Pharmacy Technician II

UCSF•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

The Pharmacy Technician II works within UCSF Medical Center’s Pharmaceutical Services, which provides drug procurement, storage, security, preparation, distribution, clinical pharmacy services, drug information, policy development, technology assessment, and quality assurance. The Inpatient Pharmacy at the Parnassus and Mount Zion sites provides pharmaceutical care to patients at Moffitt, Long, and Mount Zion Hospitals and specialized services to campus researchers. Accountable to a supervising or operating pharmacist, the Pharmacy Technician II performs traditional prescription dispensing and medication distribution. The role may also include entering medication and prescription information, including special medications in patient profiles, as directed by a pharmacist. The technician prepares and distributes patient and departmental medication orders, compounds products, handles controlled substances and investigational drugs, and is cross-trained to perform duties in the I.V. Additive Service area.

Requirements

Completion of a recognized or accredited Pharmacy Technician Training Program, including hands-on externship training, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
At least two years of experience as a Pharmacy Technician in a hospital or healthcare setting, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Good communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to work effectively with a large, diverse population and maintain positive working relationships between Pharmacy and Nursing Units.
Skills, knowledge, and ability to compound pharmaceutical preparations and prepare commercially unavailable oral preparations, including mathematical calculations, use of an analytical balance, and pharmaceutical compounding techniques.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and perform effectively under constant pressure.
Ability to exercise good judgment when responding to or referring questions from nurses, physicians, and other professional personnel.
Knowledge, skills, and ability to perform basic computer entries.
Current California Board of Pharmacy Pharmacy Technician License in good standing.

Nice To Haves

Pharmacy Technician Certification (CPhT).
Experience in a hospital setting, preferably in Inpatient Pharmacy and/or I.V. Additives.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

Interpret and prepare patient medication orders for immediate delivery, and block-fill standing orders in patient medication drawers or unit-dose cassettes based on patient profiles.
Fill medication orders for nursing units and prepare departmental and research unit requisitions, including compounding and preparation of extemporaneous products while following safety regulations.
Prepare and issue controlled substances to nursing units; maintain required control records, document accurately, and report and resolve discrepancies with the nursing unit and pharmacist in charge.
Fill and record departmental requisitions from stock or by compounding; check inventory, identity, and expiration dates, record stock, and hand-deliver urgent orders to specified units or floors.
Interpret investigational drug orders and compound prescriptions as ordered.
Enter prescriptions and medications in the Digimedics/Pyxis computer system and assist pharmacists with entries of special prescriptions in patient profiles as directed.
Implement policies and procedures developed by the Investigational Drug Pharmacist.
Cross-train to perform essential duties in the I.V. Additive Service area, including preparation of hyperalimentation orders, routine electrolyte solutions, and antineoplastic agents.
Coordinate pharmacy involvement with investigational drugs by interacting with investigators or their representatives.
Maintain dispensing records required by research protocols.
Aseptically prepare investigational medications and repackage and label investigational drugs for inpatient and outpatient administration.
Serve as a resource for pharmacy-coordinated investigational drug studies when the Investigational Drug Pharmacist is absent.
Keep investigational drug inventory neat and orderly.
Follow Medical Center Telephone and House Standards, including its philosophy and mission.