Who Wants Cheaper Drugs?

I might want to rephrase that. For convenient, affordable PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, you might want to use a site given to me by our incredible librarian, Alex Gates. This is a website that claims you can save between 20-80 percent even if you have insurance. That website is http://www.goodrx.com/

Disclaimer: The Pharmacy Technician Program neither endorses not denies the claims made in the aforementioned website. Basically, try it and see if it helps. Thanks again Mr. Gates.

I Get My Chance

Today is the first day I get to teach the 10 new ladies in the Pharmacy Technician Program in Tulsa. I do my dollar bill metric class. Every piece of folding money in the U.S. is supposed to weight the exact same...1 gram. That means a $100 bill weighs the same as the $1 bill. Ray Charles had trouble with this concept in his early professional career since he couldn't tell if he was receiving $100 or $1. He solved the problem by always being paid in single dollar bills. If you were to cut the $1 into 1000 equal pieces, each piece would weigh one milligram (mg). Cut one piece of the 1000 equal pieces into 1000 more equal pieces and you would have one microgram (mcg). Therein lies the basis of the metric system. Thereby, 15-20 drops of water at room temperature weighs one gram or the weight of a single dollar bill. I love this stuff!

Tulsa P.T. Program Hit With Hurricane M.A.

Tomorrow the Pharmacy Technician Program will get a big surprize. The Medical Assisting Program has consented to come into the Pharmacy Lab and "re-arrange" the bottles on the shelf. By the time they are done it should look like a hurricane hit it. This gives the students a real hands-on practice on what to do should there ever be a weather event or even a theft where the perpetrator destroyed the order of the drugs. This will also provide them visual practice with the trade and generic names of the drugs. Thank you to the Medical Assisting students in advance!

Use Your Tools!

The students in the Pharmacy Technician Program are building today using their tools. Today's tools of choice are the metric and apothecary equivalents. Every program has tools. Culinary has cutting tools and food preparation tools. They have tools that pharmacy has also. They have to know equivalents. Almost all of pharmaceutical mathematics and dosing of medications has a basic equivalent that must be memorized. Imagine going to get your oil changed and have the service person ask you for an oil filter wrench. We must be proficient in the use of our "tools".

Platt Tulsa Librarian to Speak to P.T. Students!

Our fantastic librarian (and so much more) Alex Gates will address the Pharmacy Technician students today to speak on a number of subjects. Mr. Gates has an incredibly motivating message about college success and study techniques and has been an inspiration to our students since his arrival at Platt College in Tulsa.

Pharmacy Tech Student is Determined...

This week we celebrate the completion of one of our Tulsa Pharmacy Technician students. She is one of the most determined and dedicated students I have seen. During her internship, fires near her house threatened her and her community. She stood outside her home with hose in hand and watched as it got closer. Thankfully, it never got close enough for her to have to use the hose. She only missed a couple days of internship and made up the hours and we salute you Tabitha Barnes. She will proudly walk across the stage on the 13th of next month and graduate from the Platt College Pharmacy Technician Program. Next week she will be taking her Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination. I know she will do excellent!

Safety is Paramount!

The Tulsa Pharmacy Technician class has decided to dedicate themselves to prescription safety in the workplace. We previewed a 20/20 piece on prescription safety and another video on the high cost of drugs and they have, as a class, pledged to always "Think Twice and Save a Life". As instructors, we love when the students determine this on their own without prompting. I am a proud "papa".

First day back........

So yesterday we welcomed back our current students and added 17 new ones! (How exciting is that???) They took a well needed and deserved break. This semester we are going to learn some more exciting things! Such as how to calculate drug dosages, what your reproductive system is truly made up of, the history behind all this cool medicine (you would be surprised how some of this stuff was discovered!) and how you should react during an emergency setting! Plus wayyyy more. If you're reading this, that's means you really have nothing else to do.......SO WHY AREN'T YOU SITTING IN MY CLASS????

Until next time world...

Miss. Whitson

Why Can't They Just Stop?

The Platt College library in Tulsa just received a 4-disc set called "Addiction". This is the critically acclaimed 90 minute HBO documentary films presentation aimed at helping Americans understand addiction as a treatable brain disease. It states that one in four Americans has a family member who is struggling with addiction. It is our desire that by showing this series, we might shed some light on the most current and promising developments in the field.

