title: Pharmacy technician-to-pharmacist ratios: a state-driven safety and quality decision.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To discuss the policy of pharmacy technician-to-pharmacist ratios by comparing Florida as an example of legislative-led authority versus Tennessee as an example of board of pharmacy-led ruling.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Over the past 2 years, the Florida legislature has debated the issue of pharmacy staffing ratios, initially leaving the Florida Board of Pharmacy with little authority to advocate for and enact safe technician staffing ratios. Anticipating this situation, the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy created rules to meet pharmacy staffing needs while protecting the authority of the pharmacist-in-charge and promoting patient safety. Before enacting rules, members of the board toured the state and talked about proposed rule changes with pharmacists. The final rule sets the pharmacy technician-to-pharmacist ratio at 2:1 but permits a 4:1 ratio based on public safety considerations and availability of at least two Certified Pharmacy Technicians.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pharmacists and leaders within the profession should conduct further research on appropriate and safe ratios of pharmacy technicians to pharmacists, with a focus on safety and quality of care.
authors.forename: D Todd
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Bess
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Lindsey
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: DeLoach
authors.forename: Carol L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D002568:Certification; D005431:Florida; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D007587:Job Description; D008004:Licensure; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D061214:Patient Safety / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D010596:Pharmacy Technicians / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D013219:State Government; D013714:Tennessee; D000078329:Workforce; D016526:Workload