Pharmacy Technician I

Advocate Health•West Allis, WI

8d•$22 - $33

About The Position

The Pharmacy Technician I assists licensed pharmacists with technical duties related to medication preparation and distribution. The role selects, prepares, and labels medications, including hazardous drugs and controlled substances; supports medication distribution, procurement, inventory control, and medication storage inspections; and performs nonsterile compounding or sterile IV admixture when applicable. Duties may also include documenting medication admission histories, handling controlled-substance records, supporting quality improvement and technician training, and providing patient information entry, insurance verification, label generation, cashiering, and third-party billing functions. The technician may obtain immunization certification and administer immunizations under a registered pharmacist’s supervision, where applicable, and may operate an Advocate Health-owned vehicle to deliver medications and essential medical supplies. The position is full-time, 40 hours per week, and primarily scheduled for second shift, 2:30 PM–11:00 PM. The schedule includes every-third-weekend and rotating-holiday coverage. Occasional third-shift coverage may be needed, shared among technicians on a rotating schedule with advance notice. The role requires flexibility to travel between pharmacy locations and may involve exposure to chemicals, hazardous waste, blood and body fluids, communicable disease, and varying environmental conditions. Appropriate personal protective equipment is used to minimize exposure.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED equivalent.
Registration or licensure with the state board of pharmacy, according to the requirements of the state of employment.
Obtain Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (CPhT) or National Healthcareer Association (ExCPT) certification within 18 months of the start date, or sooner where state requirements are more stringent.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to work effectively with multiple departments and matrix organizational structures.
Ability to influence and develop others toward common goals and outcomes.
Strong organizational skills and ability to work effectively with moderate guidance or direction.
Effective critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Expert knowledge of metrics used to measure revenue cycle quality and processes.
Ability to lead a diverse group of teams.
Ability to sit, stand, walk, lift, bend, kneel, climb, twist, crawl, and reach above the shoulders.
Ability to walk and stand considerably, push a mobile cart weighing approximately 50 pounds, and lift 35 pounds of material.
Functional vision, touch, and hearing.
Ability to speak and be understood by others to communicate effectively.
Frequent fine motor use of hands and wrists for writing, typing, data entry, and medication preparation, including syringe use.
Take necessary precautions to avoid inadvertent needle sticks, minor cuts, or bruises.
Ability to operate all equipment necessary to perform the job.
Flexibility to travel between pharmacy locations.

Responsibilities

Assist licensed pharmacists with technical duties related to medication preparation and distribution.
Select, prepare, and label medications for patients, including hazardous drugs and controlled substances.
Assist with medication distribution tasks.
Screen phone calls and route them as needed using proper telephone and voicemail etiquette.
Assist with pharmacy procurement, inventory control, and outdate checking.
Complete documentation for removing, stocking, and wasting controlled substances, where applicable.
Perform nonsterile compounding according to proper USP standards, where applicable.
Perform sterile IV admixture using proper aseptic technique, as defined at the entity level and where applicable.
Inspect assigned medication storage areas for adherence to storage policies.
Complete and document medication admission histories, as applicable at the facility level.
Seek additional duties when required work is complete and accept other assigned duties.
May participate in quality improvement initiatives to support departmental service excellence.
May assist in training pharmacy technicians and extenders on applicable pharmacy policies, procedures, and workflows.
Follow organization policies and procedures and comply with legal, regulatory, and accreditation standards.
Support area leaders with goals and work assignments.
Obtain and record initial patient demographic and other required information; enter information into the pharmacy system for records, insurance verification, and label generation; and perform cashiering.
Develop competence in third-party billing functions.
Demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the ages of patients served.
May obtain immunization certification and administer immunizations under the supervision of a registered pharmacist, where applicable.
Operate an Advocate Health-owned motor vehicle to deliver medications and other essential medical supplies as required by the department.

Benefits

Paid Time Off programs.
Medical, dental, vision, life, and short- and long-term disability benefits.
Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses.
Adoption assistance and paid parental leave.
Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs.
Educational Assistance Program.
Premium pay, such as shift and on-call pay, based on teammate eligibility.
Incentive pay for select positions.
Opportunity for annual increases based on performance.
Career development programs and well-being programs.