procedure for mixing and preparing product.
	Demonstrate the proper selection and preparation of packages/containers and closures.
	Demonstrate the proper packaging technique.
	Demonstrate proper quarantine procedure.
	List the steps in manufacturing and packaging operations that must be performed by a pharmacist only.
Labeling	Demonstrate the proper completion of worksheet record of weights and volumes, manufacturer’s lot numbers, and other required information.
	Demonstrate the correct selection and preparation of labels.
PHARMACY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES		1	0	0
Policies and procedures	Explain the need to follow policy.
	State the institutional and departmental policies applicable to each of the primary job responsibilities and describe the procedures for each.
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS		7	4	0
System types	Demonstrate the traditional system.
	Demonstrate the traditional UD system.
Delivery	Discuss the delivery of sterile products, controlled drugs, floor stock, and chemotherapy and investigational drugs.
	Demonstrate the delivery and exchange of medications.
	Demonstrate the delivery of sterile products, controlled drugs, floor stock, and chemotherapy and investigational drugs.
	Demonstrate the delivery of drug product to ancillary areas.
DOCUMENTATION		2	4	0
Record completion	Record use of controlled substances.
	Document the cleaning of equipment.
	Document the receipt and disposition of drugs through various returns, invoices, etc.
	Prepare a written report of a physical inventory of a representative stock of pharmacy drugs and supplies using prepared forms and records.
	Document the inspection of nursing unit drug supplies.
	Complete the records for prepared/compounded products with lot numbers and expiration dates and times.
	Complete the records that apply to the dispensing of controlled, investigational, and nonformulary investigational, and nonformulary drugs.
	Document cart fill/check.
	Complete inpatient profiles and the necessary records and documents associated with dispensed prescriptions for ambulatory patients.
INVENTORY AND FILING SYSTEMS		2	4	0
Filing systems	Prepare a written report of a physical inventory of a representative stock of pharmacy drugs and supplies using prepared forms and records.
	Explain the use of computers for filing information.
	Use a filing system for controlled substances.
Inventory management	Determine from existing reorder levels which inventoried items should be ordered and in what quantity.
	Check in a drug shipment by using the packing list or invoice and purchase order.
	Complete the receiving report.
	Add the items to the inventory.
	Retrieve designated drug items from the drug storeroom.
	Describe the procedure for returning outdated drugs to the manufacturer.
COMPOUNDING		10	10	0
Safety	State the precaution and procedures necessary when handling caustic, poisonous, and flammable substances
	Discuss considerations regarding pharmacy equipment operation, control of microbiological contamination, cleaning and housekeeping, and control records.
Stability and storage	Designate from a list of 50 drug names those that are light sensitive and those that must be refrigerated.
	List the titles of at least four reference books where stability information on drug compounds can be located.
	Discuss pharmaceutical solutes, solvents, and basic solution theory.
	Discuss basic principles of stability (e.g., effect of heat, cold, light, and moisture on drugs and chemicals).
	Explain storage requirements for drugs and chemicals.
Sterilization	Repackage and label 25 unit doses from a bulk supply of drugs and correctly complete all necessary control records.
	Describe microbial growth and transmission.
	Describe origin, pharmacologic effect, and prevention of pyrogens.
	Define sterility.
	Describe heat sterilization and “cold” sterilization.
	Designate preparations which may be safely heat-sterilized.
Equipment	Demonstrate the correct selection of necessary equipment for formulation and packaging.
	Demonstrate proper assembly and use of the equipment for formulation and packaging.
	Demonstrate proper cleaning and storing of equipment for formulation and packaging.
	State the functions of the major components of a laminar-flow hood.
Product preparation	Demonstrate proper selection of each ingredient for formulation and packaging.
	Demonstrate the correct procedure for mixing and preparing product formulation and packaging.
	Demonstrate accurate calculation and measurement of each ingredient for formulation and packaging.
	Demonstrate the proper quarantine procedure for formulation and packaging.
	List the steps in manufacturing and packaging operation that must be performed by a pharmacist only.
	List the possibilities for contamination of an inject able solution during its preparation and for each possibility a precaution that would prevent the contamination.
	Demonstrate the use of a syringe and needle for aseptic withdrawal of the contents of a rubber-capped vial and a glass ampoule.
	Demonstrate the proper technique for aseptic reconstitution of an antibiotic injection.
	Demonstrate the technique for aseptic reconstitution of an antibiotic injection.
	Demonstrate the technique and procedures for preparing parenteral admixtures, including label preparation and control records completion.
	Visually inspect parenteral solutions.
	Demonstrate proper selection and preparation of packages/containers and closures for formulation and packaging.
	Demonstrate the proper technique for formulation and packaging.
	List types of drug packages and containers (e.g., multiple dose, single dose, treatment size, large-volume parenteral containers, small volume parenteral containers, aerosols and sprays, tubes, droppers, etc.)
CONTAMINATION CONTROL		2	4	0
Contamination prevention techniques	Discuss the control of microbiological contamination.
	Demonstrate cleaning and housekeeping.
	List possibilities for contamination of an injectable solution during preparation.
	Discuss precautions to take to prevent contamination.
	Use a syringe and needle for aseptic withdrawal of the contents of a rubber- caped vial and a glass ampoule.
	Perform aseptic hand washing techniques.
	Prepare parenteral admixtures, including labeling and completion of control records.
	State the function of a laminar-flow hood.
	Identify preparations that can be safely heat-sterilized.
	Visually inspect parenteral solutions.
STORAGE AND CONTROL		4	4	0
Stability	List drugs that are light-sensitive and must be refrigerated.
	Describe storage requirements for drugs and chemicals.
	Discuss basic principles of stability (e.g., effect of heat, cold, light, and moisture).
Packaging an inspection	Select and prepare packages/ containers and closures.
	Describe packaging considerations (e.g., drug containers and closures).
	Perform particulate matter inspection.
	Monitor contamination.
Quarantine	Discuss the proper quarantine procedure for selected formulation and packaging request.
Record keeping and inventory control	Perform control and recordkeeping procedures (e.g., formula master sheets, worksheets and batch records, labeling and label control, quarantine, and product testing and monitoring). Discuss storage and inventory control.
	Describe lot numbers and expiration dates and times.
	Perform labeling and recordkeeping for bottle labels, fluid orders and profiles, and compounding records.
	Discuss safety considerations regarding control records.
	Retrieve designated drug items from the drug storeroom.
PHARMACY EQUIPMENT		4	4	0
Assembly	Describe the assembly of equipment.
Equipment use	Discuss the use of equipment.
	Maintain equipment and apparatus.
	Use a syringe and needle.
	Discuss the functions of the major components of a laminar-flow hood.
	Identify the equipment and systems used in parenteral administration (e.g., needles and syringes, administration sets, fluid containers, filters, and pumps).
	Identify the equipment used to prepare parenteral admixtures (e.g., laminar-flow hoods, filters, pumps and vacuum sets, drug-additive systems and packages, Cornwall pipetters, etc.).
	Discuss compounding techniques (i.e., specific to the fluid system in use and including the prefilling of syringes, preparing ophthalmic solutions, etc.).
Storage and cleaning	Discuss storing and cleaning of equipment.
	Explain the relationship of technologists to pharmacists, hospital staff, and patients.
HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE		1	0	0
Organizational structure	Interpret the institution’s organizational chart in terms of the name and title of the administrative person to whom the director of pharmacy reports and the administrative and professional relationship of the pharmacy department to any other departments in the institution.
	Describe the organization of various pharmacy settings.
Pharmacies	Describe the organization, functions, and responsibilities of the hospital and pharmacy.

