Archive for July 2011
The Changing Picture of Canadian Internet Pharmacy
One of the pharmaceutical industry’s quickest growing section is so-called Internet pharmacy, which allow people to buy indispensable medicines at lower cost from foreign countries. Among all the countries, Canada emerged as the leader of Internet pharmacies. The Canadian Internet pharmacy, satiate with cheap medicines, draws attentions to Americans struggling with costly prescription drugs. So far, people have been buying prescription drugs from Canada, where they are 60% to 70% cheaper. Anyone wishing to order and buy a drug from Canada pharmacy just does it from comfort of home or office with aid of Internet.With the growing urgency in the U.S. regarding the high cost of prescription medications, more and more people are willing to buy medicines online from Internet pharmacies. Canadian pharmacy, offering drugs at cheap rates has been the top performer. Many Americans cannot easily afford their medications due to lack of health insurance or without a prescription drug benefit. It has been observed that a patient from the US buys drugs from a Canadian pharmacy. Considering the total U.S. population, Canadian Internet pharmacy market is still too small to meet up to the demand of U.S. citizens. In the year 2003, Canadian Internet pharmacies posted sales of $1 billion, compared with the $200 billion market in the U.S. With the growing years, sales by Canadian online pharmacies have grown rapidly. Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota are the major areas from where the maximum online orders are placed at Canadian Internet pharmacies.Medical costs in the US are very expensive than that of her neighbor Canada. It is very difficult for an individual in the US to go on medication without incurring huge costs. It is the primary reason why many patients from the US go for buying drugs from a Canadian pharmacy. Branded drugs purchased in Canada can cost very less than the same drugs purchased in the U.S. Canada prescribes only FDA approved drugs and a patient buys a drug in Canada as it costs less.Canadian pharmacy also employs professionals who are qualified to give online prescriptions. Anyone with a need for a prescription for a certain kind of drug needs to give physical health information to the professional via Internet. Then, it is decided whether the individual should be prescribed for the dosage of the drug or not. Considering the anxiousness of people regarding the safety and reliability of Canadian pharmacy, the squaretrade licensed pharmacy program has made it easier to discern which pharmacies you should buy from. The Squaretrade Company certifies whether or not an Internet pharmacy has met the standards and based on that the squaretrade seal of approval is given which is visible on the front page of every squaretrade-certified site.Canadian Internet pharmacy enables a patient to buy and place orders online at any hour from any place. The medicines are then sent as soon as the online facility receives the order. Canada Internet pharmacy provides service that is unmatched in professional service as well as assured that you will only receive the finest medications in the world.
The Benefits of Online Pharmacy
An online pharmacy offers medications on the internet. Such online drug-stores are specially developed for your convenience because they save both time and money. Online pharmacies are quite popular around the world. They are committed to providing the safest pharmacy service and the cheapest medications on the internet. Usually, respected pharmacies all over the world have online shops, too.
In order to purchase medications from an online pharmacy you need a computer and an internet connection. You can order drugs from anywhere – from the comfort of your home or while you are in the office. Just a few clicks are necessary and you will get all the information about the drugs you need. In addition, reliable online pharmacies have experienced pharmacists that will help you in any possible way.
Online pharmacies offer high quality medications at cheap and discount prices. Your personal information is absolutely secure and confidential. Also, you will not experience the embarrassments and problems of face to face communication in the local drug-store. All medications sold by online pharmacies are FDA approved, safe and of highest quality. However, you should make sure that the online pharmacy you have chosen is a reliable and licensed.
In an online pharmacy you can find any medications sold in traditional pharmacies: pain relief drugs, antibiotics, muscle relaxants, anti-depressants, and birth control products. Sexual health products, womens and mens health medications are also available in online drug- store. In addition, the assortment of an online pharmacy includes Viagra, Cialis, Phentermine, weight loss pills, diet pill and erectile dysfunction medications.
Placing an order is very easy and convenient. You need to provide details of your prescription drugs online before you place an order. When you find the medications you need in the alphabetical index, click the “Buy Now” button and your order will be process under complete security. You will receive your order at your doorstep in a discreet packaging with no labels that indication the content of the pack.
