Pharmacy Technician

Description

The pharmacy technician is responsible for preparing medications for patient consumption under the general supervision of a licensed pharmacist and in accordance with standard departmental procedures.


ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify the information for completion and accuracy.
• Maintain proper storage and security conditions for drugs.
• Answer telephones, responding to questions or requests.
• Perform duties assigned by a licensed pharmacist.
• Check areas of work routinely for maintenance of quality control.
• Read and interpret physician's orders received in the pharmacy and transcribe same into the pharmacy computer medication profile.
• Fill bottles with prescribed medications and type and affix labels.
• Dispense medications into cold seal blister packs or bottles according to orders received by the provider.
• Assist customers by answering questions within the scope of practice, locating items or referring customers to the pharmacist for medication information.
• Price and file prescriptions that have been filled.
• Clean and help maintain equipment and work areas.
• Sterilize glassware according to prescribed methods.
• Establish and maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by individual patients.
• Order, label and count stock of medication, chemicals and supplies and enter inventory data into the computer.
• Receive and store incoming supplies, verify quantities against invoices, and inform supervisors of stock needs and shortages.
• Transfer medication from vials to the appropriate number of sterile, disposable syringes, using aseptic techniques.
• Add measured drugs or nutrients to intravenous solutions under sterile conditions to prepare intravenous (IV) packs under pharmacist supervision.
• Supply and monitor robotic machines that dispense medication into containers, and label the containers.
• Prepare and process medical insurance claim forms and records.
• Mix pharmaceutical preparations according to written prescriptions.
• Respond to on-demand calls for "STAT" orders, pick-ups and delivers the same.
• Perform narcotic delivery to each nursing unit; ensure that records are kept accurate. Make sure pharmacists are aware of any returns, so they are processed accordingly.
• Prepare IV admixture (TPN's, IV piggybacks) under supervision of a licensed pharmacist.
• Prepare in accordance with the standards of pharmacy practice compounds for inpatient/outpatient use under direct pharmacist supervision.
• Prepare in accordance with pharmacy law and standards of pharmacy practice outpatient RXs to be dispensed after pharmacist approval.
• Attend and participate in pharmacy tech meetings to exchange ideas to achieve goals of the department. Keep procedures up-to-date in pharmacy tech manual to train new personnel and to have quick reference to specific jobs so they are performed according to the policies of the department.
• Check and remove outdated meds on a routine basis to ensure that no deteriorated meds are in stock and keep appropriate records.
• Perform billing by using appropriate computer function, reason codes and dates for charging and crediting.
• Assist purchase order tech with checking in orders, putting orders away and filing associated paperwork.
• Operate cash registers to accept payment from customers.
• Compute charges for medication and equipment dispensed to in-patients, and enter data in computer.
• Deliver medications and pharmaceutical supplies to patients, nursing stations or surgery.
• Price, stock and mark items for sale.
• Maintain and merchandise home healthcare products and services.
• Continue to educate by attending drug in-services and keeping up with policy changes.

Knowledge of:

• Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software), set up functions, entering data or process information.
• Drug names, medical terminology, pharmaceutical calculations, and different pharmacy work areas and equipment used.
• The use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, fax machines and a cash register.
• Principals and processes for providing customer and personal services including customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Safety rules, policies and procedures, infection prevention and control procedures.
• Facility emergency/disaster response and evacuation procedures.

Skill in:

• Customer service and direct interaction with the public to include serving customers, receiving clients or guests.
• Communication with supervisors, co-workers and customers by telephone, in writing, email or in person to convey relevant information effectively.
• Active listening to give full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate and not interrupting.
• Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem solving and decision making.
• Actively looking for ways to assist people.
• Reading comprehension to understand written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Using mathematics to solve problems.
• Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
• Coordination and adjustment in actions when necessary to work efficiently and effectively with others.
• Logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Use and care of equipment, tools and materials used in pharmacy activities.
• Working independently to complete daily activities according to work schedule.
• Following and maintaining safety standards.
• Following and effectively communicating verbal and written instructions.
• Operating a computer utilizing a variety of commonly used and specialized software applications.

Ability to:

• Communicate information and ideas to others in a way they can easily interpret and understand.
• Recognize problems when they occur or recognize situations that may be problematic to diffuse or rectify a situation before it escalates.
• To listen to and understand information and ideas presented by associate personnel, residents and the public.
• Observe, receive and otherwise obtain information from all relevant sources.
• Process information to include compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing or verifying information or data.
• Problems solve, analyze information, use deductive reasoning and evaluate results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Identify information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with associate personnel, residents, resident family members and the public.
• Coordinate and conduct meetings.
• Set and achieve goals and meet deadlines.
• Read and write clearly.
• To speak clearly.
• Understand and follow, quickly and accurately, oral and written instructions.
• To arrange in a pattern or order according to a specific set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• Prioritize, organize and utilize good time management.
• Maintain confidentiality and work under pressure in a dynamic environment with changing demands and priorities.
• Comply with facility policies and procedures.

WORK CONTACTS
Regular contacts with associate personnel, residents, resident family members and visitors.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be able to bear weight of 50 pounds or more.
• Requires constant physical activities including standing, walking, lifting, bending, stooping, pulling, stretching, turning, grasping, squatting, kneeling and reaching.
• Visual acuity to determine the accuracy, thoroughness and quality of work assigned.
• The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Aural acuity to receive detailed information through oral communication, often from persons with speech impairment.
• Safety-sensitive position pursuant to A.R.S. 23-493.

REQUIRED MINIMUM EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING

• High school diploma or its equivalent.
• Pharmacy Technician Certification.
• Registration with the AZ Board of Pharmacy.
• Certified employees must complete a minimum of twenty (20) hours of continuing education (CE) during each two (2) year recertification cycle. Any CE hours earned after January 1, 2015 must be in pharmacy technician specific subject matter. For recertification candidates, one (1) hour of the twenty (20) hours must be in the subject of pharmacy law and one (1)hour must be in the subject of patient safety (refer to the ACPE definition of patient safety in the ACPE Policy and Procedure Manual, topic designation 05).
• Cashier experience.
• General record keeping and assisting the public.

SPECIAL JOB REQUIREMENT(S)

• Obtain/maintain Arizona Department of Public Safety Fingerprint Card at employee's expense.
• Complete annual Tuberculosis Testing.
• Complete in-service training as required.
• Mandated federal, state, and local communicable disease testing as required.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the requirements of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age or disability. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors.