Pharmacy Technician Certification Board Names Linda Henson and Rico Powell as 2013 PTCB CPhT of the Year Finalists

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board has announced that Linda Henson, CPhT, and Rico Powell, CPhT, have been selected as finalists for the 2013 PTCB CPhT of the Year. PTCB also announced that Master Sergeant Jessica Hughes, US Air Force, has been named the 2013 PTCB CPhT of the Year.

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PTCB's CPhT of the Year^© Program honors and recognizes individual achievement in patient care, leadership, service, and mentorship as a way to encourage excellence and innovation among pharmacy technicians.

"PTCB was pleased to receive so many remarkable nominations for the
2013 CPhT of the Year," said Everett B. McAllister, MPA, RPh, Executive Director and CEO of PTCB. "PTCB is honored to have this opportunity to recognize Master Sergeant
Jessica Hughes, the CPhT of the Year, and finalists Rico Powell and Linda Henson, for their outstanding contributions."

Linda Henson,CPhT, is Pharmacy Technician Manager at Methodist LeBonheur Hospital Germantown, TN. She manages 30 technicians and interns, and is responsible for staffing assignments, training, operations, equipment, safe medication storage, regulatory compliance, and pharmacy liaison. "Service to others is the most rewarding  aspect of working as a PTCB CPhT for me," said Ms. Henson. "My position as manager affords me many opportunities to contribute to safe medication practices, which provide patients with excellent care. My job also allows me the pleasure of mentoring and coaching other technicians in their goals and achievements." Henson is a recipient of the Methodist Hospital Germantown's Extra Mile Award, Power of One Award, and Associate of the Year Award, among other honors.

Rico Powell, CPhT, is Pharmacy Technician Manager at Methodist Healthcare and PRN Technician at St. Francis Hospital, both in Memphis, TN. Mr. Powell's efforts in pharmacy automations have enhanced the safety of medication being prepared in the hospital setting, and helped transform CPhTs to vital members of his hospital's healthcare team. "Pharmacy practice models are constantly changing, allowing pharmacy technicians to take on greater responsibility," said Mr. Powell. "This enables the pharmacist to be more involved with clinical components of a patient's care. Medication safety is also a key part of the CPhT's scope of practice, and technicians are often the first eyes to identify potential errors." Mr. Powell's efforts have focused on building trust and teamwork among 42 technicians.

PTCB launched the inaugural PTCB CPhT of the Year^© Program in July. More than 550 CPhTs were nominated from across all pharmacy settings. PTCB selected eight candidates to appear on the online ballot and invited public online voting to select the honoree and finalists. MSgt. Hughes, Ms. Henson, and Mr. Powell will be recognized at a ceremony in Washington, DC on October 29.  The other five semifinalists were Jennifer Comford, Heather Krehl, Stephanie Rice-Erlenbusch, Lauren Seals, and Sheila Woodruff.

About PTCB
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) advocates a single national standard for pharmacy technician certification that is recognized and supported by the profession. The goal of PTCB's national certification program, which services the more than 274,000 currently active certified pharmacy technicians (CPhTs) nationwide, is to enable pharmacy technicians to work more effectively with pharmacists to offer safe and effective patient care and service. PTCB was established in 1995 and is governed by five pharmacy organizations—the American Pharmacists Association, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, the Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists, the Michigan Pharmacists Association, and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. Pharmacy technicians may apply for certification online at www.ptc.org.

SOURCE Pharmacy Technician Certification Board