Pharmacy Technician III, Infusion Services

Pharmacy Technician III

The Pharmacy Technician III is responsible for providing pharmacy services, including, but not limited to, dispensing, preparing, compounding, and delivering pharmaceuticals, performing inventory control, compliance audits, financial transactions, providing customer service, and/or maintaining pharmacy records; is responsible for calculation, measurement, and compounding in accordance with USP and other best practice standards; works as part of an interdisciplinary patient care team, and under direction of the Clinical Pharmacist(s), Clinical Pharmacy Specialists, and/or other pharmacist leaders; performs technical pharmacy tasks such as medication history collection or specialized medication handling, compounding, and or processing; may assist in the onboarding and training of staff under the direction and guidance of Pharmacy Leadership; is designed to utilize and extend knowledge and competency while performing technical pharmacy functions of the Ambulatory Pharmacy, Inpatient Pharmacy, Infusion Pharmacy, or Pharmaceutical Research Center.

Specific responsibilities of the Pharmacy Technician III will be documented and retained internally by the Department of Pharmacy.

Primary responsibilities:

• Compounding of TPN and hazardous medications following appropriate USP guidelines
• Selects, packages, and labels medication and supply orders for inspection and approval by a pharmacist. Processes medication orders following proper protocol including accurate data entry of patient information, insurance information (if applicable), and medication order details for verification. Selects correct drug product, fills, and matches labels for each medication order.
• Maintains, tracks, and monitors inventory levels of medications and pharmaceutical supplies in accordance with established par levels and informs the appropriate individual of stock needs and shortages.
• Uses general knowledge of medical informatics including order?entry systems, automated dispensing devices, bar?code technology systems, which may include packaging devices and/or bar?code medication administration (BCMA) systems, clinical integrated systems, and system/application maintenance in the performance of daily duties.
• Delivery of medications, pharmacy products, and/or pharmacy services to patients, agents of the patient, or patient care areas in compliance with regulatory standards pertaining to medication handling, storage, and/or security.
• Calculates, measures, and compounds medications in accordance with USP 795, USP 797, USP 800, and/or other established practices and policies; may include non-sterile compounding, sterile compounding, and hazardous medication compounding.
• In collaboration with the health care team, pharmacist, and/or patient, identifies and resolves, in partnership with a pharmacist when required, patient-specific medication management or medication therapy needs.
• Obtains detailed, comprehensive medication history from various sources using strong communication skills for further pharmacist verification, and/or performs specialized medication handling/processing and/or compounding practices for unique patient populations.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Work Experience:

Education & Experience - Required:

• High School Graduate or equivalent
• Maryland Technician Registration or Maryland Pharmacy Intern Certificate or Pharmacy Student Technician Exemption Certificate is acceptable for students enrolled and in good standing at an accredited School of Pharmacy
• 1 year experience required

Education & Experience - Preferred:

• Specialty experience preferred for specialty roles
• National Certification (CPhT)

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Prioritizes work responsibilities and manages multiple demands.
• Demonstrates an awareness of self-responsibility and accountability for own professional practice.
• Adheres to all best practice standards and guidelines within the scope of professional practice and follows all hospital policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Maintains competency in work- and pharmacy-related technology and applications and supports orientation and/or training of team members when appropriate.
• Seeks validation of knowledge base, skill level, and decision-making as necessary and assertively seeks guidance in areas of question.
• Practices effective problem identification and resolution skills as a method of sound decision-making. Accepts change as a part of the problem-solving process.
• Demonstrates effective communication methods and skills, using lines of authority appropriately.
• Enhances professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, current literature, workshops, in-service meetings, etc.
• Identifies the extent of the health system's adherence to best practices and guidelines relevant to medication management.
• Attends hospital and departmental meetings as required.
• Utilizes appropriate customer relations skills when interacting with patients, their families, visitors, team members, and others, to ensure all customers are treated with respect and dignity.
• Represents the department on hospital committees, professional associates, and community organizations where appropriate.
• Participates in the development of policies, procedures, and guidelines pertaining to medication use and management.
• Maintains knowledgeability of the daily operations of UMMS, including the Pharmacy Department, through active engagement and awareness of departmental communications via mailbox, bulletin boards, and/or email.
• Maintains knowledgeability of the mission, vision, and values of UMMS.

University of Maryland Medical Center