Describe various pharmacy settings.

Description should compare

  • purpose
  • customer service
  • patient care
  • layout
  • personnel
  • scheduling
  • workflow.

Settings should include the following:

  • Community pharmacy
  • Hospital/institutional pharmacy
  • Long-term care facility
  • Closed-door pharmacy
  • Mail-order pharmacy
  • Pharmacy benefit management
  • Specialty pharmacy (e.g., oncology, compounding, nuclear, infusion, opioid treatment program, free clinic)
  • Research department of a drug manufacturing company
  • Pharmaceutical sales
  • Research department in a hospital pharmacy
  • Home infusion
  • Pharmaceutical processor (e.g., medical cannabis dispensary)
  • Ambulatory care
  • Physician dispensing

See ASHP 2.3 Links to an external site..

Process/Skill Questions:

  • How do educational (certification) requirements for a pharmacy technician differ from one pharmacy setting to another?
  • What could be the pros and cons of working in each setting from the technician's and pharmacist's perspective?
  • Which setting employs most pharmacy technicians?
  • What are the customer service responsibilities in each setting?
  • When do the technician's responsibilities change among settings?