Online pharmacy offers easy and convenient purchase of all kinds of medications without any problems and delays. If you buy your medications online, you will save money and time, because online pharmacy has great promotional offers and discounts. You dont have to worry about the quality or legitimacy of the drugs, because online pharmacy is as legal as the local drug-store and sells only approved drugs. The only difference is that you can buy the drugs you need without leaving your home at low affordable prices.
Should You Order Through An Online Pharmacy;
For almost seven years now people have been able to buy their prescription drugs through an online pharmacy. When these Internet drug stores opened, many customers found the convenience to their liking. It was easier to go to an online pharmacy than to go to the local drug store.There are many corner pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens which offer an online pharmacy for their customers. These drug stores offer home deliveries for the prescriptions. The customer can call in to refill their medications. This online service is a convenience for the customer. It helps to build good community relationships. This type of online pharmacy deals with the customers who have written prescriptions from their physician. Nothing can be done without the proper medical paperwork. The computer systems available to these pharmacists will alert the drug counter if there is a problem with medications which may interact with other medicines. The consumer is kept safe from overdoses or allergic reactions.Many people are finding the cost of prescription drugs in the United States to be escalating beyond their means. They are turning to alternative avenues to gain access to their medications. Some people are even ordering from overseas distributors. This has opened a new type of online pharmacy. In some cases it might not be legal.Many of the sites which offer prescription medications from their online pharmacy will sell to people who do not have a prescription. They have a house physician which will write which ever prescription is needed for the medicine. This is not only illegal, it is extremely dangerous. Without a thorough examination, the drugs may cause an adverse reaction. The other problem the medicine it’s self. There have been reports of more than one online pharmacy which was delivering substandard medications to the customer.In order to safely order medications through an online pharmacy, there are some things the buying public can be aware of to keep them safe. First and foremost is the board of pharmacy seal. Any online pharmacy which does ligitimite business will be issued a seal which certifies the pharmacy is registered to do business online. Consumers should check for the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites seal. This Vipps seal will show the pharmacist has been certified with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. Please note that there are very few pharmacies which have this seal.There are benefits to ordering from an online pharmacy. There are disadvantages, as well. The consumer has the convenience of ordering online and having the medication delivered to the door. The problem is the prescription must be faxed or mailed to the pharmacy. The customer may also have the online druggist contact his or her doctor. Cost is a significant issue when ordering online. The trouble with this is that it is illegal to order prescription drugs from overseas. The FDA may not be prosecuting to the fullest extent for this practice. It warns though, that the practice of ordering from an online pharmacy may result in the customer getting substandard medications.The consumer should always use caution when ordering their prescription medications. It may be beneficial to speak with their doctor before using an online pharmacy. The physician could direct the patient to a certified online drug store. It is best to be cautious than to jeopardize one’s health.
Real Customer Reviews – Internet Pharmacy Reviews
Due to the busy way of life most people are now part of, there is a need to have things accomplished as fast as possible. The more convenient a chore is, the better. The same thing goes when it comes to health.
People want to get their drugs in the easiest, most convenient way possible. Most people do not have extra time to visit their doctors or physicians; they simply want their medicines right away. These individuals do not have the time to take part in standard diagnosis and checkups to get their a prescription. Because of this unusually high demand for an improved solution in purchasing medication, online pharmacies have started to rapidly rise on to the top of the internet world.
An internet pharmacy is simply a drug store that is on the web. Its an internet store that sells various medication. A consumer goes in, clicks on a medicines he or she needs, pays through credit card or other means and then a few days later, the medicine are delivered to the customer’s doorstep. On top of that, even prescription pills may be bought through internet pharmacies without actually going to a doctor.
Some online pharmacies have their own expert. Because of this, theyre able to prescribe the right medicines to their customers through their site. The person will simply have to take a test, sometimes talk with the expert through chat, and then the right prescription is given. After which, the person would then be able to order the drugs he or she needs. No more trips to the doctor, no more long waits for your number to be called, simply sit in front of your PC and visit an online pharmacy.
