Pharmacy Buyer

About the role

The Pharmacy Buyer position at Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital is responsible for various activities related to the drug procurement process. These include reviewing medication purchase orders, assessing contract compliance, identifying alternative product selections, and facilitating the procurement of pharmaceuticals and related supplies.

Responsibilities

• Completes a variety of activities related to the drug procurement process, including reviewing medication purchase orders, assessing contract compliance, identifying alternative product selections, and facilitating procurement of pharmaceuticals and related supplies.
• Covers automated ordering systems and supports efforts to consolidate and promote economies of scale.
• Conducts research and analysis of providers, identifies alternative sources, resolves supply issues with vendors, and ensures all purchasing activities are performed in accordance with purchasing policies and procedures.

Qualifications

• Education: High School diploma or equivalent education (examples include: GED, verification of homeschool equivalency, partial or full completion of post-secondary education, etc.). Two years of college preferred.
• Experience: Three years of relevant pharmacy and/or purchasing experience. Experience in healthcare and working with vendor contracts highly preferred.

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations.
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security.
• Advanced level of knowledge of the procurement process experience in a hospital or related field.
• Possesses proficient computer knowledge; operates multiple computer systems to include, but not limited to, word processing software applications.
• Exhibits strong interpersonal and team player skills with all levels of the healthcare team and assures delivery of excellent customer service to all patients, visitors, physicians and co-workers.

Essential Functions

• People Essential Functions: Promotes a positive work environment and contributes to a dynamic, team-focused work unit that actively helps one another to achieve optimal department results. Collaborates with staff members and vendors to resolve backorder issues and/or secure acceptable product substitution as needed to achieve identified patient specific goals. Negotiates with HM departments to utilize existing items as applicable.
• Service Essential Functions: Participates in negotiations for pricing, terms, service, additions to current contracts, and delivery of pharmaceuticals. Monitors wholesaler performance and reports discrepancies to recover lost monies. Receives, processes, and arranges timely payment for invoices for all products acquired through pharmacy. Attends committee meetings as appropriate to disseminate pertinent supply chain issues (i.e. P&T, MUFE, etc.).
• Quality/Safety Essential Functions: Evaluates the use of off-contract and/or non-formulary purchases and ensures adequate justification exists for such purchases. Reviews all drug orders to assure vendor selection complies with optimal contractual advantages. Reviews RASMAS recalls on a daily basis and takes appropriate actions accordingly. Maintains up-to-date knowledge of vendor contracts. Resolves and notifies management of contract, purchasing, and/or supply issues and opportunities.
• Finance Essential Functions: Reviews all drug orders and takes actions necessary to assure vendor selection complies with optimal contractual advantages. Manages price changes and average wholesale price (AWP) updates. Ensures orders match price quotations and price changes are in accord with contract terms. Borrows and loans medications when stockouts occur. Prepares, records and reconciles monthly required information of borrows and loans with hospitals involved and routinely clears outstanding balances. Uses resources efficiently; does not waste supplies. Recommends solutions in achieving departmental objectives. Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks.
• Growth/Innovation Essential Functions: Works with wholesalers to manage automated ordering and inventory control systems. Looks for opportunities to create economies of scale and areas to streamline supply chain processes. Assists with special projects to reduce costs and consolidate processes. Seeks opportunities to expand learning beyond baseline competencies with a focus on continual development as a Pharmacy Buyer.