NPTA

Hurricane Ike & NPTA

noemail@pharmacytechnician.org — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:00:00 GMT

RE: NPTA & STAT EDUCATIONAL SERVICES

9-22-08 (Monday)

Our offices have successfully reopened and our standard communication systems have been restored. All orders submitted between 9-11-08 and 9-21-08 have been processed and shipped. All CE credits from RxPO 2008 have been processed and mailed. We expect to be caught up with memberships/renewals/subscriptions by the end of this week.

Thanks to everyone for your patience and thoughts over the past 10 days.

We appreciate your support!

9-21-08 (Sunday)

Great News...

Power has been restored to the NPTA Home Office and STAT Training Center!

Our offices will reopen on Monday morning, however we still anticipate that it will take the full week to "catch up" on all of our work. The physical damages to the office will be under restoration for approximately six to eight weeks.

Orders/Applications will begin to be processed on Monday and will be shipped in order of their original submission date.

We anticipate reverting back to our normal communications system by Tuesday morning, but correspondence via phone/fax/e-mail could still take a full business day for replies throughout this next week.

9-19-08 (Friday)

According to the latest update from Houston city officials and Centerpoint Energy, our offices are not anticipated to have power and be 100% operational until Thursday, September 25, 2008.

As of Friday afternoon (9-19-08) all e-mail correspondence received, between our office closure on 9-11-08 and today, has been addressed. If you sent an e-mail to us during this time period and have not received a reply...please resend your e-mail. At this point, all e-mails should be replied to within 1 business day or less.

All orders received since 9-10-08 are expected to be processed and shipped beginning on Tuesday, 9-23-08, via UPS. Deliveries typically take 2-4 days.

9-18-08 (Thursday)

According to Houston city officials and Centerpoint Energy, our offices are not anticipated to have power and be 100% operational until Tuesday, September 23, 2008 (at the earliest).

In the meantime, we have secured and launched our emergency backup communications system, which will allow us to serve you to our greatest capacity within this timeframe.

Our toll-free phone and fax numbers are now being directed to our backup system.

E-mail: Our e-mail system remains operational and our staff is now in the process of responding to existing inquiries. We anticipate being able to respond 99% of all previous e-mails by the 5:00 pm CDT on Friday, September 19, 2008. For correspondence via e-mail, please contact us at info@pharmacytechnician.org

Phone: Our phone system remains without power after Hurricane Ike, however our emergency backup phone system is now operational. Voicemails left previously have likely been lost due to power outages. Please call 888-247-8700 to contact us by phone. Calls will be returned within 12-24 hours.

Fax: Correspondence submitted via fax between 9-12-08 and 9-17-08 have been lost due to power and phone outages. Please fax your correspondence to 888-247-8706. Replies will be made, when possible, in approximately 1 business day.

Mail: Our postal mail service remains functional, although the US Postal Service is taking slightly longer for delivery in the greater Houston area due to the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. Please continue to submit correspondence via postal mail to PO BOX 683148 Houston, TX 77268.

Please note that all correspondence (e-mail, phone and fax) will be prioritized to first support members of NPTA and then based upon need assessment.

9-16-08 (Monday)

As I am sure you are aware, Houston recently took a major hit from Hurricane Ike.

First, the good news:

All of NPTA's staff, as well as their friends and families, survived Hurricane Ike and are in good health.

Now, for the not-so-good news:

The NPTA Offices and the STAT Training Center suffered significant damages from the Hurricane, as did the homes of several of our staff.

Like most of Houston, our offices remain without power. In addition, our phone/fax lines are out of service. We will begin our process of restoration on Wednesday, September 17, 2008, but please note that we are unable to receive/respond to phone/fax/e-mail correspondence until further notice.

Through the use of our back-up generator, NPTA will be able to conduct our Certificate Program Training Courses at the STAT Training Center - although it is not in "pristine" condition. Individual correspondence regarding our upcoming September training dates have been e-mailed to registered participants.

Our websites do, however, remain fully functional.

We apologize for any inconvenience you may experience as our offices are in the process of restoration. Please stay tuned to NPTA's website for status updates.

9-11-08 (Thursday)

As Hurricane Ike approaches the Houston area, the NPTA Home Office is hard at work buttoning down the hatches and getting ready for a rough weekend.

