Pharmacy Calculations: An Introduction for Pharmacy Technicians: An Introduction for Pharmacy Technicians - Softcover

Sakai Pharm.D, Dr. Joy Bellis; Kasun, Ms. Leanora

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1585282618 ISBN 13: 9781585282616

Publisher: ASHP, 2012

Synopsis

Pharmacy Calculations: An Introduction for Pharmacy Technicians is designed for pharmacy technician students enrolled in a training program, technicians preparing for the certification exam, and for on-site training. As the role for pharmacy technicians continues to evolve and expand, one thing remains constant. The safety of patients is the highest priority for anyone working in pharmacy, whether in hospital, retail, or institutional practices.  A thorough understanding of pharmacy math ensures accuracy in computations and safety and quality in practice.

This book offers a complete review of the basic mathematics concepts and skills, which provide a foundation for more advanced understanding of pharmacy-related topics. The guide provides students with the pharmacy basics necessary for correctly interpreting prescriptions and drug orders, and for performing dosing calculations that technicians face every day. 

                                                           

The chapters are broken down into four units and are organized to complement most pharmacy technician training curricula and to support the ASHP model curriculum:

·         Review of Mathematics

·         Systems of Measurement

·         Preparing for Problem Solving in Pharmacy

·         Dosing Calculations and Other Pharmacy Problems

 

Key features throughout the book include:

 

·         Chapter objectives

·         Key terms and definitions

·         Examples of problem scenarios or calculations questions and solutions

·         “Tech Note!” —provides a highlight of key points within the chapters

·         “Numbers at Work” —illustrates why key concepts are important to know and skills are critical to master

·         Practice problems

·         A test bank

·         Appendices that include the parts of a prescription, a glossary of terms, conversions, and abbreviations tables.

                                                                                           

For additional resources related to this book, visit www.ashp.org/techcalculations.

About this title

About the Author

Joy Bellis Sakai, PharmD, developed an interest in pharmacy at an early age when she helped out in her father's drug store. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from University of California, San Francisco, in 1975 and has with experience in drug information, acute care, pediatric and geriatric clinical pharmacy.  She is currently a clinical pharmacist for Kaweah Delta Medical Center in Visalia, California.  She is the organizer and lead instructor for the Pharmacy Technician training program at College of the Sequoias.  Dr. Sakai is author of another textbook, Practical Pharmacology for the Pharmacy Technician.  She is a member of American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the California Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Leanora Kasun, MS, has taught math and science for twenty years.  She has a BA in mathematics and physics from Humboldt State University and a MS in atmospheric science from the College of Engineering at the University of Wyoming.  Since 2002, she has taught advanced placement mathematics, calculus, and physics at Redwood High School in Visalia.  She has been Adjunct Iinstructor of Math at College of the Sequoias since 1992. Leanora Kasun, MS Atmospheric ScienceUniversity of Wyoming, College of EngineeringB.A. Mathematics, B.A. PhysicsAdjunct Instructor of Mathematics, College of the SequoiasAP Calculus/AP Physics/ Pre-Calculus teacher, Redwood High School

Review

Pharmacy Calculations: An Introduction for Pharmacy
Technicians. 
By Joy Bellis Sakai

[REVIEWER'S EXPERT OPINION]
Rahmat M Talukder, PhD (Pharmaceu, BS in Pharmacy(West Coast University School
of Pharmacy)

**Description**
This book reviews the basic mathematical concepts and skills that are critical
for pharmacy technicians to know in order perform various types of calculations. Relevant topics are presented in 14 chapters, which are grouped into four units.

**Purpose**
Pharmacy technicians are in demand and many states require that pharmacy technicians be certified. Thus, a book that covers fundamental concepts in pharmaceutical calculations is helpful.

**Audience**
Pharmacy technicians will find this book easy to follow. The authors have been training pharmacy technicians for many years.

**Features**
The first unit reviews fundamental mathematical principles; the second presents the systems of measurement; and the third covers various topics, including common pharmacy abbreviations, interpretation and parts of a prescription, how to verify prescriber's DEA number, among others. The last unit on dose calculations offers a good discussion of the calculation of doses based on body weight and body surface area. Pharmacy technicians also will find the chapter on injectable drugs very useful. Each chapter begins with learning objectives, key points are highlighted in "Tech Notes," and the book includes a helpful glossary of common terms, and some examples and review questions. However, additional discussion, examples, and review questions on every topic would have been even more helpful for technicians. In fact, each page has a couple of inches of blank space that could have been used to provide more examples.

**Assessment**
Overall, the depth of discussion in this book is appropriate for the audience, and pharmacy technician students will benefit from it.
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Weighted Numerical Score: 76 - 3 Stars

(Rahmat M Talukder, PhD (Pharmaceu, BS in Pharmacy(West Coast University School MedInfoNow Doody Review Services 2012-12-12)

Edition details

• Publisher: ASHP
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1585282618
• ISBN 13: 9781585282616
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 244