In this Article
By: Anna Giorgi
Professional insights: Zachary Green
Pharmacy technicians play a key role in supporting pharmacists, ensuring patient safety and maintaining the smooth operation of pharmacy services. Although handling medications remains at the core of a pharmacy technician’s responsibilities, how they fulfill their duties can vary significantly based on the type of pharmacy in which they work. Understanding how community, hospital and specialty pharmacies differ, as well as the ways a pharmacy technician’s role can vary in each work environment, can help you make informed decisions about your professional path in this field.
How pharmacies are categorized
Pharmacies are generally categorized by the type of medications they dispense and the level of direct patient care they provide. As a result, each type of pharmacy offers a unique set of daily responsibilities, procedures for managing them and opportunities for gaining professional experience.
While there is no definitive categorization regarding types of pharmacies, three basic varieties include community pharmacies, hospital pharmacies and specialty pharmacies. Here are how these pharmacies are broadly defined:
Community pharmacies
Community pharmacies are the most visible and accessible type of pharmacy available to the public. They may be casually referred to as retail pharmacies because they are often located in a retail setting. A 2022 study published in the “Journal of the American Pharmacists Association” identified 61,715 community pharmacies in the United States. According to researchers, about 90% of the U.S. population lives within 5 miles of a community pharmacy.
Community pharmacies include large chain and franchise pharmacies, grocery store pharmacies and independently owned pharmacies. These pharmacies typically dispense prescription and over-the-counter medications, provide medication counseling, offer general health-related advice and provide health services such as immunizations and blood pressure checks, within their state scope of practice.
Hospital pharmacies
Hospital pharmacies operate within healthcare facilities such as hospitals, urgent care centers, rehabilitation centers and long-term care facilities. These pharmacies can support both inpatient and outpatient services, depending on the type of facility they serve.
With an emphasis on specialized clinical services, hospital pharmacies manage a broader and more specialized range of medications and dosage forms. These pharmacies can handle investigational drugs, sterile preparations and medications for complex conditions like infectious diseases, treatments like chemotherapy and procedures including surgery. They also manage a wider range of dosage forms, including IV fluids and injectables, than you are likely to encounter in a community pharmacy.
Specialty pharmacies
Specialty pharmacies provide medications for complex, chronic or rare medical conditions like HIV/AIDS, cancer or autoimmune diseases. These medications tend to be very specialized with very precise handling, storage and administration requirements. Specialty pharmacies are often located in a centralized mail-order facility that may serve patients across the country.
Due to the unique nature of the medications managed by specialty pharmacies, these drugs are typically very expensive. They require specialized knowledge about options for payment and meeting insurance criteria for coverage. Due to the high risk of complications that these medications can cause, patient education and medication management are key to effective treatments.
Ways a pharmacy technician’s responsibilities can differ
Your daily responsibilities as a pharmacy technician will depend on factors including employer needs, state scope of practice for pharmacy technicians and your skills and experience. In all types of pharmacies, pharmacy technicians must work under the direction of a pharmacist.
You can generally expect to perform the following types of responsibilities in each pharmacy environment:
Community pharmacy duties
Pharmacy technicians who work in community pharmacies bridge the gap between pharmacists and patients. They can also serve as a link between pharmacists and a patient’s healthcare team. The effect can create a dynamic and demanding workflow.
Pharmacy technicians in community pharmacies must be prepared to multitask to complete a variety of administrative and pharmaceutical duties while maintaining professional focus and attention to detail. “In community pharmacies, technicians focus on high-volume prescription processing, insurance billing and customer service,” said Zachary Green, CPhT, Director of Professional Affairs at the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and Director of Pharmacy Technician Educators Council (PTEC).
The duties of a pharmacy technician in a community pharmacy typically include:
Hospital pharmacy duties
Hospital pharmacies operate within healthcare facilities, supporting inpatient and outpatient care. These settings are more clinically oriented and emphasize sterile and precise medication preparation. Rather than interacting with patients, pharmacy technicians in hospital pharmacies are more likely to collaborate with other healthcare professionals such as physicians and nurses. The workflow in hospital pharmacies tends to be structured and predictable due to the emphasis on routines and scheduling in a hospital environment.
“Hospital pharmacy technicians often work with more complex medications, IV preparations and medication distribution systems throughout the facility, many times working closely with other members of the health care team,” Green said.
A pharmacy technician in a hospital pharmacy may handle the following responsibilities:
Specialty pharmacy duties
Specialty pharmacies provide medications for complex or chronic conditions. These medications often require special handling, storage and administration. Pharmacy technicians in specialty pharmacies can assist in clinical monitoring to help manage severe side effects and frequent adjustments in dosage. These roles may require completing a specialized educational program for handling and/or administration. The workflow process can be complex due to the nature and cost of the medications handled.
“Specialty pharmacy technicians handle prior authorizations, patient education coordination, and specialized medication requiring extensive insurance navigation and patient support services,” Green said.
Pharmacy technicians who work in specialty pharmacies support patients who need ongoing, personalized care. Their duties may include:
Choosing a setting that’s right for you
Your decision to work in a community, hospital or specialty pharmacy depends on many factors, including employment demand and availability of open positions for your level of experience. Community pharmacies employ the largest number of pharmacy technicians in the U.S. These pharmacies can be a great starting point for early-career pharmacy technicians lacking specialized experience.
Hospital and specialty pharmacies may have stricter employment requirements for more extensive experience. Completing a formal pharmacy technician program, earning professional certification as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) and pursuing specialty certifications may help when competing for positions in these types of pharmacies.
It’s also important to consider the general work environment and how each type of pharmacy aligns with your personality, work style and professional goals. “Seek opportunities to gain experience in different pharmacy settings to discover where your interests and skills align best,” Green said.
Consider the following factors when deciding where to pursue a position as a pharmacy technician:
Community pharmacies
Pharmacy technicians who work in community pharmacies require strong interpersonal and communication skills. In these pharmacies, you must be willing to multitask, pivot into high gear during peak hours and focus on accuracy in a sometimes-hectic environment. A willingness to understand patient insurance processes, master pharmacy software systems and work with patients on topics of education and adherence is also crucial.
Working in a community pharmacy requires the ability to balance speed with precision. While the environment can be fast-paced and demanding, working with patients in one-on-one interactions can be rewarding for pharmacy technicians who value this aspect of the profession.
Hospital pharmacies
Pharmacy technicians in hospital pharmacies require knowledge of sterile compounding procedures, medical terminology and aseptic techniques. Professional certifications such as those related to IV solutions or sterile compounding may be preferred or required in these roles.
Hospital pharmacy technicians learn to navigate complex medication regimens, respond appropriately to life-threatening medical emergencies and ensure compliance with strict safety and sterility protocols. Direct interaction with patients is minimal, though the opportunity to collaborate with healthcare professionals and learn about the clinical side of pharmaceutical services can offer new opportunities.
Specialty pharmacies
Pharmacy technicians in specialty pharmacies require an understanding of disease states, specialty drug therapies and patient support programs. Strong communication skills are essential, especially for phone-based patient education and other types of medication adherence support. A familiarity with specialty pharmacy software and data tracking tools may be required for employment in specialty pharmacies.
Working in a specialty pharmacy can involve complex responsibilities involving the coordination between providers, insurance companies and patients. However, you will also need compassion and a willingness to go the extra mile in helping patients navigate challenging clinical and insurance issues.
