Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
 
Agency
Department of Health Professions
 
Board
Board of Pharmacy
 
chapter
Regulations Governing the Practice of Pharmacy [18 VAC 110 ‑ 20]
Action Pharmacy working conditions
Stage Emergency/NOIRA
Comment Period Ended on 11/22/2023
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11/9/23  8:11 pm
Commenter: Concerned Professional

Tech Ratio
 


Working Conditions due to 4 to 1 Ratio in State of VA
 

Virginia State BOP regulations on 4 : 1 ratio of pharmacy technicians per Pharmacist, is part of the problem with adequate staffing for our Pharmacies to run more efficiently and streamline processes to balance the workload in retail pharmacy. Multiple other states either have a higher ratio or no ratio, which speaking with peers in these states are not nearly as stressed, overwhelmed nor are experiencing the amount of turnover in Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacists, as the work loads are balanced with a streamline workflow process. 

This provides the opportunity to have a technician dedicated to just processing and performing immunizations/health testing; gives the opportunity to have more than 1 technician filling prescriptions to stay ahead to have medications ready for our patients; etc. 

That State of Virginia needs to change the 4:1 ratio on retail Pharmacies. 

This is only going to get worse when ALL Rite Aids close in the State of VA, Walgreens and CVS alone will not be able to SAFELY handle that increase in volume without this change.

CommentID: 220633