WANTED: Pharmacy Technician

LOCATION: New Mexico VA Health System,

• 1501 San Pedro Dr. SE, Albuquerque, NM
• Inpatient/Outpatient Pharmacy

SCHEDULE:

• Pharmacy services are operational 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days a year.
• Subject to varying work hours depending on staffing needs and may be revised as deemed appropriate by the respective pharmacy section supervisor with approval from the COR.
• Work hours may consist of the following 8-12 hr. tours with a minimum of a 12-hour rest period between shifts.
• Weekend and holiday coverage may be needed pending staffing needs.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must hold a CPT technician certification license
• Certified by the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB);
• Have one-year experience in hospital pharmacy setting with an emphasis on sterile IV compounding
• Be a graduate of an Academic Technician Training Educational Program.
• Must be able to understand how to perform basic mathematical calculations;
• Have basic typing and PC computer skills;
• Have a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certificate;
• Must read, understand, speak, and write English fluently
• Must be able to stand or sit for long periods of time (8-10 hours), stoop, reach upward and withstand various types of repetitive motion inherent in the various tasks to be performed.

DUTIES: VISN pharmacy service utilizes a combination of automated and manual procedures to prepare and dispense Over the Counter (OTC) and legend drug prescriptions, bulk type prescriptions, and compounded sterile products. The nature of services includes the operation and support of automated and manual filling equipment, and the preparation of prescription orders and sterile preparation of parenteral products.

Pharmacy Technician duties include, but are not limited to:

• Prepares and dispenses medications to include sterile compounded products, and maintains related records for patients
• Prepares, packages, labels and distributes medication doses prescribed by Physician
• Maintains inventories of drugs and supplies, stocking shelves, rotating stock, and checking expiration date of pharmaceuticals;
• Fills/stocks medications in various automated devices; documenting lot and expiration date into computerized logs. 
• Operates various types of pharmacy automation, including, but not limited to, Med Carousel, ScriptPro, Pick Point, Omnicell automated dispensing equipment.
• Read computer screens, use scanning equipment, select specific drugs/products required to fill an order by name, strength, and National Drug Code (NDC) number;
• Cleans cells and performs first level preventative maintenance which includes cleaning off lights, vacuuming, and making minor adjustments to equipment;
• Must be able to understand the precautions required when handling hazardous materials and hazardous waste.
• Processes refill requests and prints prescription labels utilizing computerized software programs
• Answers telephone calls from patients, physicians and other health care professionals.   Refers to computerized prescription profile to respond to inquiries from patients concerning disposition of prescriptions, obtains information or responds to questions within the technician scope of knowledge.  Documents interactions with patients and staff appropriately, including documentation in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) when required.
• Replies to questions from patients regarding expired prescriptions, deleted or discontinued drug, or unavailable drug or prosthetic and/or ostomy device.  Refers inquiries of a professional nature to a pharmacist.
• Verifies patient identity prior to communicating patient health information with the patient.  Two identifiers, as defined by the medical center, are required.
• Participates in managing patient prescription processing time while meeting required department specific metrics and monitors
• Organizes, files, and maintains dispensing documents, original prescriptions, and other required documentation in accordance with federal regulations and state laws
• Regularly fills a full range of standard drug, ostomy, and disposable medical supply prescriptions utilizing prepackaged drugs, consumer packs, robot cassettes, and manufacturer bulk products.  Final check is performed by Pharmacist prior to dispensing.
• Fills cassettes and ensures secondary technician review for automated counting equipment.  Inputs all pertinent information (e.g. barcodes cassettes, enters lot and expiration information into automated equipment utilizing computerized software).
• Performs inspection of assigned areas including but not limited to: Outpatient clinics, Emergency Room, and Inpatient Pharmacy. Ensuring proper stock rotation and ensuring expiration date and/or lot number validity.  Removes all expired medication during inspections and quarantines the expired items for return/destruction. Properly documents all actions taken during inspection of area.
• Electronically logs discharge, shuttled, runner, and tubed prescriptions using ScriptPro.
• Notifies and/or clarifies orders needing special handling, i.e., refrigeration, with pharmacist and patient as necessary
• Delivers prepared totes to travel.  Ensures disposition of items for Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) is initiated by transferring such items to the travel department
• Packages verified mail prescriptions in the appropriate mailer or box, ensuring proper handling, i.e. refrigeration or padding.  Sorts mail according to status i.e., regular, certified or UPS.
• Scans and creates barcodes for robot prescription processing, utilizing dedicated computerized software programs.
• Fills CBOC and primary care clinic orders including, but not limited to Omnicell restock reports.  Ensures that a proper supply of medication is available, and if not, request that the item be ordered and packaged for unit dose use
• Replenishes medications in clinics utilizing sophisticated computer software: Omnicell, Pick Point.
• Replenishes filling areas with vials, caps, labels, logbooks, paper bags, and other supplies as needed.
• Communication and interpersonal relations, including the ability to appropriately and courteously relate to internal and external customers.
• Properly operates the telephone including transferring calls and placing calls on hold. Handles calls efficiently and appropriately.
• Properly follows Pharmacy Phone center scripting and resolutions that pertain to the phone call.
• Properly places a call on hold when investigating any issues related to the phone call.
• Answers the door, allowing only person with authorized access to enter.  Ensures individual signs
• visitor log and escorts individual to necessary area of pharmacy.
• Prepares and fills medication orders for bubble packing for State Veterans Home or Contracted Long term care facility as appropriate.
• Processes audio renewal orders through notes or right click-renew feature. Processes refill mail slips through VISTA
• Routes prepared prescriptions to appropriate pneumatic tube stop.

BENEFITS: Competitive Hourly pay rate, accrued vacation, accrued sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays, 401K opportunity, and Health benefits contribution.