IDS Pharmacy Technician

Yale New Haven Health•New Haven, CT

About The Position

The IDS Pharmacy Technician performs technical duties supporting the delivery of pharmaceutical services, including medication distribution, inventory management, cross-functional pharmacy operations, and technology support. The role requires advanced technical knowledge, reliability, and leadership through contributions to pharmacy operations and the development of junior personnel. Employees are expected to support YNHHS's mission, vision, and values; prioritize patient safety as members of a High Reliability Organization; follow CHAMP and STAR behaviors and YNHHS Standards of Professional Behavior; and promote patient-centered care and fiscal responsibility. The technician prepares and distributes medications, manages inventory, supports compounding and sterile-product processes, uses pharmacy technology, responds to inquiries, and helps maintain safe, efficient operations. The position also involves quality-assurance activities, troubleshooting, mentoring and training, and participation in departmental projects. The employee may work on-call shifts covering days, evenings, and overnights, and is expected to work during inclement weather. Work involves walking, sitting, standing, crouching, lifting and moving items, occasional exposure to mechanical parts, airborne particles, fumes, and toxic or caustic chemicals, and a moderate noise level.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required.
At least one year of experience as a YNHHS Pharmacy Technician I, or at least three years of equivalent hospital experience for external candidates.
Maintain the standards outlined in the YNHHS Technician Career Ladder for the respective technician grade, including Pharmacy Technician II requirements.
Current state Pharmacy Technician registration or licensure, or eligibility to obtain it before the start date, as required by the applicable state regulatory agency.
Active Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) certification or equivalent, required on or within 12 months of the date of hire.
Proficiency in mathematical calculations.
Ability to work effectively with computer and technology equipment and perform detailed troubleshooting.
Ability to work on-call shifts; coverage extends to day, evening, and overnight shifts.
Expected to work during inclement weather as essential personnel.
Able to walk, sit, stand, and crouch during daily tasks; regularly lift or move up to 10 pounds, frequently up to 25 pounds, and occasionally up to 50 pounds.
May be occasionally exposed to mechanical parts, fumes, airborne particles, and toxic or caustic chemicals.

Nice To Haves

College degree desirable.
Successful completion of an academic or military hospital pharmacy technician training course preferred.

Responsibilities

Accurately pick, prepare, package, label, and deliver medications to appropriate patient-care storage locations, including automated dispensing cabinets and medication refrigerators.
Use appropriate packaging for each medication product and fulfill, sort, and deliver stat orders, new orders, refills, stock-out requests, transfers, and recalls promptly.
Maintain appropriate medication storage, including safe separation of look-alike/sound-alike medications, adequate par levels, suitable storage conditions, and stock rotation by expiration date.
Assist pharmacists in providing pharmaceutical care and replenish medications for emergency trays, including code carts, anesthesia supplies, and tackle boxes.
Handle and dispose of hazardous and non-hazardous waste appropriately and maintain a clean, well-stocked work area.
Complete pharmacy services within established timeframes and identify and escalate concerns related to pharmacy care and medication distribution.
Maintain medication inventory at appropriate par levels; rotate stock based on expiration and usage; remove expired or soon-to-expire medications according to departmental guidelines; receive wholesaler medications and replenish pharmacy stock accurately.
Use a handheld tablet with barcode-scanning functionality consistently.
Perform cross-functional pharmacy processes, including medication distribution and automation/technology, non-sterile oral compounding, extemporaneous oral/topical compounding, packaging, IV admixture and sterile products, and hazardous-product handling and compounding.
Prepare chemotherapy/antineoplastic and other hazardous-category products according to departmental safety guidelines, OSHA regulations, and industry standards.
Perform calculations and drug-product manipulation, dilution, or compounding to prepare and label unit-dose oral solids, liquids, and injectables in accordance with policy and regulatory standards.
Document manufactured medications, controlled-substance movement, packaged medications, and investigational drugs according to policy and regulatory standards.
Use aseptic technique, infection control, and universal precautions appropriate to the work area.
Demonstrate proficiency with pharmacy technology, including EMR, ADS, inventory-management software, carousel, packaging software, sterile-product workflow management, barcode-labeling programs, and RFID technology where used; troubleshoot technology issues and assist with resolution.
Respond to nursing, provider, and ancillary-staff inquiries by telephone, in person, or electronically; manage, triage, and follow up on inquiries promptly and professionally while adhering to HIPAA.
Maintain records for compounding, packaging, and controlled-substance distribution; communicate concerns, errors, improvement opportunities, and operational observations to pharmacists or management.
Communicate professionally with department and hospital staff.
Participate in quality assurance to support operational efficiency across inpatient pharmacy services.
Serve as a point person for technical issue resolution, escalating as needed and remaining involved until the issue is satisfactorily resolved.
Support positive change, mentor junior personnel, and participate in and provide feedback on training and education for staff and students.
Participate in departmental projects supporting departmental goals.
Demonstrate expertise, mentorship, or project-management capability in at least one of the listed areas: Purchasing, Operating Room, Pediatrics, Investigational Drug Service, Narcotic Vault, Medication History, Oncology, or Operations.