The pharmacist-to-pharmacy technician ratio is a legal regulation that establishes the maximum number of pharmacy technicians that may be supervised by a licensed pharmacist at one given time. For example, a pharmacist-to-pharmacy technician ratio of 1:3 would mean that three people are allowed to be working as pharmacy technicians at one time for every one pharmacist present.
In the United States, the regulation of the pharmacist-to-pharmacy technician ratio is regulated at the individual state level.[1] Some states vary the ratio by institutional (e.g. hospital) pharmacy practice versus retail (i.e. community) pharmacy practice, while others do not regulate pharmacist-to-pharmacy technician ratios at all.[1] The ratios vary from a minimum of 1:2 (e.g. in Kansas) to 1:6 (e.g. Idaho).[1]
In some countries, such as in the United Kingdom and in Denmark, technicians can practice without pharmacist supervision at all.[7] Globally, one survey found that pharmacists are the most frequent source of supervision for pharmacy technicians.[7]
Pharmacist-to-pharmacy technician ratios are an attempt to find a balance between providing assistance to the practicing pharmacist in operating the pharmacy while maintaining adequate supervision of their pharmacy technicians.[8] While staffing issues are reported by pharmacy technicians to increase the risk for medication-related medical errors, misconduct by an unsupervised pharmacy technician can result in significant patient harm.[8] Critics of low pharmacist-to-pharmacy technician ratios have complained that the lack of pharmacy technicians staffing forces pharmacists to devote more time to non-clinical, dispensing-related tasks, as opposed to performing direct patient care services and over-the-counter counseling.[9]
While pharmacist-to-pharmacy technician ratio were initially low with pharmacy technicians engaged in retail tasks (acting as cashiers), the ratios have increased over time as pharmacy technicians have taken on new duties, such as pharmaceutical formulation and intermediating between the pharmacy and insurance companies.[10]
12-280-122. Limited authority to delegate activities constituting practice of pharmacy to pharmacy interns or pharmacy technicians. (1) A pharmacist may supervise up to six persons who are either pharmacy interns or pharmacy technicians, of whom no more than two may be pharmacy interns. If three or more pharmacy technicians are on duty, the majority must be certified by the board in accordance with section 12-280-115.5 (2), and any pharmacy technician on duty who is not certified pursuant to section 12-280-115.5 (2) must have a provisional certification issued pursuant to section 12-280-115.5 (3).
A5. The pharmacist to pharmacy technician ratio may not exceed one pharmacist providing direct supervision of three pharmacy technicians, and one of the three technicians must be certified. See O.C.G.A. §26-4-82(d). However, upon application and approval by the Board, the pharmacist to pharmacy technician may exceed one pharmacist providing direct supervision to three pharmacy technicians in a hospital setting. See O.C.G.A. §26-4-82(d).
40.3(6) Pharmacist-to-technician ratio. In any pharmacy which utilizes a TPV program, the ratio of pharmacists to technicians physically present in the pharmacy shall not exceed 1:2 at any time, including when TPV is not in use.
A pharmacist may not supervise more than two pharmacy technicians unless: (1) the pharmacist-manager receives written approval from the Board in advance; and (2) each additional technician is certified. (See G.S. § 90-85.15A.)
The pharmacy technician to pharmacist ratio shall not exceed 2:1; however the ratio may be increased up to a maximum of 4:1 by the pharmacist in charge based upon public safety considerations but only if the additional pharmacy technicians are certified pharmacy technicians. However, the pharmacist in charge may request a modification of the ratio from the Board.
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