They're Back....

The students are indeed back and happy to be "home"! The Pharmacy Technician students were excited and expressed a desire for a quick pharmacology review and some new math. We covered the cardiac drugs and business math with mark-up and discount. They are always wanting something new! I believe all of the Platt College Tulsa instructors are more than pleased that the old students are back and that we had an auditorium full of new students! Next start for us will be October 31rst and it is not too late to get into that class. Call now! 918-663-9000.

First Day Back...

The instructors in the Pharmacy Technician Program are charged up and ready for this quarter's activities. We are planning a trip to the pharmacy museum in Guthrie next week and we know the students will love it. We have a good size class starting today and I hope to be at the door to greet them. This is such a wonderful time at Platt College.

Another Big Thanks To Culinary in Tulsa

What a way to start a Friday! The Culinary Program in Tulsa prepared an incredible breakfast for the last day of fall break and again special thanks to Terrol for making sure I had things that fit into my unusual dietary needs. It is truly great when faculty and staff get a chance to sit and dine together even if it is for only a few moments.

It's Friday in Tulsa...

Today is the last day of the fall break for students. The instructors at Platt College in Tulsa were able to catch up and even plan for the coming weeks before the winter break beginning on December 10th. Our incredible librarian Alex Gates (whose wife by the way had a baby last week) sent me a small piece of video from 1951 about drug addiction and I found it very interesting.

http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/09/15/1951-drug-addiction-encyclopedia-britannica/

Platt College Tulsa at Tulsa State Fair

Platt College will have a booth at the Tulsa State Fair beginning at 5pm on Thursday, September 29th until Sunday, October 9th. Come visit us before or after you have your fried something on a stick.

Tutoring Day at Platt Tulsa

Today is the 9th day of Fall Break and the instructors in the Pharmacy Technician program want their students back. Today will be a bit of a relief though. Students that are wanting to take their Pharmacy Technician National Examination will be here to brush up on their skills and schedule their test. Passing this exam will allow Platt students to put the initials C.Ph.T. after their name to signify the brightest and best of the pharmacy technician field. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy want all pharmacy technicians in the United States to be certified by 2015 and we totally agree with their position.

Pharmacy Technician Instructors Meet in OKC

The instructors for pharmacy in Tulsa have just now finished up 6 intense hours of plotting the program's future for the year 2012. Great strides have been met and we are excited about the future of the program as well as the future of the profession. Kristi and I will be back in Tulsa tomorrow when we will be tutoring prospective National Examination candidates who wish to take the test soon.

Six more days till class begins!

This has been an exciting couple of weeks being able to prepare for our 26th start. Our "senior" students are going to actually run our lab as if they were in a dental office. Setting up, performing procedures, and breaking down rooms while also creating insurance claims and a schedule that flows. Our "junior" and new students are going to start the 26th with learning all concepts of the lab. They will really learn each piece of equipment and all of it's functions. If you or someone is intersted in joining this exciting new start, contact us here at Platt in Moore Oklahoma!

426,000 Pharmacy Technician Jobs in 2018!

Lets put some things into perspective. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for pharmacy technicians in the United States is expected to grow faster than average with an increase of 31%. This increase projects 426,000 pharmacy technician jobs in 2018. Much of this is due to the aging population in the U.S. and the changing role of the pharmacist. It is now understood that a well-trained pharmacy technician is an essential part of the overall healthcare team. With a Walgreens pharmacy opening every 18 hours, it is understandable that the need is so great. We have a sound and solid Pharmacy Technician Program. Check us out!

Day 7 of 2011 Fall Break

This is the 7th day of the fall break for students of Platt College. The Pharmacy Technician program, as well as the other programs, misses having the students on campus. At a meeting we attended recently, we learned that Pharmacy Technician is the 10th fastest growing job for 16-24 year olds and the 22nd for women. The state of Oklahoma does mandate that Pharmacy Technicians are 18 years of age and I believe the rest of the nation will demand that as well as the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy makes its wishes known. I have been in the pharmacy field since 1972 and it has held an interest in me unparalleled. In all medical occupations, we are never allowed the luxury of knowing everything so we are essentially students for life. There is still time to enroll in Platt College...classes start Monday for any of the programs offered.

