Inpatient Pharmacy Technician II

About the role

Under the general supervision of a pharmacist, this role performs pharmacy-related functions in compliance with department policies and procedures to provide optimal pharmaceutical care. Responsibilities include preparing and distributing pharmaceuticals, performing inventory control, compliance audits, financial transactions, providing customer service, and maintaining pharmacy records.

Responsibilities

• Participates in non-complex sterile and non-sterile medication preparation activities, including:
  • Preparing oral liquids and other extemporaneous dosage formulations following master formulary sheets or labels.
  • Preparing sterile compounds following a recipe or production instructions.
• Operates advanced, automated technology to assist in preparation and documentation of sterile products.
• Picks medications for automated dispensing cabinet replenishment accurately and with reasonable speed.
• Completes inventory management activities, including properly securing, storing, and maintaining all required records.
• Fills floor stock remote orders (e.g., Operating Room, Emergency Room) accurately (as determined by pharmacist check).
• Maintains storeroom areas, ensuring supplies in short supply are ordered and outdated medication is removed from stock immediately.
• Replenishes active stock from back-up stock as needed and restocks medications into automated dispensing cabinets in appropriate patient care areas accurately and in a timely manner.
• Manages emergency medication inventory in carts/kits, including:
  • Ordering and maintaining adequate supply.
  • Accurately restocking and organizing to ensure consistent placement and uniformity.
  • Documenting medications used for charge purposes.
  • Removing expired/damaged products.
  • Performing regular checks on each unit.
• Maintains medication rooms by ensuring all appropriate medications are stocked in patient-specific bins in the automated dispensing cabinets and by removing expired and discontinued medications.
• Empties return bins in the automated dispensing cabinets as part of the weekly schedule.
• Utilizes the unit-dose machine to package bulk medications and appropriately compounds non-sterile medications following standard formulas and procedures.
• Performs assigned cycle counts of the carousel on a regular basis, maintaining adequate records of completion.
• Takes accountability for medication management in their assigned patient care area.
• Assists in keeping the Pharmacy neat and clean by caring for equipment and cleaning after compounding prescriptions, manufacturing bulk medications, and unit dosing.
• Conducts temperature inspections of the refrigerator in the automated dispensing machine.
• Performs financial transaction activities, which may include:
  • Preparing patient billing information.
  • Billing third-party prescription benefits.
  • Troubleshooting insurance issues.
  • Selecting and using pharmacy pay codes, payers, and plans appropriate to each type of transaction.
• Inspects assigned medication storage areas monthly, maintaining adequate records of inspection.
• Greets and assists customers upon arrival to the pharmacy and participates in point-of-sale cash transactions.
• Engages in customer service activities, provides customer or patient assistance over the phone, and triages calls as appropriate.
• Completes all assigned work accurately by the end of each shift and ensures all necessary quality control paperwork is completed accurately and with reasonable speed.
• Communicates effectively with nursing, physicians, and ancillary services to meet the needs of these departments and maintains a positive working relationship and image of the pharmacy department.
• Maintains collaborative, team relationships with peers and colleagues to effectively contribute to the working group’s achievement of goals and to help foster a positive work environment.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).
• Massachusetts Pharmacy Technician Registration.
• One (1) year of pharmacy-related experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate’s degree.
• Two (2) years of pharmacy-related experience in a hospital setting.

Skills & Abilities

• Ability to be organized and systematic.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to perform work in a timely and efficient manner.
• Possess excellent telephone etiquette skills.
• Knowledge of hazardous substance handling, complex sterile compounding techniques, and mathematical calculations.
• Extensive knowledge of medications, including brand and generic names, dosing forms, indications, formulary status, and strengths.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to walk and stand 90% of the day and to occasionally lift up to 30 lbs.
• Frequent reaching and grasping below, at, and above shoulder level.
• Pushing and/or pulling non-motorized equipment (e.g., carts, IV rolling racks, and medication rolling racks) weighing 40 to 60 lbs.
• Requires manual dexterity using fine hand manipulation to operate prescription medications and computer keyboard.
• Ability to see medications, computer screen, and reports, and read automated dispensing reports regularly.
• Works in an area with some discomfort due to dust, dirt, and temperature changes.
• May be exposed to broken glass and some exposure to hazardous chemicals.

Pay

Tufts Medicine offers fair, competitive pay designed to attract, retain, and motivate highly talented individuals. The base pay range for this role is $23.04 - $28.80 per hour, with individual offers determined by relevant experience, certifications, education, skills, and internal equity.