Career Center

General Summary

Under general supervision, fills orders for unit doses, pre-packaged pharmaceuticals, intravenous admixtures, controlled substances, floor stock, supplemental medications, emergency kits and general stock. Maintains proper levels of pharmaceutical supplies, instruments and equipment. Performs related pharmacy duties such as drug product recalls and pharmacy area inspections. Delivers and picks-up medications and related items to and from the patient care areas. Assists with training of less experienced techs in their assigned areas.

Principal Responsibilities and Tasks

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

Assist in the training of new employees or employees less familiar with their staffing area assignment.

Perform medication expiration audits of their satellite location on a monthly basis.

Become trained and perform/assist as needed the Technical Coordinator in patient medication area safety audits and inspections.

Prepares and dispenses medication orders for an assigned patient population (inpatient and outpatient). Fills patient medications, based on physician orders and patient profiles approved by the pharmacist, in accordance with departmental procedures.

• Delivers and picks up pharmacy documents and medications from various departments and patient care locations.
• Enters Admissions, Discharges and Transfers (ADTs) into computer system.
• Packages and labels medications into unit doses for inspection and approval by the pharmacist.
• Enters orders in pharmacy computer system under the supervision/approval of a Pharmacist including TPN orders.
• Prepares sterile intravenous medications ("mini-bags," syringes, large volume parenterals, patient controlled analgesia medications, and chemotherapy) using proper aseptic technique.
• Fills drug and supply requests as instructed by requestor and by supervisor.
• Prepares and dispenses controlled substances orders. Verifies and maintains controlled substance drug inventories and coordinates the return of controlled substances to the Drug Enforcement Agency as appropriate.
• Documents all vital information regarding DEA controlled substances requests. Performs random audits of the controlled substances as specified in the departmental policy.

Returns re-usable medications and supplies to appropriate space or container.

Maintains appropriate inventory levels of medications and pharmaceutical supplies in the department and in the inpatient care areas. Tracks and maintains stock levels of pharmaceutical supplies to ensure availability in accordance to established par levels.

• Verifies accuracy of supplies received by comparing packing order to original purchase order request. Stores incoming merchandise in proper locations as instructed. Informs the supervisor/pharmacist of stock needs and stock shortages.
• Contacts vendor to resolve discrepancies, incorrect orders or forwards them to purchasing personnel to resolve.
• Retrieves expired medications from all patient care areas; documents information on expired bags, bottles and disposes of properly. Returns all expired or damaged controlled substances to purchasing personnel or to the Drug Enforcement Agency for disposal.
• Completes scheduled appropriate pharmacy inventory for medications, solutions and supplies.
• Checks and replenishes floor stock and related medications to patient care areas.
• Processes medication recalls when required in accordance with departmental policy and procedure.Participates actively in the cleanliness, organization and appearance of the department.
  • Ensures that each drug product stocked has a shelf space or bin, that the space or bin is properly identified and placed properly according to generic. Ensures that only one product occupies that space or bin.
  • Displays constant vigilance in ensuring cleanliness of shelves, bins, counters and cabinets.
  • Removes stock from cardboard as soon as possible and places in designated bins or shelf locations. Eliminates presence of cardboard containers.
  • Ensures neat appearance of pharmacy. Files documents, keeps posted notes and announcements off walls and on bulletin board, keeps floors and carpet free of paper and loose medications & supplies.

Produces routine and requested computer reports from a variety of pharmacy databases (e.g., DEA substances use, unit inspections, medication use studies, inventory, billing, transfers, borrow/lending transactions).

Responds to telephone requests and provides excellent customer assistance to user departments. Communicates problems to the supervisor or pharmacist for resolution, as necessary.

Observes established departmental policies, procedures, behavioral and attitudinal norms, and quality assurance programs, safety, security, environmental and infection control standards.

• Performs requested inspections of pharmacy areas.
• Properly handles hazardous substances by observing and demonstrating proper safety procedures and/or "Universal Precautions," as appropriate.

Assists in the care and maintenance of department equipment and supplies, such as, laminar flow hoods, biological safety cabinets, computers and printers, packaging and manufacturing equipment.

• Performs routine maintenance of refrigerators, freezers, hood and other equipment. Contacts Facilities Maintenance or Biomedical Engineering to perform more complex maintenance duties.
• Ensures proper functioning of pharmacy refrigerators and freezers. Checks for adequate temperature levels.
• Thoroughly cleans laminar flow hoods and biological safety cabinets using aseptic technique. Documents all actions according to established procedure.

Participates in the interview process and training of new employees.

Attends and participates in in-service training and various educational programs to enhance professional growth and development.

Follows and completes duties as outlined in assigned area responsibility grids and shift checklists.Performs related duties as required.