The NPTA offices will be closed tomorrow, Friday September 12th, as our employees will be with their families.

However, we do not anticipate any Web site or email outages. While the NPTA website should be fully functional, please note that e-mails and voicemails will not be able to be returned until next week.

22-Sep-08 3:00 PM

New Comprehensive Book by Johnston

noemail@pharmacytechnician.org — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:00:00 GMT

The Pharmacy Technician: Foundations & Practices by Johnston

Purchase Here

With many State Boards of Pharmacy either considering, or having already enacted, mandatory registration, certification and/or formal education, the need for a comprehensive and up-to-date pharmacy technician textbook has never been greater!

This full color text has ample illustrations and allows students to easily visualize the material being covered. The Step by step procedures give clear directions on how to perform numerous tasks required by pharmacy technicians and the workplace wisdom and profiles of practice give real world pharmacy examples.

This new book was developed by Mike Johnston, CPhT, Chairman/CEO of the National Pharmacy Technician Association, written by Johnston, Jeff Gricar, CPhT and Karen Davis, CPhT and is published by Pearson Education, the leading educational publiser in the world.

Chapter features include the following:

Clearly defined chapter learning objectives -inform the student of the expected educational outcomes and provide the instructor a tool to measure the student’s mastery of the material presented.
Chapter introductions and summaries - provide the student with a clearer understanding and rationale of the content being covered.
Key terms - are listed and defined at the beginning of each chapter to allow the student to become familiar with new terminology to be presented, and the key terms are bolded within the text to reinforce the student’s attention to the key terms.
Ample illustrations - in full color, through out the text allow students to easily visualize the material being covered.
Step - by - Step Procedures - provide students with clear directions on how to perform the numerous tasks required of pharmacy technicians.
Workplace Wisdom- features highlighted tips and comments that replicate the advice of a seasoned pharmacy technician.
Profiles of Practice - offers practical exercises that simulate “real world” pharmacy problems and give the student the opportunity to apply their learning.
Chapter Reviews - present a learning assessment for both the student and the instructor to evaluate material comprehension. Each Chapter Review includes multiple choice questions, as well as internet-based assignments and critical-thinking questions.

ISBN-10: 0132283093
ISBN-13: 9780132283090

Publisher: Prentice Hall
Copyright: 2009
Format: Paper Bound w/CD-ROM; 816 pp
List Price: $69.33

Purchase Here

1-Sep-08 9:00 AM

NPTA Demonstrates Leadership and Influence at RxPO 2008

noemail@pharmacytechnician.org — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:30:00 GMT

(LAS VEGAS, NV) August 20, 2008 – The National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA), the largest professional organizations of pharmacy technicians, hosted their 8th annual conference in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 18th and 19th. The conference, known as RxPO 2008, featured historic and unforgettable keynote sessions that clearly illustrated NPTA's position as the most trusted leader and influential voice for pharmacy technicians.

The expectations, anticipation and emotions ran high during the keynote sessions. On Monday, August 18, 2008, Kelly Jerry granted her first professional interview to NPTA and shared her personal experience of losing her 2 year old daughter – Emily – as a result of a preventable medication error. Mike Johnston, CPhT, Chairman/CEO of the National Pharmacy Technician Association, interviewed Kelly, after having worked with her to pass model legislation for pharmacy technician standards in the Ohio State Senate this spring.

On Tuesday, August 19, 2008, Johnston moderated a historic forum with representatives from ACPE, ASHP, ICPT, NABP and PTCB. Panel members agreed to a unique format, in which questions and topics were not provided in advance. “The NPTA keynote session offered a unique opportunity for pharmacy representatives to discuss current issues with pharmacy technician standards and regulations,” said Melissa Murer Corrigan, RPh, Executive Director/CEO with the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board.

While numerous myths were dispelled through the process, various inconsistencies in the policies of certain organizations represented were also exposed. Becky Rabbit, RPh, the CEO of the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians expressed, “ICPT [was] pleased to be part of the discussion and we look forward to promoting high standards of practice for technicians through education, training and certification in the future summits. We thank NPTA for assembling this panel for their members.”

