Cheap RX, generic propecia online

Source: DetNews.com

Date: 22-Mar-2007

Author: Charles E. Ramirez

WARREN -- Some Macomb high school students are getting a dose of what it's like to be pharmacy technicians as part of a one-of-a-kind program.

The students are learning to become certified technicians who help fill prescriptions by counting tablets and labeling bottles.

The program is sponsored by the Southwest Macomb Technical Education Consortium, an association of school districts in Warren and Center Line that provides career and technical education training.

The consortium launched the program in the fall. Forty-nine students are enrolled in the course, taught at Fitzgerald High School.

Heather Lupinsky, a senior at the school, is hoping the course will help her start a career in health care.

"I really like the class, and now I'm thinking about becoming a pharmacist," said the 17-year-old from Warren.

"I also like that a lot of other subjects are built into the class -- like math, history and science."

"The main objective is to introduce students to the wide variety of occupations in the health care field," said Dale Dubay, director of the consortium.

Dubay started talking to school officials and representatives from retailers about creating the pharmacy tech program.

The consortium later formed an advisory board that includes officials from community colleges, universities, hospitals and retailers such as CVS/Pharmacy, Walgreens, Rite-Aid and Wal-Mart.

CVS/Pharmacy built a full-scale mock pharmacy for training, Dubay said.

The company will also provide summer jobs to students, said Lena Barkley, government programs liaison for the Michigan market of the Woonsocket, R.I.-based chain.

The retailer is helping the consortium and other similar educational programs address a forecasted shortage of certified workers, said Barkley.

"We're thrilled to help," she said. "And it's important to us."

Once students complete the course and graduate, they can take a certification test and earn professional credentials.

The consortium has applied to the Michigan Department of Labor to have the course designated as a state-approved career education program, Dubay said. If approved, it will be eligible for funding.

The consortium expects to learn in May whether the state approved the program, Dubay said.