Pharmacy Technician - Inpatient

About the role

This position is for a certified pharmacy technician above the full performance level GS-7 at the Ann Arbor VA Healthcare System. Pharmacy technicians at this grade level are nationally certified by PTCB or ExCPT and can work autonomously, using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties.

Responsibilities

• Accurately interpret, fills, and prepares prescriptions with appropriate medications and or medical supplies for pharmacist verification.
• Maintains work areas in a clean and orderly condition by assuring that all stock and equipment are in assigned places and all shelves and counters are free of dust and debris in order to create optimal work areas.
• Assures drugs and supplies are appropriately stored and secured according to USP and VA guidelines, including the storage of high-risk, look a-like sound a-like, hazardous, controlled substances, corrosive chemical, flammable liquids, and refrigerated items.
• Receives, checks, rotates, and places in stock all items received from pharmacy procurement section and identifies and reconciles any discrepancies to assure correct items have been received.
• Utilizes automation dispensing equipment available to the pharmacy staff following all safety and QA procedures. Reports automation malfunctions timely the supervisor as appropriate.
• Records expiration dates in the inventory system (ie. Central Pharmacy Manager) upon receipt.
• Performs monthly inspections of assigned areas to ensure proper storage of medications and soon to be expired drugs are removed. Completes inspection reports in compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Assists higher level technicians as needed.
• Completes all National, VISN, local, and Pharmacy mandatory trainings in a timely manner.
• Maintains national certification with PTCB or ExCPT.

Controlled Substances Activities

• Accurately interpret, fills, and readies prescriptions with appropriate medications for pharmacist verification.
• Appropriately restocks controlled substances items in automated secured cabinets (i.e., Omnicell) in pharmacy or throughout medical center, as assigned.
• Documents all controlled substance related transactions as indicated by VA and DEA guidelines.
• Affirms that inventory counts are correct at the time of restocking.
• Ensures that proper handoff occurs when receiving or delivering controlled substances, always assuring that these medications are never left unsecured.
• Complies with all laws, regulations, directives, policies, and procedures applying to the dispensing, storage, transfer, inventory, and accountability of controlled substances.

Sterile Product Compounding

• Using aseptic technique, compounds both complicated and uncomplicated parenteral admixtures in the form of large volume, small volume, infusion syringe or another modality as required.
• Correctly interprets orders, selects, and measures appropriate ingredients, mixes ingredients in an aseptic and effective manner, inspects the final product for accuracy, suitability, and elegance, labels the product, maintains records of the manufacturing process, and supplies the product for delivery.
• Understands specific handling considerations for storage, distribution, and disposal of medications in accordance with local GEMS coordinators.
• Receives hazardous IV chemotherapy inventory stock according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) guidelines placing in proper storage areas, rotating stock on shelves, and removing/replacing outdated items.

Unit Dose Medication Management

• Performs review of medications prepared by another pharmacy employee to be dispensed to hospital areas.
• Inventories and replenishes emergency trays, bags, and kits.
• Operates and maintains automated dispensing unit dose systems (i.e. overwrap system, syringe labeler, Yuyama packager).
• Inspects packaged items for accuracy and suitability before submitting for final check, prior to distribution to hospital areas.
• Affirms that repackaged dosage forms are labeled according to USP and VA standards and attains a final review by a pharmacist.

Requirements

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.