Pharmacy Technician I - Pharmacy Services * Shift Varies - 32hr/wk

Shift: Varies | FTE status: 0.8 | Weekends: Yes

About the Role

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.

Requirements

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• High school graduate or equivalent required. College courses or completion of a higher degree preferred.
• One of the following Michigan Pharmacy Technician License types (in order of preference):
  • Michigan Pharmacy Technician License
  • Michigan Pharmacy Technician License – Limited
  • Michigan Pharmacy Technician License – Temporary (allows employment while preparing for full licensure exam; full licensure must be obtained within the 210-day temporary period)
• Certification: Pass the certified pharmacy technician examination from either:
  • Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) – Preferred, or
  • National Healthcareer Association (NHA)

  Note: Technicians without PTCB certification must obtain it within 1 year or 3 attempts from date of hire.

Preferred Qualifications

• 1-2 years of hospital or retail pharmacy experience.
• Good math/basic algebra background (formal education or prior experience).
• ASHP/USP 797-based certification in aseptic technique.
• Accurate, independent worker with strong communication skills and ability to cooperate and take direction.

Responsibilities

• Procurement and distribution of medication orders per physician request, pharmacist request, or prearranged work assignment.
• Maintain a clean and safe working environment.
• Assist the Pharmacist in:
  • Drug set up and filling of physician orders, medication kits/trays, medication carts, and floor stock requisitions.
  • Preparing intravenous (IV) admixtures or other sterile products accurately.
• Deliver medications and supplies to patient care and ancillary areas per established schedule.
• Promptly return unused or discontinued medications to Pharmacy.
• Restock kits, boxes, trays, or other medication storage systems; restock and label drug boxes for ambulances.
• Replenish medications in emergency crash carts or boxes and fill unit dose carts.
• Dispose of pharmaceutical waste according to hospital-approved procedures.
• Maintain adequate stock of medications and supplies; assist in ordering, receiving, unpacking, and storing pharmaceuticals in appropriate locations.
• Rotate stock to ensure use before expiration date.
• Restock automated dispensing machines (Pyxis), including immediate restocking of any “stock out”.
• Identify and replace outdated and unusable drugs; restock medications and IV dispensing areas accurately.
• Prepackage medications from bulk to unit dose.
• Maintain departmental security and documentation requirements:
  • Manage and complete paperwork associated with medications and IV room preparations.
  • Maintain logs, records, and other required documentation accurately; file documentation in appropriate locations.
  • Prevent unauthorized personnel access to the department or medication storage areas.
  • Keep records of controlled substances and report discrepancies to Pharmacy Director.
  • Fill controlled substance requests for nursing stations and return completed usage sheets to Pharmacy.
• Assist in completion of annual inventory.
• Contribute to the effective operation of the department:
  • Triage telephone calls professionally and with customer service focus.
  • Organize and prioritize work assignments.
  • Generate reports, pick lists, and labels as required.
  • Enter charges and credits for patient medications accurately.
  • Answer requests at the window and make STAT deliveries to patient areas when requested.
  • Keep the Pharmacy clean, neat, and well-organized.
  • Maintain Pharmacy equipment and report potential or actual equipment failures.
• Identify departmental needs and work toward solutions with minimal intervention or supervision.
• Resolve problems independently.
• Assist other departmental personnel in completing their duties.
• Train new employees based on knowledge of pharmacy operations.
• Assist in other duties as delegated by the Pharmacist.
• Complete Pharmacy procedures for patient discharge.
• Participate in quality improvement activities of the department.
• Complete and document all assigned medication storage area inspections; identify and replace or secure unsecured, outdated, or unusable medications.
• Assist with retrieval of patient, clinical, and/or drug information for pharmacist review.
• Maintain competence for current job title/position; stay current with department and hospital policies.
• Actively participate in departmental meetings and join at least one departmental subcommittee.
• Participate in orientation, education, and training programs; review assigned literature and materials.
• Complete all competency/skill assessment requirements.
• Maintain current technician certification status or actively pursue certification.

Career Advancement Tracks

Completion of the following advanced job duties by job code:

5801 – Tier 2

• Complete orientation and be scheduled for no less than 7 shifts on the M1 position.
• Complete technician check technician training.
• Obtain CPhT certification.

5802 – Tier 3

• Complete mentor training and successfully mentor at least one new hire.
• Complete training in at least one of the following:
  • Pharmacy wholesaler ordering
  • LEAN / FTD / Six Sigma white belt training
  • Peer interviewer
  • Certified compounding trainer
• Hold one of the following departmental roles for a minimum of 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 Track

• Complete mentor training and successfully mentor at least one new hire.
• Complete peer interview training and participate in at least one peer interview.
• Complete technician trainer competency and train at least one new hire.
• Complete chemotherapy certification.
• Co-chair an intra-departmental committee.
• Complete one of the following quality improvement training sessions:
  • LEAN
  • FTD
  • 5S
• Hold at least one of the following departmental roles for a minimum of 2 years:
  • Policy and procedure assistant
  • Technician scheduler
  • Medication safety technician
  • 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 – Supervisor Track

• Complete mentor training and successfully mentor at least one new hire.
• Complete peer interview training and participate in at least one peer interview.
• Complete technician trainer competency and train at least one new hire.
• Lead an internal project to successful completion.
• Complete chemotherapy certification.
• Co-chair an intra-departmental committee.
• Complete one of the following quality improvement training sessions:
  • LEAN
  • FTD
  • 5S
• Lead a LEAN / FTD / 5S project.
• Hold at least one of the following departmental roles for a minimum of 2 years:
  • 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.