New Theory on Why Many RPhs Oppose Tech Standards

// March 29th, 2009 // Pharmacy General, Pharmacy Regulations, Pharmacy Technician

Why do so many pharmacists fiercely oppose requiring increased standards for pharmacy technician education, training, certification and recognition? This is the million dollar question. 

For the past ten years, I, along with most others, have assumed that the answer was (or a variation) that pharmacists viewed the advancement of pharmacy technicians as a direct, or implied, threat to their own job security. I’ve always known that it was a weak response to the question; pharmacists, after all, are very intelligent individuals…how could they accept such an absurd notion as “if pharmacy technicians are required to complete standardized education and take on more responsibilities in the pharmacy, they eventually won’t need me….the chains will realize that they can replace my $100k+ salary with a $30K salary…”? This is as ridiculous as pharmacy technicians opposing pharmacy automation for the same reasoning.

The logic of this explanation completely breaks down when you witness the chain pharmacies offering the fiercest opposition to increasing the standards for pharmacy technicians. If they felt that they would be able to do away with the pharmacist eventually (and the liability of their payroll burden), the chains would be rushing to get such standards in place.

Pharmacists see the action of the chains, so why do they remain in opposition, including the younger/newer pharmacists? One would think that pharmacists would want the most competent, educated and trained staff as possible. Then I came across the results of a 2007 study published in the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, and suddenly I’m beginning to understand. introvert2

In the study, 3rd year pharmacy students underwent personality assessments for a correlation on how to improve patient consultations and communication skills. The results, in my opinion, provide great insight to the million dollar question. According to the study, two out of three pharmacy students (66%) were assessed to be introverts.

…and?….so?….what does that have to do with anything?

Think about it. One of the main reasons provided for advancing the standards and education of pharmacy technicians is to free the pharmacists up from the routine, non-clinical, aspects of dispensing….thus allowing pharmacists to use their clinical expertise and spend the majority of their time consulting with patients and/or prescribers. Subconsciously, if not consciously, pharmacists are scared of this change in practice, because as introverts they would prefer to stay behind the counter, under the hood or in the basement preparing and dispensing medications. 

Introverts are wired in such a way as to avoid social interaction whenever possible. Think about it – how many of the pharmacists you have worked with are introverts by nature. Now, think about nurses, whose job is completely focused on interacting with patients…the vast majority of nurses are extroverts by nature.

The thought of technicians “freeing them up” to spend more time with patients is hitting a deep seeded fear. It’s not about the validity and necessity of increasing standards for technicians, it is about maintaining the status quo and not having to get out of their comfort zone.

I plan to look further into this theory, because if this proves accurate – we will need to do a few things.
1. Reframe the argument for increasing the standards for pharmacy technicians
2. Provide extensive training/resources for pharmacists to become more professionally extroverted
3. Reconsider the ideal traits for admission of  future pharmacy students 

 

Disclaimer: Yes, I realize that every pharmacist does not oppose such standards. NPTA works with numerous pharmacists who are among our strongest supporters/allies. I also realize that every pharmacist is not an introvert, nor is this theory the reason why every challenger opposes such standards. This post uses mass generalizations, which can illustrate trends, which in turn can provide significant insight.

Study: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1959225 

I welcome your thoughts!

4 Responses to “New Theory on Why Many RPhs Oppose Tech Standards”

  1. artech says:
    March 30, 2009 at 3:48 am

    Interesting…..the pharmacists I work with don’t mind counseling and talking to patients. Interesting non the less.

  2. Kelly O says:
    April 6, 2009 at 6:28 am

    Mike, I posed this theory last week to one of our pharmacists in a discussion and he agreed with you wholeheartedly. There are exceptions to the rule, of course, but after a lifetime of working in all sorts of pharmacies, he said it’s pretty clear many pharmacists tend to be introverted. It’s interesting, and it makes me wonder how that will evolve as we watch the Boomers continue to retire, spend more time in the pharmacy, and the interactions they’ll expect from the pharmacist.

  3. Mike Thomas says:
    April 10, 2009 at 11:52 am

    Mike, what you’re saying is essentially true, but it actually goes deeper than that.

    The profession of Pharmacy is a fragmented profession where the parts equal LESS than the whole. Retail Pharmacists oppose Institutional Pharmacists standards. Nuclear Pharmacists are an entirely different entity. Pharmacists as a whole have never completely embraced Technicians. Even our organizational names reflect this fragmentation. We have the American Society of Health-System PHARMACISTS. We have the National PHARMACY TECHNICIAN Association. There are at least 35 other organizations that have the word “Pharmacist” or “Technician” in it.

    If you look at the other professions, you have the American MEDICAL (not Physician) Association, which embraces both Physicians and Physician Assistants. You have the American DENTAL (not Dentists) Association, which embraces both Dentists and Dental Assistants. The American Nursing Association. The National Bar Association. The list goes on. ALL these organizations promote the PROFESSION, not the professional, and in that simple difference is where Pharmacy fails.

    The profession battles with itself in a house set aflame by its own fragmentation. And to quote my favorite show, “Only a fool battles in a burning house.” Pharmacy has to realize that we’re all in this together – Pharmacists, Technicians, Buyers – we’re all part of the same profession. And until we as a profession embrace each other, well, I hope there’s enough burn salve to go around!

  4. fred says:
    May 14, 2009 at 1:21 pm

    fantastic point mike. that is quite a reality. we need to see each other as colleagues and allies rather than competition.

    Does a CPhT make less errors than a non-certified tech? Will an R.Ph. not be as quick to catch an error if it was prepared by a C.PhT and he put more trust in their ability?

    If tech standards pass, would we be held more liable than we were before?