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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Prepare to package medicine into dose administration aids.
  2. Pack dose administration aids.
  3. Perform dose administration and maintenance activities.

Required Skills

Required skills

communication skills to

seek and respond to direction from a pharmacist

request that a pharmacist checks off filled dose aids

initiative and enterprise skills to follow environmental protection practices such as the identification and handling of products including

handling and storage requirements of dispensed items

medicine storage and handling requirements

safe disposal of waste according to pharmacy waste management procedures

literacy skills to

confirm packing requirements

record information and prepare labels in plain English

follow procedures for preparing packaging containers and related equipment

follow procedures to respect and maintain privacy and confidentiality of patient information

apply prescription or medication record chart requirements

planning and organising skills to

meet packing workflow requirements

pack and label DAAs

maintain dispensary packing area to meet housekeeping requirements

teamwork skills to

work effectively under the direction of a pharmacist

work with other staff

technology skills to use dispensary software to record packing details

Required knowledge

protocols of the dispensary area

checklist and responsibilities for DAA preparation cleaning and maintenance

system for recording the filling of DAAs

workflow and layout

features and operating requirements of DAA equipment

information to be displayed on DAAs

industry guidelines for packing DAAs

pharmacy procedures relating to

accessing and maintaining security of the dispensary

disposing of rejected dispensary items according to dispensary procedures with particular attention to

minimising waste

maintaining confidentiality of patient information on waste containers

environmental protection practices

safety requirements and personal hygiene requirements

properties characteristics and applications of different DAAs

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria required skills and knowledge range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the ability to

apply personal hygiene practices and maintain housekeeping and waste disposal standards in the dispensary packing area

follow pharmacy procedures relating to filling DAAs

pack medicines into DAAs prepare and attach labels and reconcile dispensed medicines with DAA packed medicines

locate DAAs and ensure that dispensed medicines for filling meet DAA packing workflow requirements

maintain dispensary DAA record system

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure that competency is

consistently demonstrated over a period of time and observed by the assessor or the technical expert working in partnership with the assessor as described in the assessment

demonstrated in a real workplace environment that meets Pharmacy Board of Australia and relevant industry standards for the preparation of DAAs

Assessment must ensure access to

relevant pharmacy procedures

relevant industry guidelines

dispensary stock control recordkeeping systems

dispensary stock control recordkeeping systems

relevant documentation such as

drug charts

industry guidelines for packing DAAs

patient or customer medication profiles

prescriptions

service contracts

a range of dispensed medicines

DAAs and related packaging equipment

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge The following examples are appropriate for this unit

observation of the learner working as part of a dispensary team to

set up and maintain DAA preparation area

prepare and check filled DAAs

perform DAArelated dispensary tasks

written or oral questions appropriate to the language and literacy level of the learner to test relevant underpinning knowledge

review of portfolios of evidence and thirdparty reports of onthejob performance

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector workplace and job role is recommended


Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Pharmacy processmay include:

confirming that contents of items to be packed are suitable for placing in a DAA

creating packing records

providing:

information about the service

advice about how to use the DAA.

Safety requirements and personal hygiene procedures may include:

hand washing

tying back long hair or using hairnets

using antibacterial wipes

using tweezers

wearing gloves and other protective clothing.

Dose administration and packaging documentation may include:

drug charts

industry guidelines for packing DAAs

patient or patient medication profiles

service contracts

orders.

Packaging containersmay include:

tamper-proof DAAs and containers

blister packs

re-usable dosette boxes.

Equipmentmay be operated manually or automatically and may include:

automated filling equipment

counter trays

heat or press sealing equipment

irons

pill splitters

tweezers.

Labels may include:

ancillary cautionary and advisory labels for the particular substance, where appropriate

required DAA label information, including:

pharmacy name and address

phone number

consumer name

active ingredients

brand name

strength

directions for use

packing date

date of commencement

typical characteristics of the medicine, such as shape or colour

signature of packer and checker.

Pharmacy proceduresfor cleaning andmaintainingmay include:

disinfecting equipment

cleaning work surfaces and equipment

checking that work surfaces and equipment are undamaged

checking equipment calibration

storing packaging equipment.

Dispensary systemmay include:

a record for each patient that includes:

current medications and their doses

items not supplied in the DAA

details of any significant communications with the prescriber

a log of all DAAs packed, and then checked by the pharmacist.

Wastemay include:

packaging materials

unused medications in returned DAAs

unused hard copy DAA packing records

unwanted:

used DAA header cards

packing records.