Pharmacy Technician - Outpatient

Potomac Healthcare Solutions•Bethesda, MD

10h•Onsite

About The Position

This position involves performing a wide range of pharmacy technician duties in an outpatient setting. The technician will receive and review prescriptions, enter them into the computer system, and coordinate with pharmacists to clarify any issues. Responsibilities include preparing sterile products for critically ill patients, preparing specialized parenteral medications, and maintaining records for investigational drug protocols. The role also involves assisting with drug utilization studies, educating staff on pharmaceutical storage and security, managing stock levels, and providing technical guidance to other technicians. A significant part of the role includes handling controlled substances, ensuring accuracy, appropriateness, and compliance with laws and regulations, and maintaining chain of custody. The technician will interpret physician orders, fill and dispense prescriptions, prepare intravenous additive solutions using sterile technique, and assemble drugs and supplies for distribution. They will also answer routine questions about medication administration and use, maintain working stock levels, check drug expiration dates, and maintain records for controlled substances. The position requires participation in quality assurance activities and assisting pharmacists in training pharmacy technician students and inexperienced technicians.

Requirements

Minimum of two (2) years as a Pharmacy Technician post-graduation.
Must be a graduate of a Pharmacy Technician program accredited by the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists (ASHP) such as the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board or have successfully completed a formal (i.e. technical or hospital-based program) pharmacy technician training program.
Valid, unrestricted, license, as Pharmacy Technician in at least one state, territory or commonwealth of the U.S.
Must have a current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
Must be a US Citizen.

Responsibilities

Receives and reviews prescriptions for the full range of pharmaceuticals to include controlled drugs on the formulary; determines type of substance, strength, dosage, and quantity to be dispensed in accordance with accepted practice and pharmacy standard operating procedures (SOPs)
Enters prescriptions into outpatient computer system reviewing profile for allergies, drug/drug or drug/food interactions, and duplicate orders.
Coordinates with prescriber or pharmacist to clarify issues or problems with dosing, interactions, or instructions; verifies appropriate medication, and checks the printed label affixed to the container against the original prescription for correctness.
Performs all outpatient functions with minimal supervision by a register pharmacist.
Enters and retrieves patient specific information and reports from pharmacy-oriented mainframe computer systems.
Assists with drug utilization review studies as mandated by JCAH.
Prepares sterile products for critically ill patients in intensive care units.
Prepares specialized, "complex" parenteral medications for use in open heart surgery (cardioplegia and coronary artery bypass solutions), pancreas preservation solution, dialysis, transplant surgery, and neonatal dextrose and electrolyte solutions.
Prepares medications for and maintains records on investigational drug protocols in support of the research mission at WRAMC.
Assists in conducting medication storage areas inspections/liaison visits; assists in educating hospital staff or other facility staff on the proper storage, access, and security of pharmaceuticals to include controlled drugs; reviews stock levels to ensue appropriate amount of pharmaceuticals are on hand to include critical care items; provides technical guidance to other pharmacy technicians and helps to resolve problems; sets up, operates, maintains, and assists in training other staff members on common and specialized instruments.
Receives and processes orders for controlled substances from prescriptions, wards, clinics, and pharmacy subsection; screens orders and prescriptions for accuracy, appropriateness and conformity to laws and regulations; performs final pharmacy check and issues controlled substances to authorized areas, completes issue, and controls documents ensuring chain of custody is maintained; safeguards controlled substances according to regulations and pharmacy policies, reports all problems to the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC)/Officer in Charge (OIC) of the Section.
Interpret physicians’ order and perform necessary steps to input, fill and dispense prescriptions within the parameters established by the Pharmacy Policy and Procedures Manual.
Review and prepare orders for intravenous additive solutions, utilizing sterile technique and in accordance with infection control procedures.
Assemble drugs and supplies for distribution to the Primary Care Center (PCC).
Answer routine questions concerning proper administration and use of medications, drug interactions and incompatibilities, availability of drugs, and unit of use. Convey necessary information to the hospital staff and/or patients to ensure correct use.
Maintain adequate levels of working stock, ensuring that all supplies are properly stored, and advise supply personnel of any shortages of medications or supplies.
Check drug supplies to ensure that medications are in date and properly maintained.
Maintain the required records and accountability documents reflecting the issuance and receipt of narcotic and controlled substances.
Implement all departmental policies and procedures and participate in quality assurance activities.
Assist pharmacists in providing guidance and training for pharmacy technician’s students and inexperienced technicians.