An additional advantage of internet pharmacies is the fact that they also market generic versions of branded medication. As most consumers know about, generic drugs cost less but also has the same chemical composition compared to their branded counterparts. This means that generics work the same way as their brand products does but because theyre not patented (which means the producer of the generic medication wasn’t the one who spent on research, developing and the patenting fees), theyre sold at a cheaper price.
Cheaper, much more convenient; because of these characteristics online drug stores are making a big impact not just in the internet, but on society as a whole as well. However, this does not come without any flaws.
Several people have taken advantage of internet pharmacy popularity. They have set up their own online drug stores but not to do good business, but to scam people. Therere a number of sites out there which only aims to take your money and give nothing back. Be very careful of this.
To be able to avoid fraudulent, scandalous internet pharmacies, you will have to read online pharmacy reviews. Such reviews are user generated, this means that they are based on the experiences of other consumers. Based from these stories, you can know what online pharmacy can be trusted, which pharmacies actually deliver and more importantly, which pharmacies you need to avoid.
Learn about equal experiences about Pharmacy Reviews and the Best Online Pharmacies.
Pros of an Online Pharmacy
Why buy from an online pharmacy when there are many local places to purchase medication? Are online pharmacies unethical? This article will attempt to discuss these questions and hopefully provide some conclusive answers. Since the beginning of online pharmacies there has been ongoing discussion and some action as to banning the use of online pharmacies altogether in the United States from both people using them and also for the online pharmacies, by implementing harsh fines and punishments.Unfortunately for the online pharmacy industry there are some online pharmacies that are complete frauds which sells who knows what as medications to make steep profits for themselves. For the most part though there are many legitimate online pharmacies that sell the highest quality FDA approved medications, a careful online search done on the pharmacy you are considering buying from is an excellent idea so you don’t get ripped off.There is a particular usefulness of an online pharmacy that should be considered and examined before a wholesale banning of online pharmacies, either governmentally or personally. Before making an uneducated decision a person should critically examine both sides of the arguments of both the pros of an online pharmacy.Some pros of an online pharmacy are the following:- A person suffering from embarrassing ailments such as erectile dysfunction for example, can receive proper drug treatments without the embarrassment of a local doctor and pharmacy visit.- In our extremely busy lifestyles the ease of buying from an online pharmacy is a huge benefit in saving time, effort and money, the relative speed and ease of ordering needed medications online are second to none- Along with the above point purchasing medication online is able to be accomplished at anytime during the day or night, 365 days a year, you can buy your medications when you have time to do so- If carefully planned, buying medications online are the most cost effective ways to purchase medications- A shut in or disabled person requiring medications is able to order their needed drugs online when it is far too much effort or far too costly to make a personal visit to a doctor for a prescriptionSome cons of an online pharmacy are the following:- Government authorities like the FDA have a very difficult time regulating and checking up on the amounts of certain restricted medications being sold to individuals- Government authorities like the FDA have a very difficult time discovering where an online pharmacy is receiving its source of medications from and whether or not these sources are pure- If the proper research is not done an online pharmacy could be selling impure medications or even sawdust packaged as a certain approved medication and thus ripping off its customers- An online pharmacy if left unchecked and unrestricted could be shipping out medications that are possibly restricted or dangerous without a proper prescriptionA person deciding to purchase medication from an online pharmacy can take several precautions to help to insure a safe, honest and positive experience using an online pharmacy and minimize the risks of ordering from an online pharmacy.
Pharmacy Technician Resume
Before discussing the ways to make a perfect pharmacy technician resume, let us take a quick look at the pharmacy technician job description. Pharmacy technicians are those medical professionals who work under the supervision of licensed pharmacists. Their major job responsibilities include filing prescription requests for patients, bottling prescriptions and assisting patients with various procedures. These were just a few of the major responsibilities of a pharmacy technician besides these there are numerous number of tasks and duties that is performed by them on a day-to-day basis.
