Best of the Best: Delaney Santon, CPHT, on How Pharmacy Techs Help Patients

Drug Topics®: First, please introduce yourself.

Delaney Santon: My name is Delaney. I'm a pharmacy technician with Safeway. I've been a technician for over 7 years.

Drug Topics®: What's the highlight of your day as a pharmacy tech?

Santon: The highlight of my day is getting to interact with our customers 1-on-1 and helping them solve any problems that they might have.

Drug Topics®: Why is ensuring every patient who comes up to your pharmacy counter can afford their medications so important to you?

Santon: I think that everybody has the right to affordable health care. Unfortunately, a lot of people in our area don't have access to that. Especially with the pandemic that we've been going through for the last few years, a lot of people have lost their jobs, which means they have limited income and they don't have insurance. To help patients stay compliant with their medication, making sure that they can afford that is extremely important.

Drug Topics®: What are some myths about pharmacy techs that you particularly think need to be busted?

Santon: I think when customers come to the counter tor when they call, they expect that we won't be able to help them. A lot of times they think they need to talk to the pharmacist directly. But we actually have a lot more power and control over a situation than they would think. A lot of the time I can solve their problem without getting the pharmacist. If I do need to have someone else step in, I absolutely will get them.

Drug Topics®: What drew you to pharmacy and particularly being a pharmacy tech?

Santon: I've always wanted to be part of the medical field. I was given the opportunity to join a technician program and I fell in love with it. And I have continued to fall in love with it. Helping customers on a day-to-day basis has been really wonderful.

Drug Topics®: Finally, what does it mean to you to be named Best Pharmacy Tech?

Santon: It means a lot. I have worked with, and I continue to work with a lot of great technicians, who I think very highly of, and I think they're just absolutely wonderful, smart, kind, and caring. So, to be recognized as one of the best technicians, it's really great. It's a great feeling.