According to NPTA's Chairman/CEO, Mike Johnston, CPhT, "There is no doubt that the keynote sessions at RxPO 2008 have left a significant impression on our attendees, from both the U.S. and Canada. These were the most important sessions ever hosted by NPTA, and the organization is committed to seeing considerable advancements to the standardization of pharmacy technician regulations." Representatives from each of the organizations pledged their commitment to participating in future NPTA hosted forums.

About the National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA)
The National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA) is the world's largest professional organization specifically for pharmacy technicians. The association is dedicated to advancing the value of pharmacy technicians and the vital roles they play in pharmaceutical care. For more information on NPTA, visit www.pharmacytechnician.org

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20-Aug-08 9:30 AM

NPTA Invitation

noemail@pharmacytechnician.org — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:57:18 GMT

RSVP Online - Here

NPTA will be hosting our 2nd Annual Evening for Educators on Friday, July 11, 2008 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin, Texas from 7:00pm until 10:00pm.

Admission is FREE, but reserved exclusively for active pharmacy technician educators/trainers and pre-registration is mandatory. Educators are permitted to bring their spouse/partner to the event.

The event will be a casino-themed party complete with complimntary hors d' oeuvres and drinks.

Each attendee will be provided with 20,000 in chips to play casino games such as blackjack, craps, poker and slots. At the end of the evening, attendees will exchange their chips for raffle tickets for an opportunity to win exciting prizes.

RSVP Online - Here

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2-Jul-08 3:57 PM

ICPT Certification Exam Receives NCCA Accreditation

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:15:00 GMT

The Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians is proud to announce the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians, ExCPT®, has been granted accreditation by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

NCCA, the accrediting arm of the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA), grants accreditation to a select group of organizations that demonstrate compliance with the NCCA Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs. The accreditation process includes a comprehensive and independent expert analysis of the certification program against the highest industry standards.

“While ICPT has always adhered to quality standards in certification, accreditation by NCCA serves as an indicator to the public and other stakeholders that the ExCPT is a psychometrically sound and legally defensible certification exam,” said Ken Schafermeyer, RPh, PhD, ICPT’s Director of Education.

Rebecca Rabbitt, PharmD, ICPT’s CEO added, “We are pleased with this recent decision. As more states adopt certification requirements, the ExCPT will be a valuable alternative for those wanting ondemand testing over 300 days a year. We are especially pleased to have achieved this goal so early in our tenure.”

The value of NCCA accreditation was articulated in a recent memo from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy to all the state Boards of Pharmacy as a set of objective, third-party standards that are widely accepted and highly regarded in the certification industry.

The ExCPT is being offered in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and is available to pharmacy technicians from all practice settings. Candidates may register by calling LaserGrade at 1-800-211-2754. Exams can be taken within one or two days of registration and results are available immediately upon completion of the exam. The Exam fee is $95. Details about the ExCPT may be found at www.nationaltechexam.org.

2-Jul-08 2:15 PM

Florida Passes New Legislation

noemail@pharmacytechnician.org — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:00:00 GMT

(Tallahassee, FL) Florida's Governor Crist has signed SB 1360 into law - a significant piece of legislation for pharmacy technicians.

The legislation requires technicians to register with the Florida Board of Pharmacy by 2010. Beginning in 2011, technicians must complete one of the following: a board-approved training program, 1,500 hours of work as a technician under a Florida licensed pharmacist or certification by a program accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.

NPTA fully supported SB 1360 and urged Governor Crist to approve the legislation. Governor Crist personally acknowledged NPTA's position and took it under careful consideration when reviewing the legislation.

2-Jul-08 1:00 PM

Emily's Law Passes OH Senate

noemail@pharmacytechnician.org — Thu, 29 May 2008 18:00:00 GMT

(Columbus, OH) Senate Bill 203 has been approved with a unanimous vote by the Ohio State Senate. The opposition to SB 203, which was introduced by Senator Grendell, was silenced by congressional testimony provided on May 28, 2008 by Kelly Jerry, Cathy Horton, and NPTA's Executive Director, Mike Johnston, among others.

Johnston spent the majority of the day (May 28) working with Senator Grendell and "industry representatives" to negotiate approval of the bill. After numerous meetings, a revised and stricter version of SB 203, was approved by Senator Coughlin's committee and sent to the Senate floor for a vote.

