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JESSICA GREGORY, FMH PHARMACY TECHNICIAN RECEIVES CERTIFICATION - 2010-01-08

Jessica Gregory, Certified Pharmacy Technician and employee of Fairfield Memorial Hospital for three and a half years, has recently been certified by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board.  To become a Certified Pharmacy Technician one must pass a national examination covering all aspects of pharmacy.   In order to stay certified a Pharmacy Technician must have twenty hours of continuing education within the 2-year certification period and at least one hour must be in pharmacy law. Those individuals who pass the exam have a standardized body of knowledge and skills.  Jessica has been working as a Pharmacy Technician for five years providing her with great knowledge and experience which would waive the new requirement to be certified; however, she felt she wanted to enhance her professional credentials by becoming certified. 

“I have set high goals for my own professional development and wanted to strive to better serve the patients of the hospital and nursing home.  I enjoy working with the pharmacy team and the variety of duties I perform will be enhanced with my new knowledge,” stated Jessica Gregory, CPhT.

At Fairfield Memorial Hospital a pharmacy technician’s job includes filling medication carts, inventory control, checking crash carts, and checking all medication in the hospital to ensure accuracy and dating.  The technicians can also mix intravenous (IV) antibiotics and trouble shoot for medication problems or interactions.  In addition, technicians are required to be knowledgeable enough to search for and secure medications that are many times readily unavailable or simply hard to find, but are needed in a hospital.  They also take care of medication billing for the long-term care units. 

“I am proud that all of our technicians have now passed the National Certification exam.  This shows they have initiative, desire, and knowledge to place them in the top percentage of technicians in the Nation.  Technicians with greater than two years of experience in the their current position do not have to take the exam.  However, all of our staff have decided they want to excel, so they have spent the extra time studying and preparing to become Certified Pharmacy Technicians,” said Steve Dawkins, RPh, FMH Pharmacy Director.

There are currently three pharmacy team members at Fairfield Memorial Hospital.  Steve Dawkins, RPh, is the Pharmacy Director and his pharmacy technician team includes Judy Ray, CPhT and Jessica Gregory, CPhT who both have their Pharmacy Technician Certifications. 

Pictured is Jessica Gregory, CPhT.

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