Medication History Technician

Located in Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) operates at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care. It is a community where expertise is valued, knowledge is expanded, and abilities are challenged. Vanderbilt Health is committed to an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and uniqueness is celebrated.

About the role

The Medication History Technician is an integral member of the Vanderbilt Health Inpatient Pharmacy Services team. This role focuses on obtaining and verifying comprehensive prior-to-admission medication histories for hospitalized patients to support safe and effective medication management throughout their hospital stay. Medication History Technicians collaborate with patients, caregivers, healthcare providers, and external healthcare organizations to ensure medication records are accurate and complete. The information gathered plays a critical role in medication reconciliation, patient safety, clinical decision-making, and continuity of care at discharge.

Responsibilities

• Obtain and verify complete prior-to-admission medication histories for admitted patients.
• Review medication fill histories through various pharmacy and healthcare databases.
• Contact physician offices, clinics, treatment centers, pharmacies, and other healthcare entities as needed to verify medication information.
• Interview patients and caregivers to gather medication-related information and assess medication adherence.
• Document and reconcile medication information accurately.
• Collaborate with pharmacists, physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to ensure accurate medication management during hospitalization.
• Support safe medication ordering and transitions of care by providing a thorough and reliable medication history.

Requirements

• Must be a Certified Pharmacy Technician through either PTCB or NHA.
• Hospital and/or retail pharmacy experience preferred.
• Experience in additional pharmacy practice areas is a plus, including Oncology, Long-Term Care, Specialty Pharmacy, Ambulatory Care, or other pharmacy practice settings.
• Strong attention to detail and effective communication skills.

Schedule

This day-shift position will be scheduled for (5) 8-hour shifts Monday - Friday between the hours of 7:00am – 7:30pm, with every 3rd weekend rotation working both Saturday and Sunday.

Benefits

This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within Vanderbilt Health, supported by a comprehensive benefits package which may include health, disability, retirement, and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well-being and professional growth.

Why This Role Matters

The work of the Medication History Technician directly contributes to patient safety by helping ensure physicians and clinical teams have an accurate understanding of each patient's medication regimen. This information supports appropriate inpatient medication ordering, reduces medication errors, facilitates successful transitions of care, and promotes effective discharge planning.

Technical Capabilities

• Pharmaceutical Computer Literacy (Fundamental Awareness): Has demonstrated a basic understanding of computers or has successfully completed training for applications that support medication use processes.
• Pharmaceutical Drug Preparation, Dispensing & Distribution (Novice): Possesses sufficient fundamental proficiency to successfully review, prepare, dispense, and distribute prescribed medications. Proficient in general principles and techniques of asepsis for compounding sterile preparations (CSPs).
• Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance & Compliance (Novice): Demonstrates working knowledge of appropriate rules and regulations. Maintains current understanding and facilitates processes supporting compliance with federal, state, and local regulations as well as organizational policies and procedures. Committed to continuous quality improvement.
• Drug Inventory & Records Management (Novice): Possesses fundamental proficiency in working with drug inventory and records management. Demonstrates ability to maintain appropriate inventory levels of medications and collect, organize, and maintain pharmacy or patient-related information.

Core Accountabilities

• Organizational Impact: Performs tasks that are typically routine and may impact team's performance with occasional guidance.
• Problem Solving/Complexity of Work: Utilizes some discretion and research to solve routine problems.
• Breadth of Knowledge: Applies knowledge of standards, established processes, and procedures that apply to your own job.
• Team Interaction: Provides guidance to entry-level co-workers.

Core Capabilities

• Supporting Colleagues:
  • Develops Self and Others: Continuously improves own skills by identifying development opportunities.
  • Builds and Maintains Relationships: Seeks to understand colleagues' priorities and working styles, developing relationships across areas.
  • Communicates Effectively: Openly shares information with others and communicates in a clear and courteous manner.
• Delivering Excellent Services:
  • Serves Others with Compassion: Invests time to understand the problems and needs of others to provide excellent service.
  • Solves Complex Problems: Seeks to understand issues, solves routine problems, and raises proper concerns in a timely manner.
  • Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Listens carefully to understand issues and provides accurate information and support.
• Ensuring High Quality:
  • Performs Excellent Work: Checks work quality before delivery and asks relevant questions to meet quality standards.
  • Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Demonstrates basic knowledge of conditions affecting safety and reports unsafe conditions.
• Managing Resources Effectively:
  • Demonstrates Accountability: Takes responsibility for completing assigned activities and thinks beyond standard approaches.
  • Stewards Organizational Resources: Displays understanding of how personal actions impact departmental resources.
  • Makes Data-Driven Decisions: Uses accurate information and good decision-making to achieve results on time and without error.
• Fostering Innovation:
  • Generates New Ideas: Proposes or accepts ideas that impact day-to-day operations by offering suggestions to enhance them.
  • Applies Technology: Absorbs new technology quickly and understands when to utilize appropriate tools and procedures.
  • Adapts to Change: Embraces changes by keeping an open mind and incorporating change instructions into own work.