PHARMACY TECHNICIAN

II. POSITION SUMMARY :

Under general supervision to receive, unpack and stock supplies, deliver drug orders and run errands. Under direct supervision of a registered pharmacist, assists in preparation of various pharmaceutical preparations, labeling of bottles, and doing required related work consistent with their training and experience. Pharmacy technicians will not be assigned duties that by law must be performed only by licensed pharmacist.

III. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS :

• Transportation of drugs from the pharmacy to the nursing units. Unpacking and checking shipments against invoices. Stocks shelves and transports IV solutions from Pharmacy to nursing units. Maintains inventory control, files, helps assimilate statistical data, controlled substances files. Process Hospital admissions and enter necessary information either on patient profile or computer. Fills patient's medication cassettes. Records usage per current system of billing.
• Checks, fills and reconciles floor stock, pulling any out of date medications. Checks shelves regularly for out of date medications. Profiles orders, being sure they are checked by a pharmacist. Fills new orders, being sure they are checked by a pharmacist. Assimilates and enters billing. Processes patient transfers and discharges.
• Prepares IV and IVPB solutions under the supervision of a pharmacist. Orders medications when needed, being sure to check the current bid book to find out what company that particular drug is ordered from. Write up any medications, IV's or tubing that is not charted. Rotate stock when new stock arrives and is put away. Daily inpatient duties include reconciling patient profiles to census, creating new profiles for admits, pulling discharged patient profiles and collating for billing, transferring patients, profiling new medication and IV orders, pulling and bagging new medication orders, reconciling after hour pharmacy entries to medication orders, assuring all work is checked and signed off by a pharmacist.
• Daily IV's - enters new orders into computer and runs labels for the days IV's, does IV rounds to ensure IV times are on schedule, pulls discontinued and changed IV solutions from the floor. Aseptically prepares all IV or IVPB's needed immediately. Makes rounds at least hourly, profiles new orders and prepares medications for distribution after being checked by a pharmacist. Daily billing - collates billing documents from ancillary departments, transfers patient charges to the computer, assembles and batches billing run for delivery to data processing. Delivery of medications should be delivered to patient care areas throughout the day.
• Filling patient medication cassettes should be accomplished in accordance with pharmacy procedure. Daily IV rounds to be done by the person preparing the IV's when possible. The pharmacist should be aware of any deviations from therapy to include : missed administrations, rate changes, and administration times on monitored therapies. Crash carts to be done when necessary in accordance with pharmacy policy and procedures. Check for out of date medications to be done when time permits, but at least monthly.
• Daily IV preparation to be done by a qualified technician, who has been signed off to perform such duty and has undergone yearly certification. Daily antibiotic review to be done by assignment and direct supervision of the Director of Pharmacy. Purchasing - maintain IV stock. Inventory and order supplies from Central Purchasing per schedule. Check want book entries against pharmacy stock levels, or specific departmental or patient orders. Assemble and prepared orders to either the pharmacy wholesaler, direct drug manufacturer, or other source as determined through the Consolidated Purchasing Contract Group.
• Returns - assemble returns, obtain proper return authorization documents and package for pick up or shipment. General - maintain the pharmacy in a clean and organized manner. Coordinate with Environmental services for general housekeeping. Assist in the maintenance and organization of pharmacy files and forms. Participates in the Department's QI Plan by helping Director update plan, performs QI studies and reports as instructed by Director. Serves on the Hospital's QI Team as assigned.

Requirements

IV. EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS :

High school diploma or equivalent preferred and / or courses in physical and life sciences, and / or either a graduate of an accredited technical training institute or military training in pharmacy. Hospital pharmacy experience preferred. Must have knowledge of the metric system and the procedures and techniques involved in the administration of drugs to patients, ability to establish effective working relationships with the nurses, physicians and fellow workers.

V. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Physical Activity - Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and / or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Working Hazards or Risks - potential for musculoskeletal injuries related to moving and working with files and office equipment.

OSHA Blood Borne Risk Category III. Learn More