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Congratulations to the Pharmacy Technician University graduates. This program, part of the Earn While You Learn initiative, prepares current and aspiring pharmacy technicians with standardized training to practice as a pharmacy technician, and readies them for state or national certification exams. Begun in 2019, this program has graduated 76 students, with 22 graduates this year and 10 more currently enrolled. Additionally, UVA Health is expanding the program to Riverside Regional Medical Center and UVA Community Health hospitals to support pharmacy technician training at those locations as well.

Pharmacy technicians practice in inpatient operations, ambulatory pharmacy, specialty and home delivery, infusion centers, clinics, home infusion, supply chain, Meds-2-Beds, pharmacy informatics, and acute care services. They work with both adult and pediatric patients, and support patients across the continuum of care, including inpatient, emergency department, ambulatory clinics and infusion centers, and at home. Pharmacy technicians have expert skills in sterile compounding, navigating patient access and prior authorizations, taking medication histories, communicating with patients about medication needs and refills, answering patient questions, serving patients in ambulatory pharmacies, handling and developing procedures for controlled substances and hazardous medications, managing pharmacy automation and technology, and having a keen eye for medication safety and quality.

UVA Health launched the on-site technician training program with the goal of improving recruitment and retention by widening the candidate pipeline beyond those already registered and experienced. Candidates are hired into permanent positions in UVA’s pharmacies based on open positions, and they split their time  between staffing and working on the didactic elements of the training program. UVA partnered with TRC Health, who provides Pharmacy Technician University, an online module-based program that covers all didactic elements of the program. TRC also offers full accreditation support, which was key in UVA Health’s recent full accreditation from the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP). Once the classroom portion is complete — approximately four months — experienced technicians and pharmacists lead trainees through a simulation section of hands-on work in different settings, and then they move on to the final experiential portion of the program. During this time, technicians practice different skills in real-life environments where their permanent job will take place. The program culminates with preparation for national certification exams, which are required in Virginia. Technicians typically graduate and achieve registration with the board of pharmacy within 9-12 months of hire.

“Pharmacy Technicians are essential members of the pharmacy team at UVA Health,” said Danielle Griggs, PharmD, MBA, MS, Chief Pharmacy Officer. “The Pharmacy Technician University is a unique opportunity to learn the skills needed to become a pharmacy technician, while practicing those skills and learning first-hand how to make an impact in patient care. Pharmacy technicians support all aspects of pharmacy services and it is through programs like this that make the work we do as a pharmacy enterprise possible.”

Justin Vesser, PharmD, MS, Director of Ambulatory Pharmacy Services, said, “Technicians must have the right balance between their head, their hands, and their hearts. They have to know how this very technical work works. That requires focus, attention to detail, head stuff. It requires steady hands and solid training to mix chemotherapy bags, to manipulate hazardous substances in a safe way. But the secret to a top-tier technician comes from their heart. They have to care. They have to see that the tablets they’re counting aren’t just Tic Tacs but are the answer to someone’s prayer for their grandmother or for their child. They have to welcome people who are at their worst, their most broken, and share a smile. Our training program allowed us to find people who lead with their hearts, and that is who walked across the stage today.” 

Min Lee, MBA, MHA, Chief Operation Officer, said, “Pharmacy technicians play a vital role in ensuring patient safety, as demonstrated by Sarah Fridley, one of our Meds-To-Beds technicians. Sarah recently caught a critical medication error involving Dofetilide, a drug with strict safety requirements due to its potential for life-threatening arrhythmias. Her vigilance prevented serious harm and highlighted the importance of attention to detail, teamwork, and communication. As our new pharmacy techs embark on their careers, the actions they will take, no matter how small, will contribute to transforming health and inspiring hope for all Virginians and beyond. Congratulations on this incredible achievement — we are proud of the impact our new Pharmacy technicians will make in your communities.”

Congratulations to all the graduates and thank you to those who have a hand in their successful training!