General Summary:
The pharmacy technician performs the full range of technical and clerical level duties to assist the Pharmacist in the formulation, preparation, maintenance of patient records, dispensing and delivery of medications and pharmaceutical supplies. The Pharmacy Tech works under the direct supervision of the Pharmacist.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Must be 18 years of age or older.
- Education: High school graduate or equivalent required. College courses or completion of a higher degree preferred.
- Licenses: One of the following license types are required (in order of preference): Michigan Pharmacy Technician License, Michigan Pharmacy Technician License - Limited, Michigan Pharmacy Technician License - Temporary
- The temporary license allows an applicant to begin employment while preparing to take the examination required for full licensure. Full licensure must be obtained within the 210 day temporary licensure period.
- Certifications: Pass certified pharmacy technician examination from either of the following: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) - Preferred, or National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
- Note: Pharmacy technicians that have not completed the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) certification program MUST obtain this certification within 1 year or 3 attempts from date of hire.
- Preferred experience: (In order of importance): 1-2 years of hospital pharmacy experience or 1-2 years of retail pharmacy experience.
- Good math/basic algebra background mandatory; as obtained through formal education or prior experience as a pharmacy technician.
- ASHP / USP 797 based certification in aseptic technique preferred.
- Is an accurate, independent worker, possesses good communication skills, and, cooperates and takes direction from others.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
Those performed on a daily or regular basis according to established policies, procedures, protocols, directives, or pharmacy operation standards.
1. Procurement and distribution of medication orders per physician request, pharmacist request, or prearranged work assignment. a. Maintains a clean and safe working environment.
b. Assists the Pharmacist in drug set up and the filling of physician orders, medication kit and/or trays, c. medication carts, and floor stock requisitions.
c. Prepares intravenous (IV) admixtures or other sterile products accurately.
d. Delivers medications and supplies to patient care and ancillary areas accurately per established e. schedule.
f. Promptly returns any unused or discontinued medications to Pharmacy.
g. Restocks any kit, boxes, trays, or other medication storage system accurately and restocks and labels drug boxes for area ambulances.
h. Replenishes medications in emergency crash carts or boxes and fills unit dose carts.
I. Disposes of pharmaceutical waste according to hospital approved procedure.
2. Maintains adequate stock of medications and supplies.a. Assists in ordering, receiving, unpacking, and storing pharmaceuticals and supplies in appropriate locations.
b. Rotates stock to ensure use before expiration date.
c. Efficiently restocks automated dispensing machines (Pyxis) including the immediate restocking of any "stock out".
d. Identifies and replaces outdated and unusable drugs.
e. Restocks medications and IV dispensing areas accurately.
f. Prepackages medications from bulk to unit dose.
3. Maintains Departmental security and documentation requirements. a. Manages and completes any paperwork associated with medications and IV room preparations.
b. Maintains logs, records, and other required documentation accurately. Files documentation in appropriate locations.
c. Prevents unauthorized personnel access to the Department or medication storage areas.
d. Keeps records of controlled substances - reports discrepancies to Pharmacy Director.
e. Fills controlled substance requests for nursing stations returns completed controlled substance usage sheets to Pharmacy.
f. Assists in completion of annual inventory.
4. Contributes to the effective operation of the Department. a.Triages telephone calls appropriately in a professional, customer service fashion as necessary.
b. Organizes and prioritizes work assignments.
c. Generates reports, pick lists, and labels as required.
d. Enters charges and credits for patient medications accurately.
e. Answers requests at the window and makes STAT deliveries to patient areas when requested.
f. Keeps the Pharmacy cleans, neat, and well-organized. Keeps Pharmacy equipment clean, and reports any potential or actual equipment failures.
g. Able to identify needs of the department, and demonstrates the ability to work towards a solution.
h. Resolves problems with minimal intervention or supervision.
i. Assists other departmental personnel in completion of their duties.
j. Ability to train new employees by virtue of their knowledge of pharmacy operations, and has demonstrated the ability to teach others.
k. Assists in other duties as delegated by the Pharmacist
L. Completes Pharmacy procedures for patient discharge.
5. Participates in quality improvement activities of the Department.- Completes and documents all assigned medication storage area inspections. Identifies and replaces or secures any unsecured, outdated, or unusable medications.
- Assist with the retrieval of patient, clinical and/or drug information for review by a pharmacist.
6. Maintains competence required for current job title/position.- Current with department and hospital policies.
- Actively participates in Departmental meetings.
- Joins and participates in one Departmental subcommittee.
- Participates in orientation, education, and training programs. Reviews literature and other materials as assigned.
- Completes all competency/skill assessment requirements.
- Maintains current technician certification status, or is actively pursuing certification.
7. Completion of the following advanced job duties by job code.
Advancement to the next job code requires completion of all prior job code requirements for the following advanced job duties.
5801 - Tier 2:1. Complete orientation and is scheduled no less than 7 shifts on the M1 position.
2. Complete technician check technician training.
3. Obtain CPhT certification.
5802 - Tier 3:1. Complete mentor training. Successfully mentor at least one new hire.
2. Complete training in at least one of the following topics:
- Pharmacy wholesaler ordering.
- LEAN / FTD / Six Sigma white belt training.
- Peer interviewer.
- Certified compounding trainer.
3. Hold one of the following departmental roles for at minimum 1 year:- Controlled substance assistant.
- Pharmacy IT technician.
- Pharmacy Purchasing technician.
- USP 797 assistant.
- Floor stock assistant.
- Leadership representative
- Employee of the Quarter coordinator
- Co-chair one of the internal pharmacy committees
5804 - Tier 4 - Technician Track1. Complete the mentor training. Successfully mentor at least one new hire.
2. Complete the peer interview training. Participate in at least one peer interview.
3. Complete the technician trainer competency. Train at least one new hire.
4. Completion of chemotherapy certification.
5. Co-chair an intra-departmental committee
6. Complete one of the following quality improvement training sessions:
a. LEAN
b. FTD
c. 5S
7. Hold at least one of the following departmental roles for at minimum 2 year:
a. Policy and procedure assistant
b. Technician scheduler
c. Medication safety technician
d. Controlled substance assistant.
e. Pharmacy IT technician.
g. Pharmacy Purchasing technician.
h. USP 797 assistant.
i. Floor stock assistant.
j. Leadership representative
k. Employee of the Quarter coordinator
l. Co-chair one of the internal pharmacy committees
5804 - Tier 4 - Supervisor Track 1. Complete the mentor training. Successfully mentor at least one new hire.
2. Complete the peer interview training. Participate in at least one peer interview.
3. Complete the technician trainer competency. Train at least one new hire.
4. Lead an internal project to successful completion.
5. Completion of chemotherapy certification.
6. Co-chair an intra-departmental committee
7. Complete one of the following quality improvement training sessions:
a. LEAN
b. FTD
c. 5S
d. 5804 - Supervisor track employees must have lead a LEAN / FTD / 5S project
8. Hold at least one of the following departmental roles for at minimum 2 year:
- Policy and procedure assistant
- Technician scheduler
- Leadership representative
- USP 797 assistant.
- Floor stock assistant.
- Medication safety technician
- Pharmacy IT technician.
- Pharmacy Purchasing technician.
- Co-chair one of the internal pharmacy committees
