Acute Pharmacy Technician

About the role

Banner – University Medical Center Tucson is nationally recognized for providing exceptional patient care, teaching future health care professionals and conducting groundbreaking research. The Acute Pharmacy Technician performs medication packaging, distribution, compounding, and record-keeping under pharmacist supervision. Supports customers, maintains a compliant cleanroom, and assists with staff training while providing safe, age-appropriate care.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine duties in packaging, distribution, non-sterile compounding, and record-keeping of pharmaceutical supplies under pharmacist supervision.
• Prepare compounded intravenous medications, total parenteral nutrition products, and chemotherapeutic agents in compliance with USP regulations.
• Use pharmacy computer systems to investigate and respond to missing medication requests.
• Assess situations, consider alternatives, and choose appropriate courses of action.
• Educate and train peer Pharmacy Technicians, Technician Externs, Technician Trainees, and volunteers.
• Identify medications and other items for reorder to maintain continuous inventory.
• Receive, check-in, and restock medications ordered through the wholesaler and other vendors, verifying quantities against invoices.
• Assess practical ways to deal with shorted items and short-dated or unusable items.
• Manage users within the automated dispensing technology database per policy.
• Investigate discrepancies and troubleshoot malfunctions in automated dispensing technology.
• Exhibit excellent interpersonal skills and provide customer service in all contacts with patients, visitors, and staff.
• Respond to standard requests from internal customers and interact primarily with department personnel, cross-department personnel, internal customers, patients, and physicians.
• Restock medications to nursing and ancillary areas after pharmacist check, using automated dispensing technology or requisition.
• Restock medications to areas outside automated dispensing technology, including trays, code carts, and emergency boxes.
• Compound non-sterile medication products, following product worksheets/recipes and USP compounding guidelines.
• Demonstrate knowledge of and perform calibrations of equipment and accurately measure components for compounding.
• Repackage bulk medications into unit of use packaging and complete accurate documentation of medications compounded and repackaged per policy.
• Maintain a safe and clean working environment by complying with all policies, laws, and regulations.
• Perform quality control activities such as monthly nursing unit inspections and pharmacy section checks in a timely manner.
• Complete documentation of refrigerator temperatures and equipment maintenance activities as required.
• Handle narcotic medications following all federal and legal requirements as set through policy and procedure.
• Adhere to all regulatory requirements for receiving, compounding, repackaging, and distribution for controlled substances.
• Become proficient in performing compounding and labeling of intravenous non-hazardous compounds using proper sterile and aseptic technique.
• Complete all required environmental cleaning procedures and document all required tasks and other information per policy.

Requirements

• Pharmacy Technician licensure and active Pharmacy Technician certification OR Pharmacy Intern licensure in the state of practice.
• Incumbents in Arizona are required to provide the AZ Board of Pharmacy Wallet Card at time of hire.
• Ability to complete moderate to difficult mathematical calculations using a hand-held calculator.
• Strong customer service focus, exceptional communication skills, strong attention to detail, prioritization capabilities, superior problem-solving skills, and ability to multi-task.
• Knowledge of computer software, particularly medication management information system software, Microsoft applications, and automated dispensing systems.
• Effective oral and written communication skills for interfacing with all levels of staff, physicians, patients, and other contacts.
• Employees working at Banner Behavioral Health Hospital must possess an Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card at the time of hire and maintain the card for the duration of their employment. An Arizona Criminal History Affidavit must be signed upon hire.

Schedule

• First and second shifts: 5:30 am–2:00 pm, 6:00 am–2:30 pm, 1:30 pm–10:00 pm, or 2:00 pm–10:30 pm.
• Flat rate $1/hour weekend shift differential and an 18% night shift differential when applicable.

Benefits

• Option to participate in a variety of health, financial, and security benefits.
• Hire On Incentive up to $2,500 available.