Chance to Visit Pharmacies in Tulsa

Pharmacy Technician instructors had the opportunity today to visit pharmacies in Tulsa to renew old internship agreements and to establish new ones. We were greeted with much enthusiasm at a pharmacy we had tried years ago but was under different management. The PT program will be 10 years old this coming May and we have demonstrated that we are a valuable asset to the city of Tulsa and surrounding areas. More than one hospital pharmacy is staffed with almost half of their technicians graduating from Platt College. Platt Colleges in Tulsa, OKC, and Lawton continue to be a major source of skillfully trained and educated pharmacy technicians. We can't wait for classes to resume on Monday, May 26th.

Tulsa P.T. Program On The Road Again...

This is week two of fall break. Kristi and I will be heading to OKC for another round of meetings to plot out the future of the pharmacy technician program for 2012. It is an exciting time because we will be using a set of books that I helped write and review. The pharmacy technician series received universal approval by the Program Advisory Board from each campus and all instructors that teach the program.

Tulsa Culinary Does It Again...PIZZA!

Another hearty applause for the Tulsa Culinary Program for providing an incredible Italian style lunch complete with salads. My personal thanks again to Terral for making me a special pizza for my unusual allergies.

This is day 5 of the fall break and we are hoping our students are having the time to do what they wish. They will have one more week before they are to come back...hopefully refreshed and ready to work hard. In the Pharmacy Technician Program, that means learning how to work in the retail pharmacy industry, filling simulated prescriptions and dealing with insurance. Some students say they love this the most. Others love the sterile compounding and non-sterile compounding the most. Luckily, there are many aspects to a pharmacy technician career! Classes start Monday the 26th so there is still time to enroll!

Insulin Nasal Spray for what?

WASHINGTON - A small pilot study led by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) researcher found that a nasal insulin spray improved memory, thinking skills, and functional ability in people with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.

I am truly hoping that this is a real step forward in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. We in the Pharmacy world will be watching this closely and will report if any more information becomes available. I will be notifying the Pharmacy Technician students in Tulsa about this on the 26th of September when classes resume.

Visit by PT Graduate in Tulsa

During our incredible stew and cornbread lunch prepared by Tulsa Culinary staff and students, I was visited by one of our successful graduates, Debi Grady. Debi had just been hired by a local hospital here in Tulsa and stopped by to thank Platt College for her success. She claims she got the position by being persistent and checking with the hospital to see if anyone had been hired yet in the pharmacy. She said that she remembered something that I had said in class. I tell every class that the pharmacy wants to know that you care before they care what you know. Platt College students are motivated for success!

Chef Moore on KRMG this morning...

While driving into Platt College Tulsa this morning at 0530hrs, I happened to hear one of my favorite sounds - eggs frying on KRMG radio. The announcer mentioned that one-third less homes are preparing their own meals and asked our talented Chef Jay Moore why that was the case. Chef Moore stated that he felt it was because with both parents working they were too tired to cook. The announcer said that cooking together is a bonding experience.

In an unrelated story...Pharmacy Technician instructor Kristi Walsh had the opportunity to help redecorate the Medical Assistant office yesterday. With hammer in hand, she took down an entire wall to help make that office a few feet bigger.

Four very dedicated RN to BSN students showed up last night at 5pm to solidify their understanding of dosage math-on their fall break! I was privileged to provide the ladies with assorted intravenous dosage problems and at the end all were happy with the result.

Great Big Thanks to Culinary in Tulsa

We owe an incredible amount of gratitude to the faculty, staff, and students of Tulsa's incredible Culinary Program for providing lunch to all faculty and staff of Platt Tulsa all week! They even made breakfast available every morning. Special thanks to Terral for catering to my unusual dietary restrictions. He has always been sensitive to my allergies and those of others. We look forward to tomorrow's creations.

