Pharmacy Tech at Whidbey General Hospital – Coupeville, Washington

Innovative 10-hour shifts; mixture of 0700-1730 and 0830-1900 shifts. Weekend and holiday rotation.

JOB SUMMARY

The Pharmacy Technician is responsible to assist Pharmacists in the daily processes in the Pharmacy Department. Duties to include but not limited to: IV admixture, populate and receive orders, outdate checks, fill orders for other departments, maintain perpetual inventories, prepare unit dose medications, fill and deliver medication orders for patients including daily automated drug dispensing devices, enter medication charges for all patients and answer the telephone. Technician will work within the parameters of the USP chapters <795/797/800> and must complete biannual competency training. All work performed by a Pharmacy Technician will be under the direct supervision and control of a licensed pharmacist as set forth in RCW 18.64A.030.

PRINCIPLE FUNCTIONS include the following, other duties may be assigned:

• Medication Preparation
  1. Performs unit-dose packaging activities which include repackaging and labeling medications utilizing appropriate equipment in accordance with established procedures.
  2. Reconstitutes certain medications requiring a specific diluent with specific quantity of diluent.
  3. Prepares and logs prepacked medications for “Take Home Packs” in the emergency department.
  4. In all cases, the accuracy of the technician is checked by a pharmacist.
• Sterile Compounding
  1. Performs IV admixture and other parenteral preparations under established procedures to allow verification of appropriate ingredients and quantities by a registered pharmacist.
  2. Successfully completes the hospital’s IV certifications, to include hand hygiene and garbing competency, passing written test, observational review, fingertip testing, and growth media testing prior to being allowed to perform compounding of sterile products. Failure of any element of competency requires retraining and retesting to ensure competency.
  3. Completes videos detailing the correct cleaning, maintenance and use of both the Laminar Airflow (horizontal) hood and the Biological Safety Cabinet (vertical) hood.
  4. Completes all MySpark, Healthstream, or equivalent assignments related to compounding of sterile preparations including the laws and regulations related to parental admixtures.
  5. Completes ChemoPlus Pharmacy Training and Certification Kit under the direct supervision of a registered pharmacist.
  6. Demonstrates continued competency in IV admixture and other parenteral preparations through biannual (and as needed) assessment via written test, observational review, fingertip testing and growth media fill testing.
• Inventory Management
  1. Checks PYXIS console alerts for critical lows, stock outs and discrepancies.
  2. Performs medication and supply ordering, receiving, stocking, and returns.
  3. Performs pharmacy stock inspections for recalls and outdated stock.
  4. Performs floor stock inspections for accumulation of medications, replacement of depleted, about to outdate, or outdated stock.
  5. Participates in annual inventory of all drugs related to pharmacy.
• Medication Distribution
  1. Delivers medication to nursing units, including inpatient, emergency room, and Medical Ambulatory Clinic locations.
  2. Delivers departmental requisitions as needed (includes high-cost central supplies items stored in PYXIS).
  3. Stocks PYXIS machines using the barcode scanning method of medications from a computer-generated medication list that is verified by a registered pharmacist.
  4. Retrieves, counts, refills and bills medications removed from crash carts and medication trays and kits (Surgical, Anesthesia and EMS kits) and then returns them to the appropriate unit. Accuracy of fill to be verified by a pharmacist.
• Billing
  1. Performs charging and crediting processes for inpatient medications.
  2. Assists in creation of interdepartmental bills for clinic orders.
• Patient Information
  1. Reviews patient profiles to retrieve specific information as directed.
  2. Assists in completing medication histories for patients within the hospital. Tasks include but are not limited to: patient/family interviews, contacting pharmacies, contacting prescriber offices, and reviewing the electronic medical record.
• Administrative Tasks
  1. Screens phone calls and responds to requests when within scope, including:
     1. Calls dealing with the ordering of medications from wholesalers or medical clinics.
     2. Calls from the Medical Ambulatory Clinic (MAC) regarding patient’s arrival for treatment.
  2. Refers all questions regarding drug therapy to a registered pharmacist.
  3. Prepares and reviews various reports at the direction of the Director of Pharmacy.
  4. Assists in maintenance and update of 340B tasks and audits.
• Quality Control/Improvement
  1. Maintains accurate records of all work and IV procedures performed as needed.
  2. Promptly reports all defects or suspected failures in aseptic technique or IV accuracy to the supervising pharmacist.
  3. Maintains assigned work areas and equipment in a clean and orderly fashion.
  4. Participates on quality improvement (QI) teams and performs QI data collection and posting.
  5. Participates in continuing education programs as necessary to maintain technician license and enhance professional knowledge pertinent to the department needs.
  6. Aids in the training of new pharmacist and technician staff.

• Other duties as required and assigned within the constraints of Chapter 246-945 WAC.

JOB KNOWLEDGE & QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Highest level of education completed, minimum high school diploma or equivalent required.
• Completion of a Pharmacy Technician Training Program or equivalent Military Pharmacy Technician training.

Training and Experience

• One (1) year of current hospital experience is preferred.
• Preferred IV admixture and chemotherapy preparation experience.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Washington State DOH Pharmacy Technician License required.
• Current BLS HCP required.
• Certified Pharmacy Technicians(ExCPT or PTCB) preferred.

OTHER SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Ability to communicate effectively in both written and verbal for; ability to organize work effectively; ability to perform basic math calculations; demonstrated skills in telephone etiquette.
• Physically capable of working an eight (8),ten (10), or twelve (12) hour shift requiring prolonged standing and/or sitting; extensive walking; frequent lifting (up to 25 pounds unaided); frequent pushing/pulling; stooping, bending, and stretching; prolonged viewing of C.R.T.
• Technicians who have been trained by a pharmacist in safety and sterile preparation in compliance with USP chapter 797/800 may prepare chemotherapy admixtures. Technicians performing in this role must complete annual competency and training in preparation of hazardous substances.
• Will be asked to perform miscellaneous other duties as directed by the pharmacy manager that are within the scope of the WhidbeyHealth pharmacy technician utilization plan.