CTE: Medical Pathway

A pharmacy technician course is designed to prepare individuals for a career as a pharmacy technician, a crucial role in the healthcare industry. Pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists in various pharmacy settings, including retail pharmacies, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and mail-order pharmacies. They help dispense medications, interact with patients, and perform administrative tasks to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the pharmacy.

Program Overview:

1. Pharmacology: Understanding the principles of pharmacology is fundamental for pharmacy technicians. You'll learn about different drug classes, drug interactions, dosage forms, and the effects of drugs on the human body.

2. Pharmacy Law and Ethics: This part of the course covers the legal and ethical responsibilities of pharmacy technicians, including regulations surrounding the handling and dispensing of medications, patient confidentiality, and drug scheduling.

3. Pharmaceutical Calculations: Pharmacy technicians must be proficient in performing calculations related to drug dosages, compounding, and dilutions. You'll learn how to calculate proper dosages and prepare medications accurately.

4. Medication Dispensing: Pharmacy technicians are responsible for preparing and dispensing prescription medications. This involves learning how to read and interpret prescriptions, count and measure medications, and properly package and label them.

5. Medication Safety: Ensuring patient safety is a top priority. You'll learn about error prevention, safe medication storage, and handling hazardous materials.

6. Pharmacy Software and Technology: Many pharmacies use computer systems for inventory management, prescription processing, and patient record-keeping. You'll receive training in using pharmacy software and technology.

7. Medical Terminology: Familiarity with medical terminology is essential for understanding prescription orders, communicating with healthcare professionals, and providing accurate patient counseling.

8. Pharmacy Practice Settings: You'll explore various pharmacy settings, such as community (retail) pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, and specialized pharmacy environments, to understand the unique roles and responsibilities in each setting.

9. Communication Skills: Effective communication with patients and healthcare providers is vital. You'll learn how to interact with patients, provide counseling on medication use, and handle customer inquiries.

10. Inventory Management: Pharmacy technicians are often responsible for managing and maintaining inventory levels of medications and supplies. This includes ordering, receiving, and organizing stock.

11. Sterile Compounding: In some courses, you may receive training in sterile compounding techniques, which are necessary for preparing intravenous medications and other sterile products.

12. Experiential Training: Many pharmacy technician programs include hands-on training or internships in real pharmacy settings to provide practical experience.

13. Working as a Pharmacy Technician is a physically demanding job. Potential students need to possess the physical ability to stand for long periods of time, bend, and stoop when completing externship/internship hours at a pharmacy.

The duration and curriculum of pharmacy technician courses can vary depending on the institution and the specific program. After completing the course, graduates may be eligible to take a certification exam, such as the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) or the ExCPT, to become a certified pharmacy technician (CPhT). Certification can enhance employment opportunities and earning potential in the field. 

The medical billing and coding course provides a comprehensive training in the administrative side of healthcare, focusing on the processes of medical billing, coding, and reimbursement. 

1. Introduction to Healthcare Administration: This section provides an overview of the healthcare industry, its stakeholders, and the role of medical billing and coding professionals within it. It will cover basic medical terminology and concepts to lay the foundation for more advanced topics.

2. Medical Billing Basics: Students learn the fundamentals of medical billing, including the billing process, types of insurance plans, and how to complete and submit insurance claim forms accurately. Emphasis will be placed on understanding healthcare laws and regulations related to billing procedures.

3. Medical Coding Principles: This section focuses on the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding systems. Students learn how to assign appropriate codes to diagnoses and procedures, ensuring compliance with coding guidelines and standards.

4. Health Information Management: Students are introduced to electronic health records (EHR) systems and learn how to navigate and utilize them for medical billing and coding purposes. Topics include data privacy and security, HIPAA regulations, and best practices for maintaining accurate patient records.

5. Reimbursement Methods: This section covers various reimbursement methods used in healthcare, such as fee-for-service, capitation, and prospective payment systems. Students learn how reimbursement rates are determined and how to calculate reimbursements for different types of healthcare services.

6. Medical Insurance Billing: Students explore the intricacies of medical insurance, including private insurance plans, government-sponsored programs like Medicare and Medicaid, and third-party payers. They learn how to verify insurance coverage, process claims, and resolve billing disputes.

7. Professional Ethics and Communication Skills: Emphasis is placed on professionalism, ethics, and effective communication skills essential for interacting with patients, healthcare providers, and insurance companies. Topics may include customer service, conflict resolution, and cultural competency.

8. Externship: The externship allows students to gain real-world experience in a healthcare setting under the supervision of experienced professionals. This provides an opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge and develop practical skills in medical billing and coding.

Overall, the medical billing and coding course aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and professional competencies necessary to pursue an entry-level career in healthcare administration, with a focus on medical billing and coding roles. Certificate of completion will be granted upon successful completion of the course.