Retail pharmacies hire pharmacy staff, including pharmacists, technicians, and assistants, to fill various roles. Pharmacists manage the pharmacy and perform administrative tasks, while technicians prepare prescriptions and assist customers. Assistants work in administrative positions and help with inventory and customer service.
Retail pharmacies employ host pharmacy staff to fill the retail pharmacist jobs required to run a pharmacy. Pharmacists generally manage the pharmacy and are assisted by pharmacy technicians and assistants. Each role has a distinct set of tasks depending on the pharmacy. Retail pharmacist jobs include positions at the back of the pharmacy, preparing prescriptions for customers, and positions working at the front of the pharmacy. Store front retail pharmacist jobs involve working directly with customers and assisting customers in purchasing over-the-counter medications as well as prescription medications that customers need to fill.
Retail pharmacists often split their time between dispensing medications, answering patient questions, and performing the administrative and managerial tasks necessary to run a retail pharmacy and direct pharmacy staff. Some retail stores may have a store manager who oversees administrative tasks in the pharmacy department, but many pharmacists fill this managerial role in independent stores. A retail pharmacist may be responsible for finance and billing tasks, as well as hiring and leading pharmacy staff. They may deal with insurance companies, doctors’ offices and pharmaceutical suppliers.
Pharmacy technician positions comprise a large portion of retail pharmacist jobs. Pharmacy technicians assist licensed pharmacists in preparing prescriptions and dispensing medications. This involves tasks such as counting pills, mixing medications, selecting appropriate containers, labeling bottles and managing inventory. Pharmacy technicians receive prescriptions from patients or physicians’ offices, verify the accuracy of the information, and prepare prescriptions accordingly. They also answer customer questions and can work the cash register and answer the phone as well. Pharmacy technicians are responsible for all aspects of medication preparation, but filled prescriptions are always checked by a licensed pharmacist before they can be distributed to customers.
Pharmacy assistants cannot write prescriptions because they generally do not undergo the extensive training required for pharmacy technician positions. Retail pharmacist jobs with this title are usually in front of house and administrative positions. Pharmacy aides work with pharmacy technicians to help customers and often work as cashiers in a retail pharmacy. They can manage the inventory of over-the-counter drugs and medical supplies, ordering or stocking shelves, answering phones, and performing other administrative tasks as directed by the pharmacist. This can include tasks such as maintaining patient profiles or preparing health insurance claim forms.
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