Retail Pharmacy Technician

St. Luke’s University Health Network•Easton, PA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the direction of a pharmacist, this role involves delivering medications, filling patient medication orders for outpatient prescriptions, operating the cash register, assisting customers with insurance-related questions, serving customers, answering phones, and utilizing the pharmacy computer system. The position also includes performing administrative duties as assigned. The employee is expected to follow workflow procedures, demonstrate compassion and care by proactively identifying and resolving potential problems, and collaborate with pharmacy teams, medical staff, insurance companies, and customers to ensure accuracy and timely resolution of medication or insurance concerns. The role requires assisting the Pharmacist in filling prescription items as permitted by the State Board of Pharmacy, labeling products appropriately, taking inventory, placing orders, checking in drugs and supplies, stocking shelves, and removing outdated items. Inputting patient data and medication orders into a computer system, preparing medications, packaging medications for dispensing, and processing return-to-stock medications are also key responsibilities. Maintaining a clean work area, keeping adequate par levels of medications, and removing outdated drugs are essential. The technician will deliver or retrieve medications when necessary, utilize effective interpersonal communication skills while maintaining patient confidentiality, and address co-workers and customers pleasantly and cooperatively. Communication with hospital staff, physician office personnel, other caregivers, and insurance carriers is required. Verification of correct prescriptions at the point of sale and obtaining refill authorization from prescribers are also part of the duties. The role involves performing routine activities with minimal supervision, offering additional help, and participating in training new employees. Maintaining confidentiality of all materials and ensuring proper release of information is critical. Compliance with Network and departmental policies regarding employee, patient, and environmental safety, as well as attendance and dress code, is mandatory. The position requires demonstrating the Network’s Service Excellence Standards of Performance, Performance Improvement in clinical care, customer service, operational systems, and safety, and demonstrating financial responsibility and accountability. Competency in assessment, treatment range, knowledge of growth and development, and age-appropriate communication is also required.

Requirements

PA Pharmacy Technician Licensure required
Ability to type at least 35 words per minute
Knowledge of computer operations
High school diploma or graduate equivalent degree

Nice To Haves

National certification preferred
3-5 Years Retail Pharmacy experience preferred
Knowledge of Data Entry experience is a plus
Strong knowledge of pharmacy insurance plans and plan rules
Understanding of medical terminology and calculations
Knowledge of medication brand and generic names
Knowledge of insurance and third-party payment systems

Responsibilities

Effectively follows workflow procedures with an in-depth understanding of each workstation (i.e., Pick-Up, Drop-Off, Production) for day-to-day processing of patient medication orders.
Demonstrates compassion and care by proactively identifying and resolving potential problems to ensure customers have their medications when needed; collaborations with immediate and extended pharmacy teams, medical staff, insurance companies, and customers alike to resolve issues, ensure accuracy, and deliver timely resolution of any medication or insurance related concerns.
Fills medications from computer-generated labels.
Demonstrates ability to answer telephone/window and deal with visitors to pharmacy appropriately.
Demonstrates ability to involve other pharmacy staff when appropriate.
Directs all drug information questions to a pharmacist, communicates in a courteous and professional manner utilizing proper etiquette, and communicates all pertinent information to the technician on the next shift.
Assists the Pharmacist in filling prescription items, as permitted by the State Board of Pharmacy.
Labels products appropriately, including cautionary or auxiliary labels.
Takes inventory, places orders, checks in drugs and supplies, stocks shelves and removes out-of-date items from the inventory.
Inputs patient data medication orders into a computer system.
Prepares medications including emulsions, liquids, powders, and ointments.
Packages medications for dispensing for delivery.
Processes return to stock medications.
Keeps work area clean, neat, and free of excess items, maintains adequate par levels of medications within shift and removes all outdated drugs.
Delivers or retrieves medications when the supervising pharmacist views the situation as necessary.
Utilizes effective interpersonal communication skills while maintaining confidentiality of patient information and addresses co-workers and customers in a pleasant and cooperative manner.
Communicate with hospital staff, physician office personnel and other caregivers in a pleasant and professional manner.
Communicate with insurance carriers to obtain payment for prescription claims.
At point of sale, verify that customer receives the correct prescription(s).
Communicate with prescribers and their agents to obtain refill authorization.
Performs routine activities with minimal supervision, offering to provide additional help when needed, and participates in training of new employees.
Maintains confidentiality of all materials handled within the Network/ Entity as well as the proper release of information.
Complies with Network and departmental policies regarding issues of employee, patient and environmental safety and follows appropriate reporting requirements.
Demonstrates/models the Network’s Service Excellence Standards of Performance in interactions with all customers (internal and external).
Demonstrates Performance Improvement in the following areas as appropriate: Clinical Care/Outcomes, Customer/Service Improvement, Operational System/Process, and Safety.
Demonstrates financial responsibility and accountability through the effective and efficient use of resources in daily procedures, processes and practices.
Complies with Network and departmental policies regarding attendance and dress code.
Demonstrates competency in the assessment, range of treatment, knowledge of growth and development and communication appropriate to the age of the patient treated.