Research Pharmacy Technician (Investigational Drug Service)

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia•Philadelphia, PA

5d•$26 - $32

About The Position

The Research Pharmacy Technician, within the Investigational Drug Service (IDS), reports to the IDS Pharmacy Supervisor and assists with pharmacy activities under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. The position provides technical support for clinical trial protocols by managing trial inventory, preparing and distributing investigational products according to protocol, and following standard operating procedures and applicable regulations. The role also prepares patient-specific and non-patient-specific compounded sterile preparations (CSPs) while maintaining quality controls intended to prevent contamination, incorrect strength, and other risks to patients. CSPs must be prepared safely and aseptically in accordance with USP 797, USP 800, CHOP Pharmacy SOPs, and applicable federal, state, and department requirements. The technician supports inventory and controlled-substance controls, accurate documentation, patient safety, and continuous quality improvement. The position requires the knowledge and skills to support the needs of CHOP’s patient population and the mission of CHOP and its Research Institute.

Requirements

Must be registered as a Pharmacy Technician in Pennsylvania.
High School Diploma or GED.
Basic computer skills, including use of the Windows operating system and word processors.
Calculation skills.
Complete required initial and recurring aseptic technique training and pass competency tests, including specified electronic competencies and practical evaluations.
Comply with dress code, PPE, aseptic technique, cleaning, disinfection, sanitization, and documentation requirements for sterile-product areas.
Receive an annual influenza vaccine if working in patient-care buildings or in a patient-facing role.

Nice To Haves

Technical Diploma in a Pharmacy Technician Program.
Experience in sterile products compounding.
Experience in an Investigational Drug Service.
Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), preferred upon hire.
Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) through the National Association for Health Professionals (NAHP), preferred upon hire.

Responsibilities

Provide technical and operational support for clinical trial protocols in accordance with IDS policies and procedures.
Prepare and distribute investigational products, medications, and supplies accurately, in the appropriate quantities, and when needed, following protocols and pharmacy investigational drug data sheets.
Maintain clinical trial inventory according to protocol requirements and IDS SOPs.
Maintain the proper functioning of equipment and systems used by IDS, and respond to inquiries from pharmacy staff, study coordinators, monitors, and auditors.
Prepare and verify the accurate identification, measurement, reconstitution, dilution, mixing, sterilization, packaging, labeling, and storage of patient-specific and non-patient-specific CSPs.
Prepare CSPs aseptically and safely in accordance with USP 797, USP 800, CHOP Pharmacy SOPs, and applicable requirements; use ingredients of correct identity, quality, and purity and store them appropriately.
Clean, maintain, and use equipment, devices, fixtures, work areas, and sterile-product rooms according to CHOP SOPs; keep floors, sinks, and surfaces clean.
Label CSPs with required information and assign beyond-use dates according to CHOP SOPs; ensure a pharmacist verifies prepared CSPs before dispensing.
Prepare CSPs within assigned cycle times to meet stated turnaround expectations: no more than one hour for first-dose and non-STAT orders and no more than 15 minutes for STAT orders.
Complete required aseptic technique training, competency assessments, recertification, PPE practices, and documentation for clean-room operations.
Comply with sterile-product compounding regulations and standards, including USP 797, USP 800, CMS Conditions of Participation, FDA Compounding Guidance, and TJC standards.
Maintain inventory in accordance with the Kanban system; organize and rotate stock, manage expiration dates, reorder expired or needed medications, and store inventory under appropriate conditions.
Replace prescription drugs in hospital stock following requisitions from hospital departments, manually or through the Pyxis System.
Document controlled-substance and investigational-product transactions completely and accurately; maintain secure storage and required inventory records, perform controlled-substance counts, and destroy returned controlled-substance continuous medication infusions as required.
Apply LEAN principles, standardized procedures, and standard work to promote patient safety, identify and reduce waste, correct abnormal conditions, and recommend solutions.
Participate in hospital and departmental continuous quality improvement activities, including departmental RPI, using systematic problem-solving and the scientific method.
Work overtime to allow coworkers to participate in department RPI.