Pharmacy Inventory Logistics Technician

Trinity Health•Ann Arbor, MI

About The Position

The Pharmacy Inventory Logistics Technician procures, stores, and distributes pharmaceuticals, diagnostic agents, intravenous solutions, related equipment, and supplies across Saint Joseph Mercy Health System (SJMHS). The role monitors pharmacy inventory using industry inventory-management methods and information systems, and repackages products that are not commercially available in unit doses or need readable bar codes. The technician maintains required licensing, accrediting, and regulatory documentation; maintains the hospital formulary in hospital computer systems; and bills medications requested by other departments as needed. The role also coordinates medications and equipment in ALS boxes and represents the hospital at regional ALS meetings. The technician manages purchasing, receipt, storage, inventory control, distribution, audits, billing, and related records, including separate inventories for controlled substances, hazardous chemicals, investigational drugs, expired medications, and outpatient oncology. The role supports pharmacy automation and bar-coding initiatives, helps train new employees, and may perform technician or team-leader tasks in areas such as oncology and inpatient or outpatient services, depending on departmental needs. Medications are prepared under the direct supervision of a registered pharmacist. Rotational departmental on-call participation may be required as necessary.

Requirements

High school graduate or GED equivalent.
At least one year of education in a related field, such as general business, computers, or inventory/operations management.
At least two years of progressively responsible work experience as a hospital Pharmacy Technician or in related work, including knowledge of drug distribution, drug formulary inventory control, and billing processes.
Current State of Michigan Pharmacy Technician license (required).
Ability to perform basic to advanced mathematical calculations.
Interpersonal and communication skills to work with all levels of Health System staff, manufacturers, and suppliers, and to present and perform professionally.
General knowledge of computers, software applications, and hardware configurations, including procurement and inventory systems, spreadsheets, database-management and word-processing software, system-integration software, and bar-code systems and equipment.
Ability to stand for long periods and/or walk long distances without difficulty.
Ability to handle hazardous, flammable, corrosive, and antineoplastic items, drugs, and IV boxes weighing up to 40 pounds, and occasionally move IV carts weighing up to 1,100 pounds.
Ability to perform tasks with a high degree of accuracy.
Analytical and cognitive skills to evaluate logistics systems and design effective work processes.
Organizational skills to manage competing activities and limited time and resources without sacrificing quality, timeliness, or completeness.

Responsibilities

Place purchase orders; receive pharmacy supplies; verify product integrity, accuracy, and expiration dates; resolve supplier discrepancies; and restock items in appropriate locations.
Manage ordering platforms and help establish appropriate inventory levels at service points and intermediate storage locations.
Anticipate seasonal or atypical inventory needs, arrange for sufficient stock, and communicate inventory status to operational staff.
Ensure products are within expiration dates and stored according to licensing, regulatory, and accrediting requirements.
Audit utilization, purchasing, and billing activity; investigate discrepancies; prepare reconciliation reports; and implement improvements to purchasing accuracy and control.
Coordinate with suppliers, customers, and colleagues on product requirements, storage, special handling, distribution, utilization trends, safety, environmental issues, security, and financial integrity.
Set procurement and distribution priorities and workflows, measure outcomes, and adjust processes to meet financial and quality objectives.
Complete forms and procedures required by state and federal controlled-substance regulations; maintain separate inventories and associated records for controlled substances, hazardous chemicals, investigational drugs, expired medications, and outpatient oncology.
Ensure accurate and timely delivery of medication, IV solutions and sets, and pharmacy supplies to end-user departments and offsite SJMHS locations.
Maintain stock of repackaged and/or bar-coded medications and support the system’s bar-coding initiatives.
Work with the Automation Technician to maintain pharmacy automation software and hardware, including MedCarousel and Pentapack.
Participate in training and orientation of new employees and assist other pharmacy purchasing team members as needed.
Perform duties safely, report preventable hazards and unsafe practices, and help resolve safety, sanitation, and environmental-maintenance problems.
Complete unit inspections for assigned areas in a timely manner.
Prepare medications under the direct supervision of a registered pharmacist and communicate product-related issues to pharmacy staff promptly.
Demonstrate self-directed learning, unit or area competencies, and patient care that considers age-specific, developmental, and cultural needs.
Participate in departmental on-call rotations if required.
Assess medication-error risks, including look-alike packaging, sound-alike names, strength or volume changes, and bar-code scanning issues, and select alternatives to help avert errors.
Seek drug products containing an amount closest to the dose administered; remove expired and recalled drugs from inventory and coordinate their return, destruction, or donation.
Add, delete, and update drugs in PDS, Pyxis, AS400, and the Charge Master, and handle drug-cost requests.
Complete month-end financial reports for inpatient inventory and coordinate the inpatient pharmacy’s physical inventory.
Coordinate and ensure accurate electronic billing for medications dispensed through the inpatient pharmacy.
Fill, label, and update ALS boxes and represent the hospital at the regional ALS committee.