Technicians are essential to contemporary pharmacy practice. The volume of prescriptions to fill and the expanded practices that pharmacists have available to them make it impossible for pharmacists in today’s world to practice in the way pharmacists traditionally have. Supportive personnel can perform some nonprofessional functions for pharmacists, and these activities need not take up the precious time pharmacists must conserve for the more important activities in which they engage. In this case, the Illinois Board of Pharmacy has taken action against a pharmacy company for using technicians in what the board believes are inappropriate ways. As you read this case, ask yourself whether the activities described for the technicians are activities that one must have a pharmacy degree to perform competently. 

What are the limits on pharmacy technician activities? 

If a pharmacy is supervised by a pharmacist and if the pharmacy has a CQI program to detect and rectify problems in dispensing, is there really any point in limiting what technicians can do? 

The distinction often made between what technicians can do and what pharmacists must do is that pharmacists must do the judgmental activities, whereas technicians may engage in nonjudgmental activities. Are there any judgmental activities in which technicians might be able to safely and accurately engage, if properly trained and supervised?