Pharmacy Technician/Trainee, McKeesport Hospital Outpatient Pharmacy

UPMC•McKeesport, PA

9h•Onsite

About The Position

UPMC Community Pharmacy is hiring a full-time Pharmacy Technician/Trainee for the outpatient pharmacy at UPMC McKeesport Hospital, part of the UPMC Retail Pharmacy Network. The pharmacy fills retail prescriptions for patients leaving the hospital through Meds to Beds delivery, patients attending clinic appointments, and local residents. Candidates at all levels of pharmacy technician experience are encouraged to apply. Retail pharmacy experience can transfer well to this role, which offers opportunities for rewarding patient interactions. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with Sundays and holidays off. A shift every other Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. is required. A $5,000 sign-on bonus is available to eligible candidates. The role supports medication preparation and distribution, including sterile products and investigational drugs; maintains pharmacy inventory, records, equipment, and work areas; assists patients and hospital personnel; and follows applicable safety, privacy, and regulatory requirements. Pharmacy Technician Trainee candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent and, for Pennsylvania locations, registration as a Pharmacy Trainee with the State Board of Pharmacy. Pharmacy Technician candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent and meet one of the listed education or experience pathways. State registration requirements apply according to the employee’s work location.

Requirements

Completion of a high school diploma or equivalent is required for both Pharmacy Technician Trainee and Pharmacy Technician candidates.
For the Pharmacy Technician Trainee title, no previous pharmacy experience is required; this title is intended for candidates without previous pharmacy experience.
For Pennsylvania locations, Pharmacy Technician Trainees must register as a Pharmacy Trainee with the State Board of Pharmacy.
For the Pharmacy Technician title, candidates must meet at least one of the following: completion of an accredited pharmacy technician program; six months of previous pharmacy technician experience; six months of experience as a Pharmacy Assistant within the UPMC Health System; or enrollment in an undergraduate pharmacy program in good standing.
PA State Board of Pharmacy registration is required for Pennsylvania locations. An individual with a Pharmacy Intern license does not need to register with the State of Pennsylvania.
Registration requirements depend on the state in which the employee works.
Additional business-unit criteria may apply, such as a valid driver’s license and automobile insurance.
Work every other Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Nice To Haves

Retail pharmacy experience is noted as transferable to this role.

Responsibilities

Assist in filling medication orders through accurate labeling, counting, stocking, and required product dating and initials.
Prepare oral and injectable medications, including intravenous admixtures and TPN, for the correct patient and appropriate administration time using proper techniques.
Prepare cytotoxic and hazardous drugs, including chemotherapy, in the Sterile Product area using appropriate aseptic technique.
Participate in medication distribution, including medication cassettes, emergency medication carts, and controlled substances, in accordance with department policy and applicable requirements.
Retrieve discontinued medications and return them, with credits when necessary, to the appropriate pharmacy area.
Develop and maintain positive, productive service relationships during medication distribution.
Assist with procurement, accountability, storage, preparation, and distribution of investigational and study drugs.
Provide and receive information by telephone, in person, or in writing with hospital personnel, patients, and visitors; refer drug information questions to Staff Pharmacists.
Ensure medications are safely and securely stored according to applicable Department of Health, The Joint Commission, and State Board of Pharmacy requirements.
Maintain a clean, organized, and adequately stocked work environment and practice appropriate hand hygiene in the pharmacy and units.
Use computer systems to process and maintain patient information and records, and maintain required documentation such as eyewash, refrigerator, and perpetual inventory logs.
Finalize sales using a cash register and follow cash-handling policies and procedures.
Comply with applicable federal and state laws, OSHA regulations, HIPAA, and PBM contracting requirements such as FWA and CMS requirements.
Procure and maintain adequate inventory in applicable areas, including pharmacy medication stock rooms, automated medication carousels, and automated dispensing machines.
Maintain and update automated medication stations, unit and department stock, emergency boxes, and crash carts.
Assist in training pharmacy personnel and students.
Maintain accurate controlled-substance records and distribution processes; audit records and ensure controlled drugs are stored and dispensed in compliance with applicable regulations.
Participate in departmental quality-improvement activities to evaluate and improve pharmaceutical care using operational and patient-care indicators.