This reminds me of a major aspect of this profession that every certified pharmacy technician seems to forget and that is including these day-to-day activities to state in the pharmacy technician resume. Besides the fact that these daily activities are worth a mention, it plays a very important role in forming an impression on the hiring employer as it indicates the efficiency and professional knowledge of the candidate. With the health care industry and the pharmaceutical sector growing, there are many medical jobs that are in demand and one of the top jobs in demand is the pharmacy technician’s. Out of the huge number of job applications, the first thing that acts as a deciding factor to the hiring manager is the ‘resume’ of course. To make a compelling pharmacy technician resume, one must take some resume writing tips to enhance their existing resume. One of the crucial tip for this position would be to write an impressive objective on the resume. A pharmacy technician resume objective should depict your passion towards your profession and a will to learn and enhance your professional skills and knowledge.
You can use the cover letter sample and the sample resume given in this article as general pharmacy technician resume templates. An example of it presented before you shall give you a better idea of how to draft it yourself.
Pharmacy Technician Resume Cover Letter
Martha Rogers
15 Broadway Street
Chicago
Illinois 787845
Cell: 789-784-4785
E-mail: martha.rogers@xyz.com
27th October, 2010
Mark Richards
ABC Ltd.
Business Park
Chicago
Illinois 787115
Dear Mr Richards,
This letter is to express my interest in working with your well established organization as a Pharmacy Technician. I saw an advertisement for the same in the NY Times and would therefore like to submit my resume for the same position.
With an extensive experience of 4 years as a Pharmacy Technician and the required qualifications, I am sure I can only learn more about the nuances of this job position with a new opportunity and I’d also most definitely make the best use of my existing professional skills.
I was delighted to see your listing and I’m looking forward to be called for an interview and meeting you in person to prove that I could be the best of candidate for the required position.
Appreciate your time to consider my application.
Yours Sincerely,
Martha Rogers
(Signature)
Pharmacy Technician Resume Sample
Martha Rogers
15 Broadway Street
Chicago
Illinois 787845
Cell: 789-784-4785
E-mail: martha.rogers@xyz.com
Career Objective
To make the best use of my professional skills and experience in a well established medical center where I also get the opportunity to enhance my knowledge-base by understanding further nuances of this profession.
Professional Skills
Extensive knowledge of medications and medical terminologies
Broad understanding of all areas of pharmaceutical operations
Excellent interpersonal skills
Thorough knowledge on medication preparation
Data entry and good computer knowledge
Professional Experience
Pharmacy Technician, ABC General Hospital, Chicago, IL, 2005-Present
Maintaining records on computer of prescriptions and drug interactions
Preparing compounding medications
Maintaining computer records for drug inventory
Labeling and prepackaging of medications
Maintaining patient records
Explaining pharmaceutical procedures to patients undertaking any tests
XYZ Health Care Center, Chicago, IL, 2003-2005
Data entry of prescription orders and payments
Preparing and bottling medications
Final checks on filled prescriptions
Maintaining patient records
Receiving and recording prescription orders on computers
Maintaining cleanliness in labs and supervising general cleanliness at the health care center
Assisting patients with procedural information
Educational Qualifications
Pharmacy Technician Associates Degree, Boston University, 2002
Certifications
Certified Pharmacy Technician from the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT)
Pharmacy technician salary range is mostly between USD 25000 to USD 35000 for an entry level position and a certified pharmacy technician’s salary can go over USD 50000. Please note that these figures are not accurate and is just an approximate figure. With additional experience the salary range can only increase. This is one of the best jobs in the medical sector and making a career in this industry would certainly be fruitful in terms of money as well as stability and job security. I hope this article has helped you in understanding the points that need to be included in the pharmacy technician resume to indicate that you’d be the best candidate for the desired job position.
