Term | Definition |
abstracting services | services that summarize information from various primary sources for quick reference. |
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability HIPAA Act | a federal law created to protect the privacy of patient health record |
off-label indication | a use of a medication for an indication not approved by the FDA. |
browser | a software program that allows users to view websites on the www (e.g. safari, internet explore) |
Internet service provider (ISP) | a company that provide access to the internet |
search engine | sofware that searches theweb for information related to criteria entered by the user (e.g. Google, Bing, Yahoo!) |
uniform resource locator (URL) | a web address |
www world wide web | a collection of electronic documents at adddresses called websites |
primary literature | provides direct access to the most contemporary research which contains original reports of clinical trials, research, and case studies; use for the most up-to-date information |
secondary literature | general reference works based upon primary literature sources; use to find primary literature |
tertiary literature | condensed works based on primary literature (e.g. textbook); use to find background information or a summary of information |
Pharmacy Law Desk Reference | provides information about legal aspects of pharmaceutical practice such as professional liability insurance, support personnel, law and ethics, HIPAA, compounding, and medication error reporting. |
Legal Handbook for Pharm Techs by Dione Davey, PharmD, JD | teaches techs the essentials on how pharmacy is regulated |
Orange book | the common name for the FDA publication titled Approved Drug Products w/ Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations. |
Red book: Pharmacy's Fundamental Reference (redbook.com) | the pharmacist' guide to products and prices and provides annual price lists of drug products, as well as manufacturer, package size, strength, and wholsale and retail price. |
The American Hospital Formulary Service (AHFS) Drug Information (ahfsdruginformation.com) | is accepted as the authority for drug info questions. It groups drug monographs by therapeutic use and provides off-label medication uses. |
Drug Facts and Comparions (DFC) (factsandcomparisons.com) | preferred fererence for comprehensive and timely drug info, containing infor about Rx and OTC products. |
American Drug Index | use to find trade and generic name, published by Facts and Comparisons to provide quick access to a comprehensive list of drugs and drug products. |
Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR) (pdr.net) | provides FDA regulation info about Rx drugs similar to pharmaceutical manufacturers' drug package inserts |
Handbook on Injectable drugs (ashp.org) | a collection of monographs on commercially available parenteral drugs that includes concentration, stability, dosage, and compatibility info. |
Martindale, the complete drug reference formerly known as Martindale, the extra pharmacopeian | the best sources of infor about drugs in clincally use internationally which contains international drug monographs w/ drug names, manufactures, country of origin, active constituents, and licensed indications |
The Merck Index (merkmanuals.com) | use it when info on drugs chemical attributes is needed. It includes chemical, common, generic names, chemical structure, molecular formular, physical and toxicity data, therapeutic and commercial use, and caution and hazard info |
King's Guide to parenteral admixtures (kingguide.com) | provides info on injectable drug compatibility and stability, updated quarterly. |
Today's Technician (pharmacytechnician.org/en/cms459) | is an official publication of the NPTA. It is published 6x/yr specifically for Techs; includes a minimum of 2 hrs of ACPE-accredited continuing education for CPhTs. |
The Pharmacist's Letter | provides recommendations on new developments in drug therapy |
Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) (ptcb.org) | provides info regarding exam application and preparation about the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE). . Oncea PT is certified, the PTCB requires you to obtain 20 hrs of CE every 2 yrs w/ at least 1 hr of pharmacy law. |
The Health on the Net (HON) Foundation (hon.ch/home.html) | a nonprofit organization that helps guide web users to reliable info. It's a good idea to check out the site's info quality. |
medscape.com/pharmacists | integrated medical info and educational tools |
rxlist.com | list of the top 200 drugs, pill identifier, and medical dictionary |
ismp.org (The Institute for Safe Medication Practices) | medication safety alerts, error reporting, and self-assessment guidelines |
ashp.org (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists) | pharm tech membership and CE |
nabp.net (National Association of Boards of Pharmacy) | links to Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS) |
clinicalpharmacology.com | Elsevier/ Gold Standard |
lexi.com | Walters Kluwer Health |
epocrates.com | Epocrates, Inc. |
micromedex.com | Truven Health Analytics |
justice.gov/dea/index.shtml | U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration |
fda.gov | U.S. Food and Drug Adminstration |
osha.gov | Occupational Safety & Health Administration |
hhs.gov/ocr/privacy | info how to handle HIPAA |
hhs.gov | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services |
USP - NF Chapter 1 - 999 | are enforced by the FDA |
OSHA | requires pharmacies to have MSDS for all their hazardous chemicals. |
State laws and State Board of Pharmacy rules and regulations | requires pharmacies to maintain specific professional literature references |