"This is a tremendous achievement," explained Johnston, "but the battle is still far from over. We will be returning after the fall elections to work with members of the Ohio State House of Represenatives which must now approve the bill before it heads to the Governor."

Johnston's changes to the bill included, among others, not excluding the ExCPT certification exam and introducing more stringent language regarding mandatory training and education.

Emily's Law has also been introduced federally (HR 5491) by Congressman LaTourette, who is working closely with Ohio State Senator Grendell and the Jerry family.

29-May-08 1:00 PM

TechTrends May 2008

noemail@pharmacytechnician.org — Tue, 20 May 2008 20:04:24 GMT

Not a member? Join Today

May 2008

RxPO 2008 Update

Friday, May 23, 2008 is the deadline for discounted registration fees!
Sign up today and save $30. With less than 300 seats still available...
RxPO 2008 will be a Sold-Out event.

NPTA has negotiated an even GREATER DISCOUNT at the Golden Nugget. Standard rooms will now be as low as $69 per night during the conference (excluding Saturday). This discount will be automatically applied to all attendees who have already made their reservatons. [More Info]

Certificate Program Update

Last month, NPTA issued our 1,500th IV Certification. NPTA's IV/Sterile Products and Compounding Certification Courses continue to grow in popularity as technicians explore advanced career path options. While the courses continue to sell-out, NPTA has just added new course dates through the end of 2008 for both certification programs. [More Info]

Emily's Law Faces Opposition in Ohio

In the state of Ohio, Senate Bill 203 is currently undergoing committee reviews. The general provisions of SB 203, known as Emilys Law, are similar to that of Floridas SB 1360. Ohio appears to be a much tougher battleground as Senator Grendell (proponet) and Seantor Coughlin (opponent) debate the issue. Emilys Law has also been introduced federally (HR 5491) by Congressman LaTourette, who is working closely with Ohio State Senator Grendell and the Jerry family. Click here to read NPTAs... [More Info]

Bill Submitted to FL's Governor Re: Tech Regulations

Senate Bill 1360 is currently en route to the desk of Floridas Governor for review. The provisions of SB 1360 include registration for pharmacy technicians required by 2010, ACPE-accredited continuing education requirements and beginning in 2011 technicians would be required to have completed a Board-approved pharmacy technician training program, worked 1500 hours under the supervision of a pharmacist or be nationally certified. This bill was unopposed by the Florida State Senate and... [More Info]

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20-May-08 3:04 PM

Emily's Law Faces Opposition in Ohio

noemail@pharmacytechnician.org — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:00:00 GMT

In the state of Ohio, Senate Bill 203 is currently undergoing committee reviews. The general provisions of SB 203, known as Emily's Law, are similar to that of Florida's SB 1360. Ohio appears to be a much tougher battleground as Senator Grendell (proponet) and Seantor Coughlin (opponent) debate the issue.

Emily's Law has also been introduced federally (HR 5491) by Congressman LaTourette, who is working closely with Ohio State Senator Grendell and the Jerry family.

Click here to read NPTA's Letter to Senator Grendell.

Click here to read NPTA's Letter to Senator Coughlin.

Senator Grendell is scheduled to accept testimony on the Bill in the Judiciary Cmtte. on Wednesday, May 28, 2008. NPTA's Chairman & CEO, Mike Johnston, will be testifying before the Judiciary Cmtte. as well as holding a press conference.

20-May-08 10:00 AM

Bill Submitted to FL's Governor Re: Tech Regulations

noemail@pharmacytechnician.org — Tue, 06 May 2008 15:00:00 GMT

Senate Bill 1360 is currently en route to the desk of Florida's Governor for review. The provisions of SB 1360 include registration for pharmacy technicians required by 2010, ACPE-accredited continuing education requirements and beginning in 2011 technicians would be required to have completed a Board-approved pharmacy technician training program, worked 1500 hours under the supervision of a pharmacist or be nationally certified.

This bill was unopposed by the Florida State Senate and approved by nearly 96% of the Florida House of Representatives.

Click Here to read NPTA's letter to Governor Crist.

6-May-08 10:00 AM