Pharmacy technicians help licensed pharmacists provide medication and other healthcare products to patients. Technicians usually perform routine tasks to help prepare prescribed medication for patients, such as counting tablets and labeling bottles. Technicians refer any questions regarding prescriptions, drug information or health matters to a pharmacist.
Although most pharmacy technicians receive informal on-the-job training, employers favor those who have completed formal training and certification. Pharmacy technician training requires classroom and laboratory work in a variety of areas, including:
* Medical and pharmaceutical terminology
* Pharmaceutical calculations
* Pharmacy recordkeeping
* Pharmaceutical techniques
* Pharmacy law and ethics
Technicians also are required to learn medication names, actions, uses and doses. Many training programs include internships. In their internships, students gain hands-on experience in actual pharmacies. Students receive a diploma, a certificate or an Associate degree, depending on the program. In addition to career colleges, formal education programs are available in some hospitals, proprietary schools, community colleges, the armed forces and through online pharmacy technician courses.
Pharmacy technicians work in clean, organized, well-lit and well-ventilated areas. They spend most of their workday on their feet. They may be required to lift heavy boxes and use stepladders to retrieve supplies from high shelves. Technicians work the same hours that pharmacists work. Hours include evenings, nights, weekends and holidays – particularly in facilities that are open 24 hours a day. As their seniority increases, technicians often acquire increased control over the hours they work. There are many opportunities for part-time work in both retail and hospital settings.
There were about 258,000 pharmacy technician jobs in 2004, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pharmacy technician jobs should grow much faster than average through 2014. This is because the population is growing and aging, which means demand for pharmaceuticals will increase dramatically.
On average, pharmacy technicians earned between $9.40 and $13.85 an hour in 2004. The highest 10 percent earned more than $16.61 an hour. Technicians certified by pharmacy technician schools may earn more. Additional compensation may be awarded for working evenings or weekends.
Career descriptions- Pharmacy technician
Career descriptions -Patient care technician
Patient Care Technicians (PCTs), also known as nursing aides, are responsible for assisting nursing staff with the multitude of tasks required to care for a patient. They perform routine tasks under the supervision of nursing and medical staff. Such duties include:
* Answering patients’ call lights
* Delivering messages
* Serving meals
* Making beds
* Assisting patients with eating, dressing and bathing
* Taking and recording vital signs
They also may escort patients to operating and examining rooms, keep patients’ rooms neat, set up equipment, store and move supplies, and assist with some procedures. PCTs observe patients’ physical, mental and emotional conditions. They report any changes to the nursing or medical staff.
Patient care technician training is offered at career colleges, nursing care facilities and community colleges. Courses cover:
* Body mechanics
* Nutrition
* Anatomy and physiology
* Infection control
* Communication skills
* Resident rights
PCTs also learn personal care skills, such as how to help patients bathe, eat and groom themselves. In addition, some patient care technician schools may work with local healthcare agencies to extend clinical practice internships to students as well. Patient care technicians who complete a certification program are known as Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs). Career-driven individuals may use patient care technician training as a stepping stone to higher education in order to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Registered Nurse (RN).
Most full-time patient care technicians work about 40 hours a week. Because patients need care 24 hours a day, some PCTs work evenings, nights, weekends and holidays. Many work part-time. In 2004, 25 percent of PCTs worked part-time.
Patient care technicians spend many hours standing and walking. They often face heavy workloads. They must guard against back injury because they may have to move patients into and out of bed, or help them stand or walk. PCTs also may face hazards from minor infections and major diseases, such as hepatitis. But they can avoid infections by following proper procedures.
Patient care technicians held approximately 1.5 million jobs in 2004. Overall, PCT jobs are expected to grow faster than average through the year 2014. This growth is in response to the long-term care needs of an increasing elderly population. Job opportunities will likely be more numerous in nursing and residential care facilities than in hospitals. Modern medical technology will drive demand for PCTs. As technology saves and extends more lives, the need for long-term care increases.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, patient care technicians earned between $8.59 and $12.09 an hour in 2004. The highest 10 percent earned more than $14.02 an hour.
Career descriptions- Medical transcriptionist
Medical transcriptionists listen to dictated recordings made by physicians and other healthcare professionals. They transcribe them into medical reports, correspondence and other administrative material. These documents eventually become part of patients’ permanent files.
Employers prefer to hire transcriptionists who have completed medical transcriptionist training. Many career colleges, community colleges and distance learning programs offer this training. Completion of a two-year Associate degree or one-year certificate program is highly recommended, but it is not always required.
