As a Pharmacist, how do you feel about Techs being able to immunize? Thx!
You raise many great points! Over the last several years I have been watching the Techs rise from Portland, ME to Portland, OR. I believe Techs now serve on at least 10 State BOP's, 3 States have remote Tech-only Pharmacies and FL is pending. Over 75% of open pharmacy jobs are for Techs and we're seeing starting Tech wages in hospitals exceeding $40K annually. A Tech with approx. 3 years of experience can earn close to $80K annually in some hospitals. Conversely we're seeing the wages of Pharmacies beginning to trend down. Thanks again!!
Overall I do not disagree with you, however my concern is the continued erosion of Pharmacist jobs when the number of new grad PharmD's is going to continue to steadily rise for the foreseeable future. The flip side is that the market is driving the rise of the Techs (unlike it did for Pharmacists) and we do not have anywhere near enough well-trained and experienced Techs to handle the number of current jobs, much less those that are coming.
Unfortunately it all comes down to money, both saving it and making it. Back in the 1990's Pharmacists were in control. As soon as the 157K Pharmacist shortfall was predicted, and the schools/colleges of pharmacy jumped on-board, you could feel the pendulum begin to swing. Now market conditions (in favor of the Techs) is usurping the organizational leadership of the ASHP and ACPE.
Unfortunately
Many of the employment problems new grad and retail Pharmacists face today never had to happen. If only the profession had installed some safeguards back in the year 2000 all would be well. Now the best we can hope for when the dust does settle is a soft landing, but I don't think that will be the case. The US can only sustain graduating 14,500+ new grad PharmD's annualy (and rising) and only creating 9900 new jobs. The math just doesn't work!!
I don't disagree that immunization is not a classic Pharmacist duty but if I play the devil's advocate, I see Pharmacists, Techs, and Mid-levels fighting over a shrinking pie. Obtaining provider status is still the goal but the road is slow (and slower under our current Administration) Mid-levels are already well-positioned and have their place at the table. Pharmacy Techs are gaining ground quickly and they are already at the table. Pharmacists had their golden opportunity but I feel to a great extent that time has passed. I listen to some Pharmacists say, to get their clout back they have to unionize. Others say they are going to the media to help bail them out. Pharmacists still do have a seat at the table but as a group you need to be careful or you'll be on the menu.
You might want to keep a lookout over your shoulder. Like in any cohort there are A-level, B-level and C-level ppl. As there are only approx 9900 new Pharmacist jobs created annually in the US, if just 1% of the 300K+ Techs are A-level there goes 3,000+ of your jobs. I can all but guarantee there are way more than 1% per year at that A-level. I am personally aware of Techs currently earning close to $90K annually. Granted it will take a few years to get to that level but not very many. Pharmacist pay is trending down.
You're spot-on and I wish I could show you the data, but rest-assured many Techs want to vaccinate and they're not afraid to jump in with both feet.
See the following, these are very real and current hourly rates: Techs West Coast $24.66 to $31.48 and $28.19 - $37.21 East Coast we're seeing less per hour but for a Tech fresh out of training, zero exp $20 per hour
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Not very excited really however as I have been in the pharmacy employment arena for many years I do look forward to the interaction and lively discussions. Anything that brings more awareness to the profession and gets people engaged is good for us all.
How so? I thought there was discussion, or making the bachelor of science in pharmacy mandatory, or is it now required?
You are partially correct, however I did not say the Tech hourly rates were "averages" as they are on the upper end. But, that said, we're seeing higher Tech wages everywhere. The hourly wages I did quote were both from hospitals but the wages in non-hospital/health-system are down closer to $11. The cost-of-living for those Techs is the same for them as it is for the hospital Tech starting off at $24 or $28 per hour.
The hourly wages I stated are real however I should have stated both were from acute care hospitals and they were both west coast. If you are just talking about retail then yes, the wage is going to be in that $11 per hr range. Because of the pending passage of the remote, Tech-only Pharmacy Bill in FL, I'm guessing you will see the wages of Techs rise regardless of the setting, faster too!!
Thanks for the explanation. I am actually aware of what you detailed and thought your prev. statement was referring to an under-grad requirement. I thought that as a requirement to be accepted to the PharmD program a student could basically have any Bachelors. I thought there was discussion that either the AACP or ACPE was going to require a Bachelor of Science Pharmacy-only. That may now be a requirement but you will know ahead of me. I am not a Pharmacist, however I have been on the employment side of pharmacy for 35+ years, first purchasing a Pharmacy head hunting business, then starting a job board, then a software development company. Thanks again!!
In most of the Pharm Tech ads we see the employer is stating their min age to apply is 16 yrs old. I'm not sure about any min State age requirement however. About the patient self-administering, I'll pass on commenting on that one, lol!!
Thanks for explaining, I appreciate it. And for what it's worth, once you become a pharmacist then I know what to do with you. I can't even begin to count how many pharmacists we have helped over the past 35+ years.
Maybe in the retail setting your definition would apply but not in the hospital. You're probably not going to like the following Pharmacy Tech Resident position at Cedars-Sinai I'm guessing!!
Can you name a few?
