Licensed pharmacist technician job description

Whether you are new to working in pharmacies or are an experienced Pharmacy Technician, we have a place for you on our team to use your skills and talents to serve and care for our patients and customers.

If you are a new Pharmacy Technician, our colleague trainers and pharmacists work alongside you to guide you through our accredited training program, allowing you to obtain all required knowledge, skills, and licensure to start your career as a health care professional!

Regardless of your experience as a Pharmacy Technician at CVS Health, you will have an opportunity to work in a leading retail pharmacy company and in a role that positively impacts the lives and health of others. You will work in an environment where the highest professional and ethical standards are maintained and in full compliance with all Federal, State, and Local laws and regulations.

Our Pharmacy Technicians take necessary steps to ensure all medication needs and regulatory compliance standards are met for our patients, and they demonstrate ethical conduct and maintain patient confidentiality at all times.

Please note in select markets, the collective bargaining agreement rules regarding the Pharmacy Technician would apply.
Required Qualifications

+ Must be at least 16 years of age

+ Licensure requirements vary by state

Attention and Focus:

+ Ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted

Customer Service Orientation:

+ Actively look for ways to help people, and do so in a friendly manner

+ Notice and understand customers' reactions, and respond appropriately

Communication Skills:

+ Use and understand verbal and written communication to interact with customers and colleagues

+ Actively listening by giving full attention to what others are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times

Mathematical Reasoning:

+ The ability to use math to solve a problem, such as calculating day's supply of a prescription

Problem Resolution

+ Able to judge when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong; recognizing there is a problem

+ Choosing the best course of action when faced with a complex situation with several available options

Visual Acuity:

+ You are required to have close visual acuity to perform activities such as: transcribing, viewing a computer terminal, reading, visual inspection involving small parts

+ Occasional lifting of up to 30 lbs; exerting up to 30 lbs of force occasionally and up to 10 lbs of force frequently, and a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects

Preferred Qualifications

+ Previous experience in a pharmacy, retail, medical, or customer service setting

+ Previous experience as a Pharmacy Technician

Education

+ High School diploma or equivalent (preferred)

DISCLAIMER:

