title: Survey to assess the role of pharmacy technicians and nonpharmacist staff in the operation of research pharmacies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Results of a survey assessing trends and innovations in the use of pharmacy technicians and other nonpharmacist staff in the research pharmacy setting are reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Web-based survey was distributed to Internet communities of members of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the University Health-System Consortium involved in investigational drug research and related practice areas. The survey collected data on the characteristics of institutions with pharmacy department staff dedicated to such research activities and the participation of pharmacists, technicians, and other staff in key areas of research pharmacy operations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Survey responses from 51 institutions were included in the data analysis. Overall, the reported distribution of assigned responsibility for most evaluated research pharmacy tasks reflected traditional divisions of pharmacist and technician duties, with technicians performing tasks subject to a pharmacist check or pharmacists completing tasks alone. However, some institutions reported allowing technicians to perform a number of key tasks without direct pharmacist supervision, primarily in the areas of inventory management and sponsor monitoring and auditing; almost half of the surveyed institutions reported technician involvement in teaching activities. In general, the reported use of "tech-check-tech" arrangements in research pharmacies was very limited. Some responding institutions reported the innovative use of nonpharmacist staff (e.g., paid interns, students and residents on rotation).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the majority of research pharmacy tasks related to direct patient care are performed by or under the direct supervision of pharmacists, a variety of other essential tasks are typically assigned to pharmacy technicians and other nonpharmacist staff.
authors.affiliation: Rivka Siden, Pharm.D., M.S., is Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Research Pharmacy, University of Michigan Health System (UMHS), Ann Arbor, and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy (UMCP), Ann Arbor. Helen R. Tamer, Pharm. D., is Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Research Pharmacy, UMHS, and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, UMCP. Amy J., Skyles Pharm.D., is Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Research Pharmacy, UMHS, and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, UMCP. Christopher S. Dolan is Intern, Research Pharmacy, UMHS, and Pharm.D. student, UMCP. Denise J. Propes, CPhT, is Pharmacy Technician, Research Pharmacy, UMHS. Kimberly Redic, Pharm.D., BCPS, is Coordinator, Research Pharmacy, UMHS, and Clinical Assistant Professor, UMCP. rivkas@med.umich.edu.
authors.forename: Rivka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Siden
authors.affiliation: Rivka Siden, Pharm.D., M.S., is Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Research Pharmacy, University of Michigan Health System (UMHS), Ann Arbor, and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy (UMCP), Ann Arbor. Helen R. Tamer, Pharm. D., is Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Research Pharmacy, UMHS, and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, UMCP. Amy J., Skyles Pharm.D., is Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Research Pharmacy, UMHS, and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, UMCP. Christopher S. Dolan is Intern, Research Pharmacy, UMHS, and Pharm.D. student, UMCP. Denise J. Propes, CPhT, is Pharmacy Technician, Research Pharmacy, UMHS. Kimberly Redic, Pharm.D., BCPS, is Coordinator, Research Pharmacy, UMHS, and Clinical Assistant Professor, UMCP.
authors.forename: Helen R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Tamer
authors.affiliation: Rivka Siden, Pharm.D., M.S., is Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Research Pharmacy, University of Michigan Health System (UMHS), Ann Arbor, and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy (UMCP), Ann Arbor. Helen R. Tamer, Pharm. D., is Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Research Pharmacy, UMHS, and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, UMCP. Amy J., Skyles Pharm.D., is Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Research Pharmacy, UMHS, and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, UMCP. Christopher S. Dolan is Intern, Research Pharmacy, UMHS, and Pharm.D. student, UMCP. Denise J. Propes, CPhT, is Pharmacy Technician, Research Pharmacy, UMHS. Kimberly Redic, Pharm.D., BCPS, is Coordinator, Research Pharmacy, UMHS, and Clinical Assistant Professor, UMCP.
authors.forename: Amy J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Skyles
authors.affiliation: Rivka Siden, Pharm.D., M.S., is Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Research Pharmacy, University of Michigan Health System (UMHS), Ann Arbor, and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy (UMCP), Ann Arbor. Helen R. Tamer, Pharm. D., is Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Research Pharmacy, UMHS, and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, UMCP. Amy J., Skyles Pharm.D., is Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Research Pharmacy, UMHS, and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, UMCP. Christopher S. Dolan is Intern, Research Pharmacy, UMHS, and Pharm.D. student, UMCP. Denise J. Propes, CPhT, is Pharmacy Technician, Research Pharmacy, UMHS. Kimberly Redic, Pharm.D., BCPS, is Coordinator, Research Pharmacy, UMHS, and Clinical Assistant Professor, UMCP.
authors.forename: Christopher S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Dolan
authors.affiliation: Rivka Siden, Pharm.D., M.S., is Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Research Pharmacy, University of Michigan Health System (UMHS), Ann Arbor, and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy (UMCP), Ann Arbor. Helen R. Tamer, Pharm. D., is Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Research Pharmacy, UMHS, and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, UMCP. Amy J., Skyles Pharm.D., is Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Research Pharmacy, UMHS, and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, UMCP. Christopher S. Dolan is Intern, Research Pharmacy, UMHS, and Pharm.D. student, UMCP. Denise J. Propes, CPhT, is Pharmacy Technician, Research Pharmacy, UMHS. Kimberly Redic, Pharm.D., BCPS, is Coordinator, Research Pharmacy, UMHS, and Clinical Assistant Professor, UMCP.
authors.forename: Denise J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Propes
authors.affiliation: Rivka Siden, Pharm.D., M.S., is Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Research Pharmacy, University of Michigan Health System (UMHS), Ann Arbor, and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy (UMCP), Ann Arbor. Helen R. Tamer, Pharm. D., is Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Research Pharmacy, UMHS, and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, UMCP. Amy J., Skyles Pharm.D., is Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Research Pharmacy, UMHS, and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, UMCP. Christopher S. Dolan is Intern, Research Pharmacy, UMHS, and Pharm.D. student, UMCP. Denise J. Propes, CPhT, is Pharmacy Technician, Research Pharmacy, UMHS. Kimberly Redic, Pharm.D., BCPS, is Coordinator, Research Pharmacy, UMHS, and Clinical Assistant Professor, UMCP.
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Redic
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research; D003625:Data Collection; D006276:Health Facility Size; D006801:Humans; D007587:Job Description; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital; D010067:Ownership; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010595:Pharmacists; D010596:Pharmacy Technicians; D024382:Professional Role; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce