What is the Difference Between Roles of Retail and Specialty Pharmacies Technicians?
There are a lot of similarities between both roles within standard and specialty pharmacies, but with some nuanced variations. Arquette points out that some of the operational competencies within specialty pharmacies are the same as they would be in a retail pharmacy, but with nuanced aspects to the roles. This is because some of the medications dispensed within spe- cialty pharmacies must be refrigerated and require temperature control inside the packaging when shipped to patients. Other medications, including oral oncology chemotherapy drugs, require extensive training to ensure safe handling. Many spe- cialty pharmacies have a centralized location and the medication is shipped to patients so coordination and timing of the deliv- ery of the medication is very important to the patients. Another major factor to specialty pharmacies is the education required to teach patients about their medication. All product and educa- tional information must be inside the packaging for these highly specialized drugs. Therefore, it is very important for the patient to be as knowledgeable as possible in order to administer or
take the right drug and the right dose at the right time. Specialty pharmacies also have patient service representatives who help with onboarding patients, determining what insurance the patients have, and what the insurance covers, and coordinat- ing the patient’s insurance to make sure they get the most from their benefits. These patient service representatives may also help with facilitating the prior authorization process for a medi- cation to determine if the patient experiences financial barriers. If so, these representatives can help secure patient assistance through either manufacturer-sponsored programs or through the assistance of non-profit foundations. Therefore, the skill- set needed at specialty pharmacies can be very different than those required at traditional pharmacies. For example, techni- cians at traditional pharmacies may primarily be involved with prescription fulfillment, or the processing, labeling, and packag- ing of medication. Technicians at specialty pharmacies, on the other hand, work in the front-end, ensuring a prescription can go out to the patient as quickly and as efficiently as possible.
How to Become a Specialty Pharmacy Technician
Specialty pharmacy technicians are always needed. However, according to Arquette, some employers may have specific experience requirements as a community pharmacy technician or a hospital technician. Arquette adds that specialty pharma- cies account for 50% of the drug spending in the United States. Therefore, the field will always need technicians for those inter- ested in pursuing a career in specialty pharmacy. The United States alone has approximately 600 specialty pharmacies. Moreover, the number of specialty pharmacies continues to grow, especially independent specialty pharmacies, specialty pharmacies owned by pharmacy benefit management systems and health plans, specialty pharmacies that are part of a health system or hospital system, and even specialty pharmacies that operate out of large chains like Walgreens and grocery stores. During the COVID-19 pandemic, specialty pharmacies were positioned to meet the needs of their patients because most, if not all, have the capability to manage patients remotely. Arquette points out that when specialty pharma- cies were created, it was all in a central location. Through regular contact and clinical care, strong patient relation- ships are formed and quality care is delivered via the phone.
As patients have become more accepting of different modes of communication like texting, email, and telehealth, spe- cialty pharmacies are able to use those communication methods to further enhance their service offerings. Because of this, specialty pharmacies across the United States did not really skip a beat when Covid-19 caused a large shut- down across the nation, whereas other retail pharmacies may have been affected by the nationwide shutdowns and lack of face-to-face contact between pharmacists and patients. Every facet of the specialty pharmacy operation, such as delivery mechanisms, were in place and went on to bring the excellent service required to their patients in that time. Additionally, many new drugs that are introduced to the market are needed by specialty patients. Therefore, the demand for specialty pharmacies and technicians will con- tinue to increase. Emerging gene therapies may also expand the need for specialty pharmacies, as Arquette explained. “The development of medications and therapies will con- tinue to evolve as we learn more about the human genome,” Arquette points out, as this will create an even greater need for services provided by specialty pharmacies.
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