Job Summary and Scope
The Pharmacy Technician, under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist, works to provide the safest and most effective pharmaceutical care of patients by performing technical and clerical duties associated with the operation of the pharmacy. These duties include, but are not limited to, the procurement, storage, compounding, dispensing and safe administration of medications. This position is responsible for providing the best customer service to both internal and external customers. The technician ensures adherence to State and Federal regulations as well as Hospital and Departmental policies and procedures. The pharmacy technician will display a commitment to the hospital mission statement and role model the SRMC Values and consistently demonstrate in thought and action the SRMC commitment to “putting you first”.
Essential Functions:
- POLICIES AND PROCEDURES - Maintain established departmental policies and procedures, objectives, and quality assurance programs
- PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT - Enhance professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, reading current literature, attending in-services, meetings and workshops.
- Maintains an adequate inventory of medications in the automated dispensing cabinets. Performs all activities necessary for the proper functioning of the automated dispensing cabinet system. Removes discontinued patient medications from the automated dispensing cabinetry. Delivers narcotics to the automated dispensing cabinetry and maintains records associated with the narcotic delivery. Performs quality assurance inspections for the automated dispensing cabinetry.
- Responds to on-demand or urgent requests for medications not stocked in the automated dispensing cabinets.
- Prepares sterile IV admixtures in accordance with 797 regulations and under the supervision of a pharmacist.
- Prepares, in accordance with common standards of pharmacy practice, compounds for patient use (examples: oral or topical dosage forms). These duties are performed under the supervision of a pharmacist.
- Prepares in accordance with pharmacy law and standards of pharmacy practice, outpatient discharge prescriptions to be dispensed after pharmacist approval.
- Repackages medications in unit dose form using appropriate equipment and keeps appropriate records of medications repacked.
- Ensures medication security by using automated dispensing system, securing access to medications, adhering to all State and Federal regulations and Hospital and Departmental Policies and Procedures regarding Controlled Substances. Maintains an accurate paperwork accounting of all activities regarding Controlled Substances.
- Assists the Pharmacy Coordinator in the maintenance of inventory levels by checking stock to determine inventory level, placing orders as needed, checking in orders, putting orders away and by completing necessary paperwork. Files paperwork in appropriate place and sends invoices to the accounts payable department after the order has been put away. Maintains an adequate amount of supplies for the department by stocking the supplies and working with the Pharmacy Coordinator to order items needed.
- Performs quality assurance inspections according to department policy. Maintains clear and adequate records of findings and reports abnormalities.
- Checks for, and removes, outdated and recalled products to ensure the quality of medications in stock. Keeps appropriate records.
- Assists in the correct billing of patients by ensuring the appropriate billing codes are used in the automated dispensing cabinet system and by charging and crediting medications appropriately to patient accounts.
- Ensure operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements; following manufacturer's instructions; troubleshooting malfunctions; calling for repairs;
- Performs duties as assigned by a licensed pharmacist. Performs miscellaneous job-related duties and/ or projects as assigned by the Director.
SRMC Core Values
Integrity: Our words and actions match our values
To Serve: We put the needs of others before our own
Excellence: We strive to exceed expectations and/or standards in every activity, every encounter, and every initiative
Safety/Quality: We provide evidence based care, programs, services, and an environment that achieves the best outcomes
Teamwork: We enjoy the ability and power to work collaboratively to deliver exceptional service
Accountability
- Position does not have the scope of decision making, budget, assets and planning responsibilities
Communication Skills
- Employee must have effective written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective professional relationships with both internal and external customers.
- Maintains confidentiality with patient, medical and organizational information
- Basic computer skills are required
Required Qualifications
- Knowledge of pharmaceutical dosing forms, pharmaceutical and medical terminology, brand and generic names of medications.
- Knowledge in basic anatomy and physiology, basic uses of medicines
- Knowledge in filling bottles, capsules and other package forms with measured amounts of medication according to the medication order and under the supervision of a pharmacist.
- Knowledge in typing prescription information.
- Knowledge in weighing, measuring and mixing medication ingredients
- Knowledge of inventory control and basic drug storage processes.
- Knowledge in State and Federal regulations,
- Ability to maintain logs to including, but not limited to, narcotic inventories and other controlled substance records.
- Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services.
- Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, statistics, and their applications. Knowledge of basic pharmaceutical calculations.
- Knowledge of electronic equipment, computer hardware and software, including applications
- Ability to be detailed oriented and consistently follow process
- Critical thinking skills, judgment and decision making abilities
- Ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules
Education/Experience
Education:
- High School Diploma or GED equivalent
Licenses/Certifications:
- Current State of New Mexico Certified Pharmacy Technician without limitations or restrictions or eligible for certification within one year of hire.
- Current CPR Certification or obtain within 30 day of hire
Work Experience:
- Will consider a new graduate.
Preferred Educational/Experience Requirements:
- Graduate from Certified Pharmacy Technician Program.
- New Mexico CPhT certification
- 1 year experience in hospital pharmacy.
Supervision
- Position does not have any supervisory responsibilities.
Conditions of Employment
- Must pass a pre-employment criminal background check, reference checks and a post offer drug screen.
- Must be employment eligible as verified by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Government Services Administration (GSA).
- Tuberculin Skin Test required annually
- Hospital required vaccinations
- Hospital required competencies
Working Conditions
- Typical office and/or patient care, acute care hospital environment.
- Must be able to travel locally between facilities and within the surrounding community.
- Occasional exposure to minimal physical risk