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

• Reads and interprets physician's medication orders, assists with filling, processing and dispensing of medications, re-packages and labels medication, including bulk supplies, with final check performed by a pharmacist.
• Maintains cleanliness and aseptic technique while following established departmental compounding practices and procedures when mixing intravenous admixtures including IVPBs, large volume parenterals, and total parenteral nutrition, if necessary. Drug preparation necessitates working aseptically in a horizontal or vertical laminar (biological safety cabinet) flow hood using aseptic technique. Adheres to USP 797/USP 800 Guidelines.
• Delivers controlled substances and other medications to nursing units' automated medication dispensing cabinets (ADC). Delivers other medication, IV solutions and all necessary forms throughout the hospital on a regularly scheduled basis to patient care areas.
• Prepares medications and subsequently loads and unloads medication into ADC with appropriate bar code scanning. Fills inventory needs for nursing unit ADCs, non-cabinet stock, and fills unit dose drawers by placing the proper drugs in the bins according to the computerized patient profile.
• Supports the drug inventory process including rotation and restocking of drug dispensing areas with drugs and supplies needed to process patient medication orders. Ensures the maintenance of a clean and orderly work area.
• Answers phones according to established phone etiquette and directs calls to the proper personnel.
• Determines when phone calls or emergency situations need to be referred to a pharmacist.
• Completes nursing unit inspections, as assigned. Restocks crash cart trays and OCMCA boxes etc., as required in a timely manner. Alerts the pharmacists or pharmacy management of any discrepancies.
• Fills controlled substance orders and reconciles all discrepancies on a daily basis. Reports any discrepancies to the pharmacist or pharmacy management as appropriate. Monitors any unusual activity for potential drug diversion.
• Prepares and packages chemotherapy medications and other medications requiring special handling for subsequent administration to patients under the supervision of the pharmacist. This includes verifying drug doses and preparing preliminary drug profiles for patients on established chemotherapy protocols. Safely handles and manipulates cytotoxic and other special drugs and incidental equipment used in drug preparation while working aseptically in a vertical flow hood or biological safety cabinet. Adheres to all safety measures for handling chemotherapy/hazardous materials.
• Maintains all necessary paperwork, legal documents, and records for all medications, including chemotherapy prepared for administration. Utilizing the pharmacy computer system, bills and/or credits patients for medication used. Maintains investigational drug research records and validates doses ordered using investigational drug protocols.
• Obtains medications accurately from the department's automated medication supplier (i.e., BoxPicker). Loads and removes medications from this unit using bar code scanning of medication and patient labels. Prepares and labels doses removed for pharmacist final check.
• Operates the unit dose packaging machine in an accurate and efficient manner. This includes restocking medications and replacing supplies, monitoring machine alarms, and ensuring doses are correctly labeled and prepared for pharmacist check.
• Utilizes the MedBoard software system and bar code scanning to track the delivery of medications to the nursing units.
• Assumes responsibility for performance of job duties in the safest possible manner, to ensure personal safety and that of coworkers, and to report all preventable hazards and unsafe practices immediately to management.
• Maintains good rapport and cooperative relationships. Approaches conflict in a constructive manner. Helps to identify problems, offer solutions, and participate in their resolution.
• Must be able to set and organize own work priorities, and adapt to them as they change frequently. Must be able to work concurrently on a variety of tasks/projects in an environment that may be stressful due to time constraints.
• Maintains the confidentiality of information acquired pertaining to patient, physicians, colleagues, and visitors to St. Joseph Mercy Oakland. Discusses patient and hospital information only among appropriate personnel in appropriately private places. Accesses protected health information (PHI) only as necessary and according to hospital and HIPAA guidelines.
• Meets SJMHS Guiding Behaviors and Caring Standards including interpersonal communication and professional conduct expectations. Knows, understands, incorporates and demonstrates the Trinity Health Mission, Vision and Values in behavior, practices and decisions.
• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the competencies/essential functions satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being assigned to this job. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of individuals in the job.
• Demonstrates and actively promotes an understanding and commitment to the mission of St. Joseph Mercy Oakland through performing behaviors consistent with the Trinity Health Values.
• Maintains a working knowledge of applicable Federal, State, and Local laws and regulations, the Trinity Health Organizational Integrity Program, including the Standards of Conduct, Code of Ethics, as well as other policies and procedures in order to ensure adherence in a manner that reflects honest, ethical and professional behaviors.
• Supports and conducts one's self in a manner consistent with customer service expectations.
• In accordance with unit or departmental practice, determines that appropriate charges have been entered for the correct patient, encounter, date/time of service, with any required modifiers. Make corrections as needed per charge capture policy/practice.
• In accordance with unit or departmental practice, actively participates in on-going education and communication regarding revenue management.
• In accordance with unit or departmental practice, assists with tracking and monitoring of equipment assigned to the unit. Requests services for maintaining equipment as needed.
• In accordance with unit or departmental practice, proficient with the electronic health records for documentation, assessment, and care management, performing these activities concurrently with provision of care throughout the shift.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Trinity Health is a family of 115,000 colleagues and nearly 26,000 physicians and clinicians across 25 states. Because we serve diverse populations, our colleagues are trained to recognize the cultural beliefs, values, traditions, language preferences, and health practices of the communities that we serve and to apply that knowledge to produce positive health outcomes. We also recognize that each of us has a different way of thinking and perceiving our world and that these differences often lead to innovative solutions.

Our dedication to diversity includes a unified workforce (through training and education, recruitment, retention, and development), commitment and accountability, communication, community partnerships, and supplier diversity.

Prepares medications for patients under the direction of a registered pharmacist. Performs in a support capacity to ensure medications are prepared for dispensing to patients in as safe a manner as possible. Strives for superior performance by consistently providing a product or service to leadership and staff that is recognized as ultimately contributing to the patient and family experience. Recognizes and demonstrates understanding of patient and family centered care.
JOB RELATIONSHIPS

Responsible To: Director of Pharmacy

Workers Supervised: Not Applicable

Inter-Relationships: Staff pharmacist, Pharmacy Manager, Pharmacy Tech Supervisor, all departments, patients, visitors (internal and external customers).

PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Accurately prepares medications for pharmacist review before being dispensed.

2. Performs tasks involved with preparation and labeling of IV admixtures and associated record keeping.

3. Packages dry orals, liquid orals and small volume injectables in unit-of-use containers using a combination of mechanical equipment and manual procedures.

4. Delivers medications to patient care areas within appropriate time frames.

5. Ensures drug items are appropriately billed to various areas or patients.

6. Ensures expired medications are removed from pharmacy inventory and stored properly.

7. Processes transfers and discharges according to established departmental procedures.

8. Assists pharmacists in maintaining accurate medication profile for each patient receiving medications, according to department and hospital policies and procedures.

9. Assists with management of drug stock including, but not limited to, shelving new drug stock with proper item rotation, arranging stock and organizing storage areas, documenting need for ordering items, and maintaining proper documentation and record keeping.

10. Assists in managing incoming telephone calls to ensure proper triage of calls.

11. Assists pharmacists in ensuring drug storage locations are maintained in an appropriate manner, e.g., floor stock, automated dispensing cabinets, surgery carts, crash carts, etc.

12. Assists pharmacists in insuring pharmacy inventory is maintained at appropriate levels in a cost-conscious manner to promote availability of items included in Formulary.

13. Assists in effectively training and orienting new personnel or students to the departmental services and programs.

14. Satisfactorily completes required hospital programs.

15. Assists in maintaining the cleanliness and order of the pharmacy department.

16. Protects patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols.

17. Demonstrates knowledge of and supports hospital mission, vision, value statements, standards, policies and procedures, operating instructions, confidentiality statements, corporate compliance plan, customer service standards, and the code of ethical behavior.

18. Other duties as assigned.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

1. High school diploma required

2. National certification (PTCB) and either state pharmacy technician OR pharmacist intern license required

EXPERIENCE

1. Previous Pharmacy Technician experience preferred

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL ABILITIES/MOTOR SKILLS

1. Able to travel independently throughout all Memorial Healthcare facilities.

2. Small motor skills required for operating modern computer, office, and telephone equipment as utilized by Memorial Healthcare (MHC).

3. Requires working indoors under environmentally controlled conditions

4. May include exposure to disease or infections, hazardous materials, sounds or noise levels that can be distracting or uncomfortable.

5. Requires frequently repetitive movement; using hands to handle, push, pull, control, or

feel objects, tools or equipment; standing for extended periods of time; lifting up to 50

pounds; walking, climbing stairs/ladders.

ESSENTIAL TECHNICAL ABILITIES

1. Proficiency using modern office, computer and telephone equipment as used by Memorial Healthcare.

2. Basic understanding of medication dispensing cabinets and maintenance.

ESSENTIAL MENTAL ABILITIES

1. Ability to adapt and maintain focus in fast paced, quickly changing or stressful situations.

2. Ability to read and interpret a variety of documents including, but not limited to policies, operating instructions, white papers, regulations, rules and laws.

3. Have math skills necessary for compounds and pricing calculations

ESSENTIAL SENSORY REQUIREMENTS

1. Able to see for the purpose of reading information received in formats including but not limited to paper, computer, reports, bulletins, updates, manuals.

2. Able to hear for work-related purposes.

3. Effectively communicate by phone, in person, and in written formats.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

1. Ability to interact with co-workers, hospital staff, administration, patients, physicians, the public and all internal and external customers in a professional and effective, courteous and tactful manner, at all times, physically, verbally and in all written and electronic communication.

2. Required to remain calm when adversity is encountered.

3. Open, honest, and tactful communication skills.

4. Ability to work as a team member in all activities.

5. Positive, cooperative and motivated attitude.

6. Strong customer service focus.

7. Demonstrates appropriate problem-solving and decision-making skills