Section R156-17b-601 - Operating Standards - Pharmacy Technician and Pharmacy Technician TraineeUnder Subsection 58-17b-102(56), practice as a licensed pharmacy technician is defined as follows:
(1) A pharmacy technician may perform any task associated with the physical preparation and processing of prescription and medication orders, including:(a) receiving written prescriptions;(b) taking refill orders, including refill authorizations;(c) entering and retrieving information into and from a database or patient profile;(e) retrieving medications from inventory;(f) counting and pouring into containers;(g) placing medications into patient storage containers;(j) counseling for over-the-counter drugs and dietary supplements under the direction of the supervising pharmacist;(k) receiving new prescription drug orders when communicating telephonically or electronically, if the original information is recorded so the pharmacist may review the prescription drug order as transmitted, including accepting new prescription drug orders saved on voicemail for a pharmacist to review;(l) transferring prescriptions under Sections 58-17b-604 and R156-17b-609;(m) performing checks of certain medications prepared for distribution filled or prepared by another technician within a Class B hospital pharmacy, such as medications prepared for distribution to an automated dispensing cabinet, cart fill, crash cart medication tray, or unit dosing from a prepared stock bottle, in accordance with the following operating standards: (i) a technician authorized by a hospital to check medications shall have at least: (A) one year of experience working as a pharmacy technician; and(B) six months of experience at the hospital where the technician is authorized to check medications;(ii) a technician may only check steps in the medication distribution process that do not require the professional judgment of a pharmacist and that are supported by sufficient automation or technology to ensure accuracy, such as barcode scanning, drug identification automation, checklists, or visual aids;(iii) a hospital that authorizes technicians to check medications shall: (A) have a training program and ongoing competency assessment that is documented and retrievable during each technician's employment and at least three years beyond employment;(B) maintain a list of technicians on staff that are allowed to check medications;(C) have a medication error reporting system and be able to produce documentation of its use;(D) have a supervising pharmacist immediately available during times that a pharmacy technician is checking medications; and(E) have comprehensive policies and procedures that guide technician checking that include the following: (I) process for technician training and ongoing competency assessment and documentation;(II) process for supervising technicians who check medications;(III) list of medications, or types of medications that may or may not be checked by a technician;(IV) description of the automation or technology to be utilized by the institution to augment the technician check;(V) process for maintaining a permanent log of the unique initials or identification codes that identify each technician responsible for checked medications by name; and(VI) description of processes used to track and respond to medication errors; and(n) additional tasks not requiring the judgment of a pharmacist.(2) A pharmacy technician may not: (a) receive a new prescription or medication order, except as described in Subsection (1)(k);(b) clarify a prescription or medication order from a prescriber;(c) perform a drug utilization review;(d) perform final review of a prescribed drug prepared for dispensing;(f) counsel a patient with respect to a prescription drug.(3) A pharmacy technician may administer vaccines and emergency medications pursuant to delegation by a pharmacist under the Vaccine Administration Protocol, if the pharmacy technician: (a) has completed the initial training required by Section R156-17b-621;(b) is under direct, on-site supervision by the delegating pharmacist as defined in Subsection R156-1-102a(4)(a); and(c) for each renewal cycle after the initial training, has completed a minimum of two hours of continuing education in immunization or vaccine-related topics in accordance with Section R156-17b-309.(4) A pharmacy technician trainee: (a) shall practice only under the direct supervision of a pharmacist, and in a ratio not to exceed: (i) one pharmacy technician trainee to one pharmacist; or(ii) two pharmacy technician trainees to one pharmacist, if a licensed pharmacy technician or intern is working during the same shift; and(b) may perform any task in Subsection (1), except performing checks of certain medications prepared for distribution filled or prepared by a technician within a Class B hospital pharmacy as described in Subsection (1)(m).Utah Admin. Code R156-17b-601
Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2015-6, effective 2/24/2015Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2017-2, effective 12/22/2016Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2019-24, effective 11/25/2019Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2022-03, effective 1/27/2022Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2023-02, effective 1/5/2023