P.T. Student Wants to "Come Home"

Here at Platt College Tulsa, the Pharmacy Technician students have become a family. One such student called yesterday and asked if the fall break is an "option". He mentioned that three days without his classmate family has him missing people he never knew just a few months prior. Now he knows what it is like for the instructors to have the privilege to get to know some incredible people and then have them go to their internships. Like Pharmacy, Dental, Medical, Nursing, and Culinary, Platt College is like a family and we are all in the "people" business.

Missing the students!

We are on day 3 of our students being out on their two week break. I have been able to clean our room, create some fun activities, and prepare when they come back! We are gonna have a blast! If you or someone you know is interested in joining our dental assisting class there is still time!

Parents of Preschool Children: Limit Drinking....

Did you know the best way to help keep your little ones healthy is by teaching them to eat fruit rather than drinking it? Vitamin C helps heal bruises, fight infections, and helps your body use iron from food. Fruit is naturally low in fat, and is a good choice for desserts and snacks. Your child needs 1 to 1-1/2 cups of fresh, frozen , or canned fruits per day. Can you drink to much fruit juice? Yes, drinking to much juice can cause problems. A preschooler should drink no more than 1/2 to 3/4 cup per day. Some of the problems caused by drinking too much juice include: Too many calories, that may contribute to overweight issues. Drinking too much juice may keep your child from drinking milk, which keeps them from getting the calcium needed for healthy teeth and bones. Sipping juice also can lead to cavities in teeth. Always serve juice in a cup instead of a bottle. Too much juice may cause diarrhea which is not fun for the child or Mom. Adults are not the only one that need fiber, children need it too. Fiber can help prevent constipation. Read the label to look for 100% juice for the best nutrition. Know the differance between 100% fruit juice and fruit flavored drinks. Fruit favored drinks are made of a small amount of fruit juice and lots of sweetened water.

Holy Basil for High Cholesterol?

Incredible Dental Program Coordinator in Tulsa, Terri Tuttle, found an article extolling the virtues of a little known herb that is considered a sacred plant. It is related to a type of basil and not the same as what you could buy in a supermarket. It is credited for protecting cells and improving your endurance and helping you cope with stress by supporting adrenal and thyroid function. The article says that Holy Basil can help reduce blood fats which could lead to high cholesterol. Pharmacist Suzy Cohen (www.DearPharmacist.com) says to consider Holy Basil this fall to reduce the risk of cough and cold.

Disclaimer: The Pharmacy Technician Program neither endorses nor denies the effectiveness of any claims reported in the "Holy Basil Is A Heavenly Herb" article.

Day 3 of Fall Break at the PT Program in Tulsa

Pharmacy Technician instructors from the three Platt College campuses met yesterday for mapping out next year's programs. The meeting was totally successful and incredible progress was made. I agree with one of the comments I heard yesterday - we really miss our students when they are not in class. Many thanks for the Platt College in Moore for hosting our gathering. Moore has a beautiful, modern campus and I am sure the students appreciate the facility, faculty, and staff.

Pharmacy Technician Program On The Road

This is Day 2 of the Fall Break for students and the Pharmacy Technician Program is traveling. All instructors for P.T. will be traveling to Platt College in Moore for a meeting to finalize the plans for the 2012 curriculum and syllabi. These are indeed exciting times because we are excited about the future for pharmacy technicians in the state of Oklahoma. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy wants all states to mandate certification by 2015.

Day 1 of Fall Break...Pharmacy Tech reporting for Duty in Tulsa

This is the first day of the fall break. Pharmacy Technician instructors are hard at work developing and revising and improving the curriculum for next year. Based on the proposed changes, the Platt College students will be the best trained in the nation. The P.T. program is based on the time-tested core curriculum of the American Society of Health System Pharmacists. All pharmacy instructors will meet in Moore tomorrow at the Platt College there for more evaluations meetings.

Last Day Before Break - PT in Tulsa

The Pharmacy Technician students in Tulsa have their last day of finals today and the Bell Ringing ceremony for two of their classmates. We have determined that the class will have a few moments of silence to observe the 10th anniversary of the Twin Towers attack since we will not be in class on the 11th. This attack affected all Americans and we should be vigilant for copy-cat or repeat incidents by individuals or groups. Emotions will run high this weekend and we pray for calm and safety to all of our Platt students and staff. Thanks go out to all involved in making sure the American flag flies high over Platt College Tulsa.

