Pharmacy Technician (Procurement/Inventory)

Department of Veterans Affairs•Orlando, FL

39d•Onsite

About The Position

The Procurement Inventory Pharmacy Technician serves as financial and Procurement pharmacy specialist for the Pharmacy department at the Orlando VA Healthcare System. The incumbent works under the supervision of the Pharmacy Chief. Primary duties of this highly complex position include oversite of orders for pharmaceutical and supply items through the Prime Vendor or other mandatory sources, assuring adherence to federal purchase contracts and compliance with federal regulations regarding open market purchases. Major duties include, but are not limited to: General Performs all duties of lower grade Pharmacy Technicians, particularly lower grade procurement technicians. Accurately interpret, fills and prepares prescriptions with appropriate medications and or medical supplies for pharmacist verification. Maintains work areas in a clean and orderly condition by assuring that all stock and equipment are in assigned places and all shelves and counters are free of dust and debris in order to create optional work areas. Assures drugs and supplies are appropriately stored and secured according to USP and VA guidelines, including the storage of high-risk, look a-like sound a-like, hazardous, controlled substances, corrosive chemical, flammable liquids, and refrigerated items. Receives, checks, rotates, and places in stock all items received and identifies and reconciles any discrepancies to assure correct items have been received. Utilizes automation dispensing equipment available to the pharmacy staff following all safety and QA procedures. Reports automation malfunctions timely the supervisor as appropriate. Records expiration dates in pharmacy automation systems, as needed. Perform monthly inspections to assigned areas to ensure proper storage of medications and soon to expired drugs are removed, if assigned. Uses standard protocols to determine an accurate expiration date for each batch prepared. Proficiently operates equipment including but not limited to balances and mixing machines in the routing of manufacturing pharmaceutical products. Answers questions from pharmacy/non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution. Identifies basic therapeutic problems, such as duplicate therapy, and alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for intervention. Assists in training and orientation of new staff technicians, interns, and students. Assumes an active role in the overall pharmacy-training program consisting of students, interns, residents, and professional and non-professional staff members. Demonstrates the ability to work under a variety of circumstances to maximize group productivity and quality. Participate in performance improvement initiatives for pharmacy. Assists in quality improvement activities by participating in assessment and action teams that will improve service as assigned. Procurement Has operational responsibility for ongoing inventories of drug products, pharmaceutical supplies, and their various methods of procurement. Cost-effective turnover must be consistently identified and maintained. They are considered a subject matter expert of procurement sources (i.e., prime vendor, open market, government excess, posted stock etc.) VA manual and hospital procurement policies and procedures. Displaying a thorough understanding of policies, procedures, basic accounting and budgetary skills, the incumbent assures that pharmaceuticals and supplies are procured and maintained in the most cost-effective manner. Maintains accountability and oversight of daily purchases. Monitors the use of National contracts (NAT), Federal supply schedules (FSS), Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) and open market etc. to ensure compliance with federal acquisition regulations, policies, and laws. Ensures seamless operation of the Drug Accountability Program with pharmacy stake holders. Maintains records and resolves issues relating to drug accountability. Comprehensive knowledge of all aspects of drug characteristics and nomenclature including generic and brand names, various systems of weights and measures, drug product codes, drug interchangeability and equivalence, characteristics of drug packaging, what drugs are used for and how they are used, agency/institutional pharmacy regulations and policies, drug storage requirements, and special requirements for procurement, storage, and handling of various classes of drugs. Assists pharmacists in determining high priority or emergency requirements and initiates procurement activity to local wholesale sources. Assists in development and/or execution of procedures to procure "special order" products available only through manufacturer-created specialty programs.

Responsibilities

Performs all duties of lower grade Pharmacy Technicians, particularly lower grade procurement technicians.
Accurately interpret, fills and prepares prescriptions with appropriate medications and or medical supplies for pharmacist verification.
Maintains work areas in a clean and orderly condition by assuring that all stock and equipment are in assigned places and all shelves and counters are free of dust and debris in order to create optional work areas.
Assures drugs and supplies are appropriately stored and secured according to USP and VA guidelines, including the storage of high-risk, look a-like sound a-like, hazardous, controlled substances, corrosive chemical, flammable liquids, and refrigerated items.
Receives, checks, rotates, and places in stock all items received and identifies and reconciles any discrepancies to assure correct items have been received.
Utilizes automation dispensing equipment available to the pharmacy staff following all safety and QA procedures. Reports automation malfunctions timely the supervisor as appropriate.
Records expiration dates in pharmacy automation systems, as needed.
Perform monthly inspections to assigned areas to ensure proper storage of medications and soon to expired drugs are removed, if assigned.
Uses standard protocols to determine an accurate expiration date for each batch prepared.
Proficiently operates equipment including but not limited to balances and mixing machines in the routing of manufacturing pharmaceutical products.
Answers questions from pharmacy/non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution. Identifies basic therapeutic problems, such as duplicate therapy, and alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for intervention.
Assists in training and orientation of new staff technicians, interns, and students. Assumes an active role in the overall pharmacy-training program consisting of students, interns, residents, and professional and non-professional staff members.
Demonstrates the ability to work under a variety of circumstances to maximize group productivity and quality.
Participate in performance improvement initiatives for pharmacy.
Assists in quality improvement activities by participating in assessment and action teams that will improve service as assigned.
Has operational responsibility for ongoing inventories of drug products, pharmaceutical supplies, and their various methods of procurement.
Cost-effective turnover must be consistently identified and maintained.
They are considered a subject matter expert of procurement sources (i.e., prime vendor, open market, government excess, posted stock etc.) VA manual and hospital procurement policies and procedures.
Displaying a thorough understanding of policies, procedures, basic accounting and budgetary skills, the incumbent assures that pharmaceuticals and supplies are procured and maintained in the most cost-effective manner.
Maintains accountability and oversight of daily purchases.
Monitors the use of National contracts (NAT), Federal supply schedules (FSS), Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) and open market etc. to ensure compliance with federal acquisition regulations, policies, and laws.
Ensures seamless operation of the Drug Accountability Program with pharmacy stake holders.
Maintains records and resolves issues relating to drug accountability.
Comprehensive knowledge of all aspects of drug characteristics and nomenclature including generic and brand names, various systems of weights and measures, drug product codes, drug interchangeability and equivalence, characteristics of drug packaging, what drugs are used for and how they are used, agency/institutional pharmacy regulations and policies, drug storage requirements, and special requirements for procurement, storage, and handling of various classes of drugs.
Assists pharmacists in determining high priority or emergency requirements and initiates procurement activity to local wholesale sources.
Assists in development and/or execution of procedures to procure "special order" products available only through manufacturer-created specialty programs.