Pharmacy Technician, Correctional Health Services (30987)

Physician Affiliate Group of New York • Astoria, NY

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Pharmacy Technician performs technical tasks in unit dose, carry, and outpatient drug distribution systems, along with other duties of a satellite pharmacy. All work performed by the technician is subject to approval by a Registered Pharmacist. The role supports Correctional Health Services, which delivers medical care, mental health care, and discharge planning in New York City’s jail system. The position is a float role based on Rikers Island and includes travel between facilities on Rikers Island and borough houses.

Duties include preparing and distributing medications, maintaining patient and medication records, managing pharmacy and clinic drug stock, ordering and receiving supplies, packaging unit-dose medications, and recording statistical information. The technician distributes only medication checked and approved by a pharmacist, refers medication questions or concerns to a pharmacist or clinic, and maintains confidentiality. Work takes place in pharmacy and clinic/infirmary areas within a jail setting, with frequent walking, standing, sitting, reaching, and bending.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalency diploma.
• Registered Pharmacy Technician in New York.
• Completion of an approved Pharmacy Technician Training program or demonstrated equivalent experience.
• For new hires or promotions as of January 2012, certification as a pharmacy technician by PTCB.
• Demonstrated pharmacy competence and independent decision-making and problem-solving abilities.
• Knowledge of brand and generic medication names and drug uses.
• Ability to use email, scanners, copiers, and fax machines.
• Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English.
• Ability to travel and walk frequently between facilities; lift up to 20 pounds frequently and up to 35 pounds when needed; and help push or pull medication carts weighing up to 300 pounds.
• Ability to stand for long periods, sit, reach, bend, twist, reach forward and overhead, and use both hands with adequate range of motion and manual dexterity.
• Ability to use a computer keyboard, mouse, and handheld scanner, read labels and reports, and hear.

Responsibilities

• Pick up patient medication orders, scan orders to other buildings or the central pharmacy, and notify the pharmacist of changes needed to patient profiles.
• Fill and label patient cassettes, medication bags, discharge medications, and DOT medications; deliver medications to nursing after pharmacist review.
• Review court medication lists and Pyxis availability, and arrange for medications needed for morning court distribution.
• Record methadone statistics, review distribution books, document missed doses, and notify the pharmacist; review administration records to verify methadone doses when outside clinics call.
• Process transfer reports, identify medication needs, prepare doses for pharmacist checking, and coordinate with other building pharmacies for DOT or methadone records when needed.
• Transport and exchange patient cassettes at medication clinic areas and file completed fill lists, distribution lists, methadone sheets, and related records.
• Check, rotate, and restock drug supplies; fill Pyxis machines; monitor stock levels and expiration dates; maintain floor-stock inventory records; and deliver emergency boxes and other requested items.
• Prepare weekly pharmacy stock orders, enter and transmit orders, reconcile deliveries against packing slips or invoices, report discrepancies, and put received stock away using appropriate rotation.
• Inspect drug storage areas monthly, prepare outdated-drug manifests, and pack expired medications for return to Central Medical Supply.
• Prepare and record extemporaneous unit-dose prepackaging; record daily and other required statistics; and provide reports or information as requested.
• Use pharmacy and medical computer systems to enter and retrieve information, and print or reprint reports and labels as required.
• Keep pharmacy areas clean, orderly, and stocked; help arrange sanitation and cleaning; and allow new personnel to shadow.
• Support quality assurance and patient care, remind patients about medications and pickup when appropriate, refer patients to a pharmacist or sick call for further help, and identify missing data between medical and pharmacy systems.
• Distribute pharmacist-approved medications to correctly identified patients, document receipt and days’ supply, and refer medication questions, noncompliance, or tolerance difficulties to the pharmacist or clinic.
• Report medication-distribution delays or other service disruptions to the appropriate correctional personnel and on-island administrator, and provide updates on their resolution.
• Maintain confidentiality and dispose of unneeded reports and labels in shredding containers.
• Set up and operate liquid and solid unit-dose repackaging machines, maintain and clean them after runs, package oral solids for the carry system, and follow packaging recordkeeping and control procedures.
• Assist associates and maintain cooperative, professional communication with pharmacy managers, patients, visitors, correctional staff, and outside agency personnel.

Benefits

• 401(k) account for employee contributions, with immediate vesting in employee contributions.
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSAs).
• Pre-tax employee-paid contributions for commuting expenses.
• Union-provided benefits; this is an 1199 union position.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: High school or GED