Pharmacy Technician – What Exactly Do They Do
Choosing the job you want is not like choosing what course to take in college or what dish you want to be served. It’s definitely much harder. At least in college, you only need to sacrifice four to five years of your life, unless you’re inclined to take it further and get a master’s degree. But choosing the right place of employment can potentially affect you for a lifetime so one must choose wisely before making a decision.In this article, we are going to explore the job description, specifications and qualifications needed to become a pharmacy technician.The first question one should ask is… what is a pharmacy technician and what does a pharmacy technician do? First of all, a pharmacy technician is not a pharmacist. A pharmacist must have a degree in pharmacy. On the other hand, a pharmacy technician isn’t burdened with the same requirements and responsibilities.In a nutshell, a pharmacy technician is an assistant pharmacist but has job responsibilities one step higher than that of a pharmacist aide.Let’s break down the official definition of pharmacy technicians’ job title into two parts. The pharmacist or pharmacy aspect of the job requires you to have a working knowledge of drugs and medicine. A pharmacy technician must also know the difference between cough tablets and aspirin and have the knowledge to navigate the fine line between headache pills and tablets to help relieve PMS and they must also be able to handle the basic operations of a pharmacy if the pharmacist is on vacation or nowhere to be found.The technical aspect of the job also requires the pharmacy technician to have exemplary organizational skills and they may be also be required to label medicine bottles and categorize them under the correct name or group – the 100 mg label must go on the 100 mg bottle. Just one error, one tiny oversight could result in very negative consequences for a patient.Other tasks include being able to work under pressure because there will be days that the drugstore or pharmacy where you work has people lined up to get their prescriptions filled.As a pharmacy technician, you will also be responsible for supplying aid to licensed pharmacists as they provide patients with medication and other healthcare products. A well trained, competent pharmacy technician must therefore be knowledgeable enough to suggest alternative brands for off the counter medication but alternatives for prescribed medication is solely the responsibility of licensed pharmacists.A pharmacy technician is sometimes required to perform certain manual tasks like labeling bottles, counting pills or doing inventory. In some areas of the country, the tasks of a pharmacy technician and a pharmacist aide overlap so don’t be surprised if on occasion, you end up being asked to complete tasks meant for the latter. This could include acting as a cashier, answering phone inquiries, stocking shelves and other clerical duties. While there are several pharmacy technician duties that a pharmacist aide can never perform, there are few pharmacist aide tasks that a pharmacy technician cannot perform. The job responsibilities of a pharmacy technician can vary depending on the type of business the pharmacy they work at is located in. For example, a pharmacy technician is usually assigned to handle orders sent through courier or even email in a mail order pharmacy and upon verification that the order is correctly and properly filled up, the pharmacist technician is then required to do the actual counting, weighing and mixing of the prescription.On the other hand, in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and so forth a pharmacy technician may have the added responsibilities of record filing and the updating of patient files – especially those related a patient’s medication.If the allure of a pharmacy technician career appeals to you, check out the links below.
Pharmacy Technician – Is It Right For You
If you are reading this, then you are considering pharmacy technician as a career or job for you or somebody you know. In the next few paragraphs I hope to outline the positives and negatives about being a pharmacy technician in today’s environment. My hope is to help you decide if being a pharmacy technician is right for you.Are there jobs right now? One easy way to determine this is to check your local newspaper (print or online) to see if there are any pharmacy tech jobs available. One caution, many hospital pharmacies and retail/community pharmacies post openings on their websites, so check these as well. For instance, I work in a health-system that has about 22 hospitals. We primarily post open technician positions on our company’s website and rarely in the local paper. One thing you should know is that pharmacy technician positions are the most available in the summer. This is because people who are using pharmacy tech as a stepping stone either a) are accepted into pharmacy school or b) graduate from college and are now entering a new form of work related to their degree. Either way, these two events happen in the summer. Take home message: it is good to know if you live in an area with a need for pharmacy technicians, but even if you don’t, there is always some turnover and if you read on I will help you have the best chance for landing a job when you are done.How much training is needed? This is not a simple answer. There is currently no national standard for pharmacy technician training. First, check the requirements for your state. Go to my Schools By State page for information on your state to see your requirements for becoming a pharmacy technician. Some state’s require a formal approved training program, some require a specific number of actual hours in a pharmacy, and most state’s require a national exam (either ExCPT or PTCB). Once you have identified what your state requirements are, you can start planning your education path. Is the pay going to meet your needs? As I read the national averages, they seem low to me. I have been in multiple states from the east coast to to the west coast and I have seen pretty good wages. In general, you can expect to get some where around $10/hour starting out. The average pay across the United States is about $14/hour. With experience and/or taking on specialized roles, you can expect to top out at around $18-$21/hour. In my hospital pharmacy, I have a few techs in this upper range. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides some pay averages and other related pharmacy tech information that is worth checking out. Is pharmacy tech a growing career field? Yes, the BLS site projects a 31% increase in jobs for pharmacy technicians over the next 10 years, which is about 3% a year. That is pretty good compared to the general market.Is pharmacy tech an exciting job? Mostly no, but I have had some seriously exciting and fun days at work. There is a reason I am throwing this in here. I once had a pharmacy technician who was more of an adrenaline junky. When we had traumas come in to the hospital (patients with life threatening conditions arriving by ambulance or helicopter) he would wait for any excuse to go the the Emergency Department to see what he could do to help. This would not be so bad if we did not need him in the pharmacy to help fill new orders, deliver medications, and help answer the phone. So, if you know you love the excitement and need it at work (versus jumping out of perfectly fine airplanes in your free time), then maybe pharmacy technician is not right for you. However, if you like the healthcare field but prefer a position that is not direct patient care, then pharmacy tech might be right up your alley. WARNING: The rest of this paragraph shares a story that may be hard to forget, so read on at your own risk. Early in my career I trained to be a medic. Part of my training involved giving an elderly gentleman an enema. I was instructed to ensure he holds it in for 10 minutes. Needless to say, he didn’t, I had a huge mess, and he used a fair amount of profanity during the whole process (I guess you could say it was exciting). Shortly after this vivid experience I decided that pharmacy technician sounded really good!
Pharmacy Technician – A Closer Look
In the not so distant past when you walked into a pharmacy needing to get a prescription filled you would have, in most instances, found that your prescription was actually filled by the on duty pharmacists. However, over the past few years a change has occurred in the pharmacist arena and that change is, “a pharmacist probably no longer filling your prescriptions”. Although pharmacists are on duty wherever medications are dispensed; today in most instances, a pharmacy technician or pharmacy assistant are the ones filling prescriptions.Pharmacy Technicians and assistants have existed for some time but their roles have evolved for a variety of reasons.A big reason is that they help to reduce health care costs because they get paid much less than a certified pharmacist. Another important reason is that it simply makes sense. Pharmacy technicians and assistants are trained to handle routine work (fill prescriptions and customer service), which frees up the pharmacists to focus more of their time on supervisory duties, as well as patient care.Melissa Murer, Executive Director of the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, put it this way, “Pharmacists are becoming more focused on patient care, so pharmacy technicians are needed to perform more of the distributive functions.” In this brief (but hopefully informative article) I attempt to demonstrate what pharmacy technician and assistants do and where they do it.In general, they assist licensed pharmacists in providing medication and health care to patients by preparing and filling prescriptions and performing clerical tasks. Duties are similar but pharmacy technicians generally have more responsibilities. In addition, technicians and assistants are required to be closely supervised by a licensened pharmacist, although the laws defining what “being supervised” entails, varies by state.In addition to having all of their prescriptions checked by a pharmacist, technicians and assistants must also direct all patient questions regarding drug information, health matters or prescriptions to the pharmacist.Pharmacy TechniciansTechnicians follow specific procedures when filling prescriptions. After receiving an initial prescription or refill request, they must verify that the prescription information is accurate and then count, pour, retrieve, weigh, measure and if necessary, mix the required medication for the prescription. The next step is to prepare and affix the labels to the proper container. After filling the prescription the technician will then price and file it. Another important aspect of a technician’s job is to prepare patient insurance forms and establish and maintain patient profiles.In retail pharmacies, technicians will also stock and take inventory of medications (both prescription and over-the-counter) maintain equipment and help manage the till.In many hospitals, technicians have the responsibility to read the doctors orders from a