Description
The inpatient pharmacy technician assists the pharmacists in the dispensing, distribution, record keeping, and quality assurance functions of the Pharmacy. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, creation and maintenance of drug profiles, preparation of medications and IV solutions, billing, documentation, and various quality assurance activities.
TECHNICAL ABILITY:
* Responsible for providing all technical support for the drug distribution system
* Correctly identifies all pharmacy orders on physician order form and accurately enters them into the medication profile. This includes appropriate medication description, dosage form, strength, administration times, diagnosis, allergies, billing units and any other pertinent information.
* Correctly determines the number of doses to prepare, consistently and accurately retrieves, packages, and labels medications for pharmacist to check.
* Consistently demonstrates timely and accurate reconstitution of additives, calculation of volumes, and proper aseptic technique in manipulating and preparing all parenteral dosage forms.
* Accurately creates and maintains IV profiles (both computer and written); consistently investigates scheduling discrepancies; makes all necessary room changes as indicated by ADT information.
* Accurately fills unit dose cassettes in a time efficient manner.
* Accurately fills floor stock requests and Pyxis® medstations; consistently checks the return bins when refilling a unit.
* Demonstrates a good working knowledge of the Pyxis® Medstation System and can assist nursing with routine questions regarding procedures and maintenance.
* Consistently assists in the identification of inventory needs and records such for the purchasing technician.
* Demonstrates knowledge of and accurately performs all billing functions in the department.
* Performs and documents the removal of all outdated drug products from the pharmacy stock and the hospital each month.
* Assists the pharmacist in performing and documenting monthly patient care area unit inspections in an accurate and thorough manner; assures par level management, removes outdates medications, and returns overstocked medications to the pharmacy.
* Answers the telephone in a timely (within 3 rings) and courteous fashion.
* Consistently demonstrated drug nomenclature recognition; incompatibility and stability information about products routinely handled, can satisfactorily and correctly answer most process-oriented questions from nursing personnel.
* Demonstrates sufficient knowledge of job functions and stays well informed of all changes and new procedures.
* Demonstrates a complete understanding of all department policies and procedures regarding the responsibilities of the pharmacy technician.
* Attends department staff meetings or reads and is responsible for minutes, contents, and assignments.
* Demonstrates sufficient knowledge of aseptic technique and the workings of laminar flow hood.
* Demonstrates use of established safety procedures when handling bio-hazardous materials in a biological safety cabinet while maintaining a sterile environment using aseptic technique.
* Demonstrates sufficient knowledge of pharmacy computer system and accurately performs functions pertaining to patient medication profiles, billing, patient demographics, and maintenance.
* Demonstrates ability to train other new employees. Actively participates in teaching new technicians and interns about pharmacy department operations.
TIME MANAGEMENT:
* Effectively manages time and completes other projects as assigned.
* Demonstrates good time management skills; able to complete work within limits of the shift without leaving activities for the next shift, using overtime, or requiring assistance from other staff.
* Regularly accepts additional work during periods of low patient activity; asks pharmacist or supervisor for additional work assignments.
* Demonstrates ability to move to other areas of assignment if currently assigned area is slow.
* Consistently demonstrates the ability to recognize and deal with the changing priorities of the shift.
* Respects work environment by limiting personal telephone calls.
* Meets deadlines for assigned projects
* Performs other duties as assigned by the Director of Pharmacy, Pharmacist Clinical Coordinator, or Pharmacist on duty.
INTERPERSONAL SKILLS AND COMMUNICATION:
* Demonstrates positive interpersonal skills, communication, and team-oriented performance.
* Demonstrates positive interpersonal relations in dealing with co-workers both within and external to the department so as to promote a team environment.
* Confronts co-workers in private with issues of concern and attempts to resolve these issues in a positive, constructive manner.
* Demonstrates the ability to admit and take ownership of mistakes or problems and makes corrections to avoid future consequences and recurrences.
* Takes criticism constructively and uses feedback to improve performance; avoids retaliatory behavior
* Supports and works towards the department's goal of providing patient centered pharmaceutical care. Supports the changes necessary to help the department achieve that goal.
* Demonstrates proper telephone etiquette; identifies self by name and department when answering the telephone.
* Maintains a professional demeanor in dealings with other hospital personnel
* Responds to others in the department in a helpful, caring manner during times of increasing workload and activity
Education:
* HS Diploma Or equivalent education
* Completion of a pharmacy technician training program or equivalent Or equivalent education/experience
Licensures and Certifications:
* Pharmacy Tech - PHAR
