Pharmacy Terms and Definitions

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55 terms · Some various pharmacy terms, definitions, jobs,


Code of beliefs based on tradition rather than fact

Outpatient Pharmacy

Community pharmacies or pharmacies in outpatient hospital settings


Person who dispenses drugs and counsels patients

Pharmacy Clerk

Person who assists the pharmacist at the front counter of the pharmacy


Latin term for pharmacist

Inpatient Pharmacy

A pharmacy in a hospital or institutional setting

Pharmacy Technician

Person who assists the pharmacist by filling prescriptions and performing other nondispensing tasks


Set of standards written by a hospital or insurance company for patient treatment

Clinical Pharmacist

Pharmacist who monitors patient medications in inpatient and some retail settings

Inventory Technician

Orders and bills all stock

Robot Filler

Is trained to load mechanical equipment and keep it running smoothly

Chemo Technician

Interprets orders and prepares all chemotherapy agents

Clinical Technician

Assits the pharmacist with tracking patient's medications

Insurance Technician

Knows Medicare, Blue Cross, and other insurance companies' guidelines

Technician Recruiter

Recruits technicians into their outpatient or temporary agencies

Technician Trainer

Trains newly hired technicians in computer programs and other skills relevant to their pharmacy

PBM Operator

Helps customers over the phone

Computer Support Technician

Supports personnel with automated medication dispensing systems

Poison Control Call Center Operator

Screens incoming calls and trasfers calls to 911 operator or pharmacist; authorized to take teh call if it concerns a minor issue


The incorporation of a chemical agent across natural barriers within the body


The amount of a drug that reaches its intended destination by being absorbed into the bloodstream


The difference between a drug that is manufactured ina different dosage form or by a different company; includes the rate if absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion


The ability of a drug to passs into the bloodstream


The process of elimination of medicinal agents


The amount of time required for a chemical to be decreased by one half


To breathe in; directions used for an inhaler


To place into; instructions used for opthalmic or otics


Metered dose inhaler


Over-the-counter medications that do not require a prescription


Medication introduced other than by way of the intestines


The life of a drug, which includes absorption, metabolism, distribution, and excretion


The process that breaks down drugs for excretion

Chemical Structure

The shape of molecules and their location with regard to one another

Brand/trade Name

Trademark of a drug or device created by the original manufacturer

Drug Classification

Based on the action of a drug and its use


A list of drugs approved for use from which choices are made

Generic Name

Name assigned to a medication by the FDA


The description of a drug, including side effects, dosage forms, indications, and oteh pertinent information


The study of drugs and their effects on the body

Auxiliary Label

An adhesive label that is attached to a container with specific instructions or information pertaining to teh medication inside

Hard Copy

The original prescription


The electronic determination whether a person's insurance coverage is confirmed


Return to stock


Latin for "recipe"; commonly used to mean "prescription"


A prescription


Medication directions written in pharmacy terms on a prescription

Aseptic Technique

A method of preventing contamination by organisms


The size of a needle opening

Horizontal Flow Hood

Environement for preparation of sterile products that uses air originating fromthe back of the hood moving forward across the hood out into the room


Parenteral nutrition for individuals unable to eat

Laminar Flow Hood

Environement for preparation of sterile products within a streamline flow near a solid boundary

Peripheral Parenterals

Injection of a medication into the veins on the periphery of the body instead of into a central vein or artery

Total Parenteral Nuttrition

Large-volume IV nutrition administered throgh the central vein, which allows for a higher concentration of solutions

Universal Precautions

A set of standards used in the preparation of medications that reduces the chance of contamination

Vertical Flow Hood

Environment for preparation of chemotherapy treatments that uses air originating from the roof of the hood moving downward and captured in a vent on the floor of the hood

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