patients’ chart, prepare and then deliver the medication after it’s been checked by a pharmacist. They may also enter information about patients’ medical records (regarding their medications) or put together a supply (normally 24 hours) of medicine for patients, including the labeling and packaging of each dose. But just like technicians working in a retail pharmacy, each package is checked by the supervising pharmacist before being given to a patient and they also maintain inventories of medicine and other supplies.Pharmacy AssistantsDuties are similar to pharmacy technicians and while hospitals and pharmacies employ pharmacy assistants, the number of available positions is generally less than technicians. In retail pharmacies they work as clerks or cashiers, answer phones, handle money and perform clerical duties. In hospitals they also deliver medications and assist in stocking shelves.Pharmacy technicians and assistants work in clean well-organized areas but are required to spend most of their workday on their feet. And because more and more pharmacies are open 24-hours a day work hours can vary with technicians and assistants are often required to work odds hours (nights, evenings and weekends). Therefore, there are many opportunities to work part-time in 24-hour pharmacies. In addition, a percentage of both technicians and assistants work part time because they are studying to become pharmacists.States have traditionally required a one-to-one ratio of pharmacist to technician but that is also expected to change. Mark Boesen, Director of Government and Student Affairs for the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, has stated that: “Many of the major employers of technicians are expanding the number of their facilities and boards of pharmacy in some States are allowing the legal ratio of technicians to pharmacists to expand. This is a very promising field to work in.”An increasing demand for technicians with greater responsibility has prompted some States to revise their one-to-one ratio of pharmacist to technician to two or three technicians per pharmacist. As pharmacy technicians take on more and more tasks previously performed by pharmacists, they must also learn and master new technology. A good example is the increased use (by many pharmacies) of robotic machines to dispense medicines. Technicians will be required to oversee the machine, stock bins and label containers.This article may be reproduced only in its entirety.
Pharmacy Search Engines; An Indispensable Tool
Over the past few years, online pharmacies have become a preferable alternative to the community drugstores. The increased degree of convenience and safety has made them an instant favorite among the consumers. However, the growth of online pharmacy business led some unscrupulous people in launching illegal websites offering below par products and services. Most patients are often lured by their tall claims and end up getting cheated by these pharmacies. The growing number of such illegal Internet pharmacies has made it difficult for the patients to track down the legitimate ones where they can place their orders. Though all legal pharmacies are licensed and approved by an external authoritative body and generally have a link on their website in support of that, it is practically a cumbersome process for the patients to scrutinize each and every pharmacy website to get a proof of their legitimacy. Under such a scenario, a pharmacy search engine can prove to be an indispensable tool for the patients.A pharmacy search engine offers an interface with a search box in it. The users need to type in the drug name in that search box and click on the search button to get a list of pharmacies dealing in that specific drug. Pharmacy/ Medicine search engines maintain a database that includes all legal and authorized pharmacies operating over the Internet and discounts all the illegal ones. On entering a drug name in the search box, the search engine checks its database and compiles a list of all the Internet pharmacies dealing in that drug. It then returns a list of such pharmacies to users along with the prices offered by them. The usage of a medicine search engine may look similar to that of the traditional search engines like Google or Yahoo. The difference is in the generated results for a search query. On a specific drug query, the traditional search engines may or may not return a result set comprising of online pharmacies. Moreover, patients can never be sure of the credibility of the pharmacies listed in the result sets, as some professionals specializing in search engine algorithms can push their positions right at the top. Pharmacy search engines, on the other hand will return more specific results showcasing various licensed online pharmacies dealing in such a drug. Such results even give an overview of the current stock status, discounts applicable and prices charged by the listed pharmacies. The patients just need to scroll through the results to find the pharmacy that complies with their requirement. A single click of the mouse on the selected result either directs them to the pharmacy website or allows them to place the order directly from the website offering such a search service. Medicine search engines serve as common platform for both the pharmacists as well as the patients. It is a media through which the online pharmacies can showcase their products vis–vis the other pharmacies. The patients on the other hand are assured of the credibility of the pharmacies that are returned as a result set for a specific drug query.