Medical transcription training often includes coursework in:
* Anatomy
* Medical terminology
* Legal issues relating to healthcare documentation
* English grammar and punctuation
In addition to these skills, medical transcriptionists should also possess proficiency with personal computers and word processing software. Normal hearing acuity and good listening skills are also necessary.
The majority of medical transcriptionists work in comfortable settings. These settings may include hospitals, physicians’ offices, transcription service offices, clinics, laboratories, medical libraries or government medical facilities. Many medical transcriptionists telecommute from home-based offices. They work as employees or subcontractors for hospitals and transcription services. They may also be self-employed, independent contractors.
Medical transcriptionists held about 105,000 jobs in 2004, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Medical transcriptionist careers should grow faster than average through 2014. As with many healthcare services, a growing and aging population will spur demand for medical transcription services.
In 2004, medical transcriptionists earned between $11.50 and $16.32 an hour on average. The highest 10 percent earned more than $19.11 an hour. Compensation methods for medical transcriptionists vary. Some receive pay based on the number of hours they work or on the number of lines they transcribe. Others earn a base pay per hour with incentives for extra production.
Career descriptions: Medical laboratory assistant
Clinical laboratory testing plays a crucial role in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of disease. Medical laboratory assistants – also known as medical laboratory aides, medical technicians, medical laboratory technicians or clinical laboratory technicians – perform most of these tests.
Medical lab assistants are a necessary part of the patient diagnosis process. They are constantly analyzing body tissue and fluid samples taken from patients at hospitals, clinics or physicians’ offices. Most lab assistants work under the direction of lab technologists and scientists. They are responsible for making chemical solutions and stocks of culture media, sterilizing equipment, labeling and sorting tissue samples, operating equipment and using computer programs to analyze test results.
Career descriptions: Medical records & health information technician
Medical records and health information technicians organize and evaluate patient records for completeness and accuracy.
This includes information that the patient provides concerning symptoms and medical history; results of examinations; reports of X-rays; and laboratory tests, diagnoses and treatment plans. Medical records technicians assemble a patient’s health information and make sure the patient’s initial medical charts are complete. They regularly communicate with physicians and other healthcare professionals to clarify or to obtain additional information.
Medical records and health information technicians entering the field usually have an Associate degree from a community college or career college. In addition to general education, coursework includes:
* Medical terminology
* Anatomy and physiology
* Legal aspects of health information
* Coding and abstraction of data
* Statistics
* Database management
* Quality improvement methods
* Computer science
Students interested in a medical records technician career can improve their chances of admission into a program by enrolling in biology, chemistry, health and computer science courses during high school.
Medical records and health information technicians’ duties vary with the size of the facility where they work. Medical records technicians usually work 40-hour weeks. Some overtime may be required. This is one of the few health occupations with little or no direct contact with patients. Because accuracy is essential in their jobs, technicians must pay close attention to detail. Technicians who work at computer monitors for prolonged periods must guard against eyestrain and muscle pain.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were about 159,000 medical records and health information technician jobs in 2004. Employment in this field should grow much faster than average through the year 2014. The rapid growth in the number of medical tests, treatments and procedures will increase demand for medical records and health information technicians.
On average, medical records technicians earned between $20,650 and $32,990 in 2004. The highest 10 percent earned more than $41,760.
Job descriptions: Medical office administration
Medical administrators keep healthcare offices running efficiently. They perform highly specialized work requiring knowledge of medical terminology and procedures. Administrators assist physicians and medical scientists with reports, record simple medical histories, arrange for patients to be hospitalized, and order supplies. They must also be familiar with insurance rules, billing practices, and hospital or laboratory procedures.
While entry-level administrative positions may be filled by those possessing a high school diploma, medical office administrators require specialized medical adminstration training programs. Training may include courses in medical terminology, medical office procedures, records and database management, or medical coding. Career colleges or community colleges grant Associate degrees or certificates in medical administration training.
Medical office administration can lead to a career in hospitals and medical offices. The work involves sitting for long periods of time and extensive keyboarding. Job risks include eyestrain, stress and repetitive motion ailments such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Office work may offer flexible working arrangements, including part-time work or telecommuting – especially if the job requires extensive computer use.
Medical administrators should be proficient in keyboarding with good spelling, punctuation and grammar. In addition, they should be organized, with good communication and customer service skills. Increasing office automation and organizational restructuring will continue to make medical administrators more productive in coming years. Computers, e-mail, scanners and voice message systems are now standard workplace tools necessary to medical administration.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 373,000 people were employed as medical administrators in 2004. While the number of administrative assistant jobs is projected to decline, the need for medical administrators is expected to continue in the next decade.
