Pharmacy Technician Specialist-Specialty Pharmacy, Full-time Days (rotating day shifts)

Company Description

At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better health care, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. We pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, our goal is to take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?

Job Description

The Pharmacy Technician Specialist reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines, and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

Under the direction of a registered pharmacist, performs all technical duties associated with the daily operation of the dispensing areas; performs prescription-related, unit dose-related, and sterile product-related functions; performs manufacturing procedures that have been documented in the Department records.

Scheduling:

Our specialty pharmacy department includes a variety of work areas for Pharmacy Technician Specialists, and primary work areas may change based on patient care and departmental needs. This is a fully onsite position, expected to regularly support both our fulfillment operations and call center areas within specialty pharmacy, with rotating day shift scheduling associated.

Specialty Pharmacy Fulfillment Operations Responsibilities:

• Follows process of receiving, verifying, and stocking drugs, controlled substances, and supplies
• Prints daily ABC invoices and pulls out any dropship or alternate D/C received; separates any controlled substance and have 222 printed to receive in CSM
• Generates reports for cycle counting the stockroom and refrigerators, printing expiration report
• Oversees expiring medication process
• Collaborates with Procurement/Supply Chain to maintain appropriate inventory par levels/drug inventories; communicates inventory problems to leadership/Procurement
• Rectifies issues with receipt of orders, back orders, shipping errors, and incorrect pricing
• Takes appropriate and timely action on drug recalls; communicates key information to leadership
• Coordinates and effectively communicates with management, co-workers, customers, and other healthcare professionals regarding changes to workflows, updates, backorder, and new drug information when/where appropriate
• Maintains purchasing records including invoices, purchase orders, catalogs, and historical records
• Generates pick lists and labels as required
• Forecast daily, weekly medication doses and supplies needed and communicates with Inventory Technician
• Communicates with Inventory Technician any out-of-stock medications
• Identify, research, and resolve issues and consumer complaints
• Possess working knowledge of participating third-party payors and their requirements
• Establish and maintain open communication with pharmacy operations analysts regarding third-party billing issues and centralized procurement team regarding ordering and inventory matters
• Assists with prescription audits as needed
• Troubleshoot and resolve billing rejections and subsequently rebill claims to appropriate carriers for all commercial, federal, and state insurance plans
• Verify and accurately update patient demographic information in appropriate system(s)
• Document patient’s insurance information in appropriate system(s)
• Refer and document any clinical questions regarding prescriptions, drug information, or health conditions requiring follow-up to a pharmacist
• Utilize case management and pharmacy software systems to schedule prescription refills and adjudicate claims
• Coordinate prescription orders accurately and appropriately, including, but not limited to, “ready at” date, time, and shipping/delivery method
• Perform point-of-sale functions
• Understand and adhere to drug specific Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) requirement and identify what is needed for REMS fulfillment. Complete any REMS forms and authorizations required from the pharmacy. Print drug-specific medication guides to be dispensed with prescription when needed
• Complete prescription return-to-stock reports in a timely manner to meet compliance requirements
• Access, input, and retrieve information on pharmacy computer system to create labels for prescriptions
• Possess thorough understanding of the processes and procedures for shipping patient’s medications and can independently resolve any complications
• Spend ≤ 5% of time on quality management of the program

Specialty Pharmacy Call Center Responsibilities:

• Coordinates and effectively communicates with management, co-workers, customers, and other healthcare professionals regarding changes to workflows, updates, backorder, and new drug information when/where appropriate
• Directly enrolls eligible patients into manufacturer patient assistance co-pay programs
• Identify, research, and resolve issues and consumer complaints
• Possess working knowledge of participating third-party payors and their requirements
• Establish and maintain open communication with pharmacy operations analysts regarding third-party billing issues and centralized procurement team regarding ordering and inventory matters
• Assists with prescription audits as needed
• Educate pharmacy staff regarding third-party billing policies and procedures as needed
• Answers and triages patient, provider, and third-party calls to appropriate individuals adhering to phone scripts in a courteous and professional manner
• Contact payers for lost medication, replacement, or vacation overrides
• Troubleshoot and resolve billing rejections and subsequently rebill claims to appropriate carriers for all commercial, federal, and state insurance plans
• Verify and accurately update patient demographic information in appropriate system(s)
• Document patient’s insurance information in appropriate system(s)
• Refer and document any clinical questions regarding prescriptions, drug information, or health conditions requiring follow-up to a pharmacist
• Utilize case management and pharmacy software systems to schedule prescription refills and adjudicate claims
• Coordinate prescription orders accurately and appropriately, including, but not limited to, “ready at” date, time, and shipping/delivery method
• Possess thorough understanding of the processes and procedures for shipping patient’s medications and can independently resolve any complications
• Spend ≤ 5% of time on quality management of the program

Pharmacy Technician Specialist Core Job Description Responsibilities:

• Performs the duties and responsibilities of a Pharmacy Technician at advanced level.
• Leads performance improvement initiatives
• Liaison between pharmacy and other departments
• Assists with/coordinates pharmacy technician schedule, services, prioritizing assignments and workflow, and promoting situational decision making/problem solving
• Fosters a team environment by providing education and training
• Maintains documentation of completion for media fill and fingertip testing
• Participates in site meetings (i.e. Drug Shortage, huddles, staff meetings)
• Responsible for controlled substance receiving, reconciliation, discrepancy tracking, and investigations
• Performs minor repairs of ADS machines
• Participates in projects as assigned by manager
• Handles recalls, crash carts monitoring, and kitcheck ordering
• Troubleshooting
• Restocks
• Performs Tech-Check-Tech (i.e. automated dispensing cabinet (ADC) runs/controlled substance in ADC; barcode scanned pills, pre-mixed IV bags)
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

Education:

• High School diploma or GED equivalent

Licensure:

• Active Illinois Pharmacy Technician License (IDFPR)
• Pharmacy Technician licenses issued after 12/31/07 must have either CERTIFIED or STUDENT designation by their second license renew in accordance with Section 9 of the Illinois Pharmacy Practice Act
• Licensed Technicians prior to 1/1/2008 certification requirement must meet department skill level

Certification:

• Specialty Pharmacy: Certified Pharmacy Technician through PTCB or ExCPT through NHA

Experience:

• 1-2 years’ technician experience
• Previous experience as a Pharmacy Technician in a hospital or outpatient setting

Physical Demands:

• Excellent critical thinking skills, decisive judgement, and the ability to work with minimal supervision

Preferred :

• Minimum 5 years’ technician experience

Additional Information

Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

Background Check

Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events.

Click on or copy and paste URL to your browser to view detailed benefits information

Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings.

If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.

Hours Per Week / FTE: 40 hrs/wk - 1.0 FTEJob Shift: Day Job (1st)Salary Range Minimum : $26.69Salary Range Maximum: $37.37 Compensation: USD 26.69 - USD 37.37 - hourly