Pharmacy Technician-Casual

Independence Health System Careers•Unity Township, PA

About The Position

The Pharmacy Technician works under a Pharmacist’s supervision and follows established policies and procedures to assist with medication distribution. Duties include preparing medication orders and cassettes, delivering and retrieving medications, maintaining stock and automated dispensing cabinets, using pharmacy systems and packaging equipment, and supporting pharmacy communications and customer service. The position may also staff the IV Room after completing required training and competency requirements, preparing IV medications and parenteral nutrition for Pharmacist review in accordance with USP 797 and 800 guidelines. The role includes extensive packaging and robot operations, including maintaining packaging equipment and robot-ready inventory, entering medication identification and expiration details, meeting daily production expectations of 2,000 to 3,000 doses across three machines, and coordinating prepackaging and inventory needs with buyers from other campuses. Other duties may be assigned. The position has no direct supervisory responsibilities, but may coach and mentor other department positions. Scheduling is based on operational needs and may include rotating shifts, standby, or on-call work. Local travel between Independence Health locations may be expected.

Requirements

High school diploma, GED, or higher level of education.
Current registration to function as a pharmacy technician with the Pennsylvania State Board of Pharmacy, or current registration as a pharmacy technician trainee. Trainee registration may not exceed two cumulative years.
If registered as a pharmacy technician trainee, provide proof of registration renewal every six months, without exceeding two cumulative years as a trainee.
Strong organizational skills, independent and critical-thinking skills, sound judgment, and knowledge of legal aspects and liability of nursing practice.
Ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.
Act 34 Pennsylvania Criminal Record Check from the Pennsylvania State Police system.
For IV Room duties, prior completion of department IV training and competency is required.
Demonstrated skill and proficiency to be scheduled for IV shifts on weekends or holidays.
Ability to meet the stated packaging production expectation of at least 2,000 to 3,000 doses daily from all three machines.
When lifting more than 50 pounds, use two-person lift assistance and/or a transfer device.

Nice To Haves

One year of prior Hospital Pharmacy Technician experience.

Responsibilities

Fill new medication orders and cassettes and prepare them for Pharmacist review.
Assist with reconciliation of missing orders and doses and complete required documentation.
Deliver medications to patient care areas and appropriate nursing-unit storage locations, including patient rooms; retrieve discontinued and discharged patients’ medications and return them to the Pharmacy.
Deliver stock medications, maintain medication locations for transfers and discharges, exchange medication cassettes daily, and complete assigned charging and crediting functions.
Prepackage medications, including oral liquids, simple batch compounds, and starter doses, for review.
Restock automated dispensing cabinets and troubleshoot return-bin or other issues.
Use the Pharmacy operating system and operate and maintain the robot for first doses and cart-fill processes; troubleshoot issues and keep robot-ready stock replenished.
Use the tube system, secure transaction function, and do-not-tube list.
Stock and rotate medications, check expiration dates, maintain adequate stock, and complete monthly expiration checks for the assigned inspection section.
Fill emergency trays, anesthesia trays, ancillary department stock requests, and medication boxes.
Facilitate Pharmacy communications, answer and triage telephone calls, monitor the Pharmacy Window, and assist customers.
Staff the IV Room when necessary after completing department IV training and competency requirements.
Prepare IV medications and parenteral nutrition (TPN) for review under USP 797 and 800 guidelines; label premixed IV medications and prepare batch mini-bag-plus IV medications for Pharmacist review.
Maintain clean-room conditions and follow quality assurance protocols, including temperature and humidity monitoring, hood cleaning, handwashing, and required clean-room garb.
Demonstrate proficiency to be scheduled for IV shifts on weekends or holidays.
Complete thorough training in basic technician functions and duties.
Assist Pharmacists with outpatient prescriptions as necessary.
Operate packaging machines, including setup, reporting, and troubleshooting for the APS Overwrap Packager, Euclid Cadet, and Euclid Punch Cadet.
Enter required packaging information, including NDC, manufacturer, barcode, lot number, and expiration date.
Complete average daily production of at least 2,000 to 3,000 doses across the three packaging machines.
Anticipate and manage robot-ready stock needs; restock the robot daily using the restocking report.
Coordinate prepackaging needs with buyers from other campuses.
Maintain bulk supply inventory by placing daily drug orders using the Repackaging Report and Wholesaler Reordering Report.
Run and retain each machine’s packaging log detail report for the recommended period.
Maintain robot utilization and efficiency; use the cell map adjustment report twice monthly to add or remove medications and rearrange rods as needed, ensuring packaging is checked and verified by a Pharmacist.
Perform other duties as assigned.