Medical office administrators earned on average between $21,980 and $32,690. The highest 10 percent earned over $39,140. Salaries reflect differences in skill, experience and level of responsibility. Certification in this field usually is rewarded by a higher salary.
Career descriptions: Medical assisting
Performing administrative and clinical tasks, medical assistants keep the offices of physicians and healthcare practitioners running smoothly. They should not be confused with physicians’ assistants, who examine and treat patients under direct physician supervision.
Employers prefer experienced workers or certified applicants. This indicates that the medical assistant meets certain standards of competence. Medical assistant training is offered in career colleges, community colleges and junior colleges. Most certificate programs last one year, while two-year programs can result in an Associate degree. In 2005, there were over 500 medical assisting programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and about 170 accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
Medical assistants are not licensed, but some states require a test or course before performing certain tasks – such as giving injections or taking X-rays. With additional education, some enter other health occupations, such as nursing and medical technology.
Duties for medical assistants will vary, depending on the size and location of each practice. Small practices may require a medical assistant to handle both administrative and clinical duties. In larger practices, medical assistants may specialize in a particular area under the supervision of department administrators.
Administrative duties may include office work, answering telephones, interacting with patients, updating and filing medical records, and filling out insurance forms. Clinical duties vary according to state law. Common clinical work includes
* Taking medical histories
* Recording vital signs
* Drawing blood
* Taking electrocardiograms
* Removing sutures
* Changing dressings
Medical assistants may also assist physicians during examinations. They can collect and prepare laboratory specimens or perform basic laboratory tests on the premises. Medical assistants also assist patients by instructing them on special diets, explaining treatment procedures, and preparing patients for examination and X-rays. Some medical assistants, such as ophthalmic and podiatric medical assistants, are specialized and have additional duties.
A medical assisting career offers the chance to work in a doctor’s office or a hospital. Medical assistants work in clean, well-lit environments. Most full-time medical assistants work a 40-hour week, but many work part-time, evenings or weekends. Dealing with the public is an important part of the job, requiring that medical assistants are neat, well groomed, and have a courteous and pleasant manner. Medical assistants must be able to put patients at ease and respect the confidential nature of medical information. Clinical duties require a level of manual dexterity and visual acuity.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistants held about 387,000 jobs in 2004. About 6 in 10 worked in physicians’ offices. The need for medical assistants is expected to grow much faster in the next decade as the healthcare industry expands. Medical advances and the growth and aging of the population are expected to drive the need for medical assistants through the year 2014.
Salaries for medical assistants depend on experience, skill level and location. In 2004, medical assistants earned $20,650 to $28,930 on average. Those in the highest 10 percent earn more than $34,650.
Career descriptions: Medical laboratory technician
Medical laboratory technicians perform clinical testing vital to the detection, diagnosis and treatment of disease. Clinical laboratory personnel:
* Examine and analyze body fluids
* Match blood for transfusions
* Test blood for drug levels
* Look for bacteria, parasites, and other microorganisms
* Analyze the chemical content of fluids.
Medical laboratory technicians will need either an Associate degree or a certificate from a junior college, community college, hospital, career college or the U.S. Armed Forces. The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) accredits 469 programs nationwide for medical laboratory technicians. Some states also require personnel to be licensed or registered.
Advances in computer technology allow technicians to take a more analytical role. The complexity of the tests performed and amount of responsibility assumed by technicians depend on experience and medical laboratory technician training.
Technicians perform a variety of specialized tasks, including specimen preparation and the operation of automated analyzers. They may also perform manual tests with detailed instructions. A medical lab technician career offers a chance to work in several areas or specialize in one area.
Good analytical judgment and an ability to work under pressure are essential for medical laboratory technicians. Technicians must also have an eye for detail and good manual dexterity. Normal color vision is highly preferred. Computer skills are also necessary because of the widespread use of automated equipment.
Hours and working conditions vary according to the workplace. Technicians for large hospitals and clinical labs may work day, evening or night shifts (including weekends and holidays). Smaller facilities may offer the chance to work a rotating shift. Some settings may require technicians to be on call evenings or weekends in case of emergency.
Medical laboratory technicians are trained to work with infectious specimens. Gloves, masks and goggles offer necessary protection to technical personnel. With proper safeguards and protocols, few hazards exist. Workplaces are usually sterile and well-lit, but some materials in laboratories may produce fumes. Workers may spend long periods of time on their feet.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical laboratory technicians and technologists held 302,000 jobs in 2004. The number of technicians is expected to grow faster than average through 2014, as the types of tests expand and population growth increases the need for more testing. Medical laboratory technicians earn an average of $24,890 - $37,770, with the top 10 percent earning over $45,680.