We say good luck to Tony and Zoua as they begin their internships on Monday. We did receive word that one of our graduates got hired yesterday at the hospital she wanted to work. When she began the program she was concerned that she might be too "seasoned" and that few pharmacies would want to hire someone with a "few more years" than the rest of the class. Congratulations go to Debi Grady upon her being hired. Nothing wrong with a bit more maturity!

Have a great weekend and a great fall break for all the students.

Incredible Luncheon and Day for PT Finals

The Pharmacy Technician luncheon culminated an incredible day of final examinations and exhilaration in the final grade averages achieved. The luncheon was delicious...roasted chicken, home-made egg rolls, cheesecake, meatballs, Rotel, rolls, and chips. Tomorrow is the last day in the quarter and excitement is high for new material. Students are about to begin the third block which highlights the Pharmacy Technician working in a retail setting learning about insurance. The students will be going on a field trip to Guthrie to see the Oklahoma Frontier Drug Store Museum after the two week break.

Bellringing and Awards for DA-Tulsa AM Class

The AM Dental Assistant class had their Bellringing, Awards and Dinner on September 1. Those recieving July awards for attendance in were Kristi Borders and Natalie Hubbard with 100% attendance and Terri Branum with 95 % attendance. Those same students also recieved awards for being on the Directors Honor Roll. Arail Trout recieved both perfect attendance and Directors Honors for August.

Student of the month from the AM class is Mallori Joseph and Shayna Quiver from the PM class. The dental students choose the SOM based on academics, attitude towards others, and helpfulness among their peers. ( Of course, the instuctors approve the students choice)

Three great students were honered with a dinner before taking the next big step......Internship. Tyandra will be Interning at Catholic Charities, Iris will be at Dr. Foshee's Office, and Kristi is at Dr. Deem's practice in Broken Arrow. These ladie's will be a big asset in any office.

Luncheon and Bell Ringing for PT Students-Tulsa

Today is the luncheon the PT students are putting on for their two classmates, Tony and Zoua, who are beginning their internships on Monday. This "tradition" began almost 9 years ago when this program was very new. Tomorrow will be the Bell Ringing ceremony. This symbolizes that the students have completed all of the didactic material and are now ready to practice pharmacy in the real setting. We will miss both of them. They both have a way of making the spirits soar in class.

Wednesday's News at Platt Tulsa PT Program

Congratulations go to our newest graduate Amber West. Upon completing her internship she was offered a job at Medi-Cap Pharmacy in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Her site supervisor had heard that she put in an application at a local hospital in Tulsa and he offered her the job before they could even respond to the application. We wish her well in her assured successes in the pharmacy field.

The pharmacy technician students have their Compounding Final and A&P Final today. Excitement is high with the soon to be technicians knowing that there are only two days left before the fall break and the start of the new quarter. We will also be sending two of our current students to internships. We will miss Tony and Zoua and wish them a productive and fun internship.

Back after 4 days off...P.T. Class is back...

The Pharmacy Technician class at Platt Tulsa is back and ready for FINALS WEEK! Today was Pharmacology, tomorrow is Anatomy and Physiology, and Thursday is Math final. Our newest member, Kristin is doing fabulous and is setting new standards for Block One material. Kudos to all of our students and good luck on the upcoming exams.

Flag Proudly Flies Again at Platt Tulsa

As of 1150hrs, the American Flag again proudly flies at Platt Tulsa thanks to the Tulsa Fire Department, Ladder 23. Members of the Pharmacy Technician program were present. Attention was called by Bob Aanonsen, retired Sergeant First Class, as well as present arms and order arms.

Friday for PT Program in Tulsa...

No, it is really Thursday but students have a 4 day weekend. Today the students are excited about taking another "practice" National Examination. We set the room up as if it were the Pearson Vue Center and allow the same amount of time as the real exam. This provides them a means of pacing themselves on the 90 questions on the exam. Congratulations to Tony Pettigrew for being awarded Student of the Month. He was selected for his "CAN DO" attitude. Have a great holiday weekend and be safe.