Buyer Pharmacy

St. Elizabeth Healthcare•Edgewood, KY

About The Position

The Pharmacy Buyer is responsible for addressing the daily purchasing, procurement, and inventory management needs for the health system’s inpatient and outpatient Pharmacy departments. The position exists to ensure that the health system has a sufficient supply of pharmaceuticals, supplies, and other services that clinicians can seamlessly access as they treat patients. Demonstrate respect, dignity, kindness and empathy in each encounter with all patients, families, visitors and other employees regardless of cultural background. Oversees the processes related to the Pharmacy division’s procurement function. Monitors the ordering, receipt, storage, and maintenance of pharmaceuticals, supplies, and purchased services. Coordinates daily communication with all Pharmacy procurement staff across the health system. Tracks the accounting and recordkeeping for all products that the Pharmacy division supplies or dispenses to patients and other entities. Forms and maintains relationships with external wholesalers, vendors, and product manufacturers. Acts as a liaison between Pharmacy leadership and external wholesalers, vendors, and product manufacturers. Assures that the supply channels utilized by the Pharmacy department are optimal in terms of cost and operational feasibility. Works alongside Pharmacy leadership to proactively address and resolve urgent supply requests, backorders, shortages, and allocations related to products that Pharmacy stocks. Maintains inventory control through par level settings and maximization of turns. Optimizes the functionality of automated inventory control systems and storage units. Manually audits and tracks on-hand quantities for critical and high-cost items. Participates in the annual physical inventory near the end of each fiscal year for reporting to Finance. Ensures accurate processing of purchase orders and invoices. Validates that pricing extended is consistent with contractual agreements in place with wholesalers and manufacturers. Identifies missed opportunities for cost savings. Educates and coaches staff on assessing opportunity costs. Monitors interception and response to drug recall notifications. Orchestrates the collection, handling, and disposal of expired products. Ensures adherence to the legal and regulatory aspects of controlled substance procurement, handling, storage, and tracking. Collaborates and cooperates with the health system’s Supply Chain department for products that the health system dictates are to be sourced centrally. Utilizes and maximizes functionality of enterprise software and other tools as health system directs. Assists with formulary maintenance. Aids in the assessment of financial impacts and values related to drug and supply purchases. Conducts the evaluation of contracts and other procurement-related pricing arrangements. Complies with the policies and provisions of the 340B program and the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA). Consults with Pharmacy leadership regarding the Board of Pharmacy and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s implications for drug procurement as necessary. Remains abreast of other policies and regulatory standards related to Pharmacy practice as necessary. Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

High School Diploma
Documented on-the-job training in procurement, purchasing, inventory management, operations, business, finance, and accounting functions in organizational settings
Eligible for applicable state Board of Pharmacy registration
Purchasing, procurement, and inventory management
Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite, especially Excel
Familiarity with EMR programs (i.e. Epic Willow), FSCM platforms (i.e. PeopleSoft), wholesaler ordering platforms (i.e. ABC Passport), 340B split-billing software (i.e. Sentry), inventory management systems (i.e. Talyst or Logistics), and various other IT resources supporting procurement
2 years of experience in supply chain management, procurement, or pharmacy purchasing/inventory management in a hospital or retail setting

Responsibilities

Oversees the processes related to the Pharmacy division’s procurement function.
Monitors the ordering, receipt, storage, and maintenance of pharmaceuticals, supplies, and purchased services.
Coordinates daily communication with all Pharmacy procurement staff across the health system.
Tracks the accounting and recordkeeping for all products that the Pharmacy division supplies or dispenses to patients and other entities.
Forms and maintains relationships with external wholesalers, vendors, and product manufacturers.
Acts as a liaison between Pharmacy leadership and external wholesalers, vendors, and product manufacturers.
Assures that the supply channels utilized by the Pharmacy department are optimal in terms of cost and operational feasibility.
Works alongside Pharmacy leadership to proactively address and resolve urgent supply requests, backorders, shortages, and allocations related to products that Pharmacy stocks.
Maintains inventory control through par level settings and maximization of turns.
Optimizes the functionality of automated inventory control systems and storage units.
Manually audits and tracks on-hand quantities for critical and high-cost items.
Participates in the annual physical inventory near the end of each fiscal year for reporting to Finance.
Ensures accurate processing of purchase orders and invoices.
Validates that pricing extended is consistent with contractual agreements in place with wholesalers and manufacturers.
Identifies missed opportunities for cost savings.
Educates and coaches staff on assessing opportunity costs.
Monitors interception and response to drug recall notifications.
Orchestrates the collection, handling, and disposal of expired products.
Ensures adherence to the legal and regulatory aspects of controlled substance procurement, handling, storage, and tracking.
Collaborates and cooperates with the health system’s Supply Chain department for products that the health system dictates are to be sourced centrally.
Utilizes and maximizes functionality of enterprise software and other tools as health system directs.
Assists with formulary maintenance.
Aids in the assessment of financial impacts and values related to drug and supply purchases.
Conducts the evaluation of contracts and other procurement-related pricing arrangements.
Complies with the policies and provisions of the 340B program and the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA).
Consults with Pharmacy leadership regarding the Board of Pharmacy and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s implications for drug procurement as necessary.
Remains abreast of other policies and regulatory standards related to Pharmacy practice as necessary.
Performs other duties as assigned.