Pharmacy Technician III - Inventory Specialist

Mosaic Life Care•Saint Joseph, MO

About The Position

The Pharmacy Technician III - Inventory Specialist works under the supervision of the Director of Pharmacy and Pharmacy Strategic Sourcing Manager. The position manages pharmacy inventory to meet daily operational needs, including maintaining appropriate stock levels, anticipating medication and supply needs, and removing outdated or recalled drugs. The technician communicates usage variations and urgent needs to the pharmacy buyer, helps adjust order levels based on usage, investigates back orders and stockouts, and takes steps to maintain inventory. The role performs regulatory inspections and restocks supplies and medications in the pharmacy, patient care areas, ambulatory clinics, and ancillary care areas. It coordinates with pharmacy automation and inventory-system stakeholders to maintain accurate inventory and par levels, prevent stockouts, and reduce waste. The technician also staffs the pharmacy as needed, prepares medications under pharmacist direction, prepares intravenous solutions using aseptic technique, and refills automated dispensing units and department floor stock.

Requirements

High school diploma.
Apply to the Missouri Board of Pharmacy as a Pharmacy Technician or Pharmacy Intern within three days of hire; an intern license is required if currently enrolled in pharmacy school.
Complete registration with the Missouri Board of Pharmacy as a Pharmacy Technician or Pharmacy Intern within 75 days of hire; an intern license is required if currently enrolled in pharmacy school.
Accurately enter computer data, including medications, dosages, strengths, and expiration dates, and have computer skills.
Speak clearly and use professional, courteous telephone etiquette.
Accurately calculate dosages, including oral and IV dosages, and metric conversions.
Use precise hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills to prepare IV solutions, chemotherapy, and TPN, and to handle medications, equipment, needles, and syringes.
Communicate clearly, handle telephone calls, and take and deliver messages appropriately.
Prioritize and multitask to meet workload demands, remain focused, and adapt to additional work.
Work in a team environment and be flexible with personal scheduling to meet department staffing requirements.
Lift and push varying weights up to 50 pounds.
Move between kneeling, stooping, reaching, standing, and sitting positions, and walk the facility and return to the pharmacy within 40 minutes.
Handle assembly functions for intravenous admixture and unit-dose prepackaging systems.
Interpret data and medication orders for computer entry; follow established standards and medication protocols; calculate ordered dosages from stock solutions; and understand written and verbal medication requests.
Adapt to workload demands, organize and prioritize medication requests, and maintain attention and alertness during tasks.
Visually read and understand physician orders, hear and handle telephone requests or supervisory pharmacist instructions, and visually assess solution color.
Function with minimal supervision after the appropriate training period.

Nice To Haves

Hospital pharmacy experience.
Knowledge of intravenous admixture, unit-dose, and pharmacy automation.
Experience with pharmacy inventory management systems.

Responsibilities

Optimize and manage the perpetual inventory database to maintain par levels of formulary medications, avoid stockouts, and reduce waste.
Perform required regulatory inspections and restock supplies and medications in the pharmacy, patient care units, clinics, and ancillary care areas.
Coordinate with the Willow analyst to confirm drug products are current and accurate in the pharmacy inventory system and EHR database.
Conduct regular quality assurance inspections focused on TJC requirements, including product integrity and expiration dates.
Coordinate medication procurement for clinics and patient care areas.
Conduct inventory cycle counts on a regular cadence.
Monitor shortage lists and proactively order medications and supplies to minimize disruption to patients.
Ensure regulatory compliance, optimize inventory management through par-level adjustments, and maintain working relationships with key stakeholders.
Work with the pharmacy buyer to support compliance with the Drug Supply Chain Security Act.
Prepare medications under pharmacist direction, troubleshoot as needed, and accurately prioritize workflow.
Prepare intravenous solutions, including large-volume fluids with additives, intravenous piggybacks, chemotherapy, and TPN, using aseptic technique.
Refill automated dispensing units and department and unit floor stock, including troubleshooting automation-related issues.
Staff the pharmacy as a technician as needed.
Perform other duties as assigned.