Pharmacy Technician, Casual

UPMC•Pittsburgh, PA

About The Position

UPMC Mercy is hiring a casual Pharmacy Technician to support its pharmacy. The position works varied shifts based on departmental needs, including four weekend days per month, three holidays per year, and three shifts per month, one of which is a Friday evening. Title and salary are determined at the time of offer and are commensurate with experience. The entry-level title is Pharmacy Trainee, with a starting rate of $19.20 per hour. The Pharmacy Technician provides pharmaceutical care to patients within the UPMC Health System by assisting with sterile and nonsterile medication preparation, medication filling, and medication distribution. Services must comply with Department of Health, The Joint Commission, and State Board of Pharmacy regulations.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
In addition to a high school diploma or equivalent, 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 and in good standing.
PA State Board of Pharmacy registration is required for Pennsylvania locations.
For New York facilities, technicians performing sterile compounding must hold certification from a nationally accredited pharmacy technician certification program (CPhT) and be registered with the New York State Board of Pharmacy. Non-licensed technicians in New York facilities may not perform sterile compounding.
If an individual has a Pharmacy Intern license, they do not need to register with the State of Pennsylvania.
Registration requirements depend on the state where the employee works.
A driver’s license and automotive insurance are required under the specified PA RxPartners business-unit criteria.
NY Registered Pharmacy Technician (RPhT) or PA Pharmacy Tech Registration, as applicable.
Act 34 clearance.

Responsibilities

Assist in filling medication orders by correctly labeling, counting, and stocking medications, and initialing and dating products as required.
Prepare oral and injectable medications, including intravenous admixtures and total parenteral nutrition, for the correct patient and administration time using proper technique.
Prepare cytotoxic and hazardous drugs, including chemotherapy, in the Sterile Product area using proper aseptic technique.
Participate in medication distribution, including medication cassettes, emergency medication carts, and controlled substances, according to department policy and state and federal requirements.
Retrieve discontinued medications and return them, and issue 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.
Communicate with hospital personnel, patients, and visitors by telephone, in person, or in writing; refer drug information questions to Staff Pharmacists.
Ensure medications are safely and securely stored according to applicable regulations.
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, including eye wash, 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, including HIPAA, OSHA regulations, and PBM contracting requirements such as FWA and CMS.
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 follow compliant storage and distribution processes; audit records and ensure controlled drugs are stored and dispensed in accordance with federal, state, and department regulations.
Participate in departmental quality-improvement activities to evaluate and continually improve pharmaceutical care, as reflected by operational and patient-care indicators.