Suggested Resources

Books

Ballington, Don (1999). Pharmacy Practice for Technicians (2^nd ed.). St. Paul, MN: EMC Paradigm.

Ballington, Don (2003). Pharmacology for Technicians (2^nd ed.). St. Paul, MN: Paradigm Publishing.

Ballington, Don (2003). Pharmacology for Technicians Workbook (2^nd ed.). St. Paul, MN: Paradigm Publishing.

Durgin, Sr. Jane, & Hanan, Zachary (1999). Pharmacy Practice for Technicians (2^nd ed.). Albany, NY: Delmar.

Perspective Press (1999). The Pharmacy Technician (1st ed.). Englewood, CO: Morton Publishing.

Perspective Press (1999). Pharmacy Technician Workbook and Certification Review (1^sted.). Englewood, CO: Morton Publishing.

Stoogenke, Marvin (2002). The Pharmacy Technician (3^rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Audio/Visual and Software Resources

Introducing CHOICE-DISCovery, the multimedia, interactive CD-ROM tutorial for Cardinal CHOICE_TM (1999). Cardinal Distribution a Cardinal Health Company (CD).

Rx30 Pharmacy System. Ocoee, FL: Transaction Data Systems (software)

TeleSCRIPT Video Presentation (1995). Greenville, TX: OmniSYS, Inc (video).

DataSMITH (1999, 2000). Spartanburg, SC: Smith Drug Company (software)

MedStation System 2000 (1997). San Diego, CA: PYXIS Corporation (video).