The Pharmacy Technician Skills-Building Manual

Abstract

Therapeutic Area: An overview of general pharmacy practice and a historical description of the profession are presented.Format: This 484 page, hardcover book is divided into 20 chapters.Audience: This book is intended for students in pharmacy and pharmacy technician programs, pharmacy faculty, and pharmacists interested in exploring the breadth of the profession.Purpose: The author's intention is to provide readers with a brief history of the profession and a current overview of the various facets of pharmacy practice and the factors that influence it. It would be most useful for students in pharmacy or pharmacy technician programs early in the curriculum as well as for the faculty who teach in these disciplines.Content: Chapters flow logically to give a broad picture of the pharmacy profession, starting with a brief history of pharmacy and the factors that have shaped and continue to shape its development. Activities and roles of pharmacists are described as well as various aspects of the job market. Different practice environments (eg, community, chain, ambulatory care, hospital) are presented to give readers an appreciation for the breadth of practice opportunities. Pharmaceutical care is described, as are various other clinical activities. Additional topics include the role of pharmacy organizations, the healthcare system, drug discovery, development, regulatory issues, and the pharmaceutical industry. Finally, the book concludes with a chapter on career development and opportunities for pharmacists in nontraditional settings.Usability: The book is easy to read and understand, and each chapter begins with learning objectives so that readers know what is going to be covered. Material is well referenced and the index makes finding subjects easy. The price is comparable with other books of this size and quality.Highlights: The strength of this book is the breadth of the description of the pharmacy profession. The author provides a good overview for someone who is considering entering the pharmacy profession or who is in the early stages of his or her academic training.Limitations: As with any book, attempting to cover a broad and diverse topic, such as the profession of pharmacy, is challenging. Some of the material is limited in depth and readers will need to supplement it to gain a full appreciation of some of the topics.