Pharmacy Tech Specialist Retail

Advocate Aurora Health - Arlington Heights, IL

Full-time - Entry Level

Arlington Heights, IL

Hospitals

About the position

The Pharmacy Tech Specialist Retail position at Aurora Specialty Pharmacy involves providing high-touch care for patients requiring delicate, high-cost, and exclusive medications. The role is based in a closed-door specialty pharmacy located in Menomonee Falls, WI, and is part of a dedicated team of 16 skilled pharmacy technicians and pharmacist coordinators. The position requires working in a fast-paced environment, engaging in various responsibilities such as patient and provider phone calls, prescription filling, medication packaging, and inventory management. The work schedule includes rotating shifts from 8 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Friday, with occasional Saturday shifts from 9 AM to 1 PM, and the pharmacy is closed on major holidays. As a Pharmacy Tech Specialist, you will perform complex pharmaceutical processes that require advanced skills and knowledge beyond those of a standard pharmacy technician. This includes working in atypical environments such as compounding and remote dispensaries. You will serve as an expert in specialized areas, problem-solving technical issues as they arise and identifying quality improvement opportunities to ensure safe and effective patient care. The role also involves compliance with legal, regulatory, and accreditation standards, and you will be expected to stay current with changes in the field and collaborate with department leadership to adopt best practices. In addition to your technical responsibilities, you will act as a resource for other pharmacy team members, physicians, nurses, and ancillary departments, helping to resolve complex problems and ensuring that issues are escalated and addressed appropriately. You will collaborate with department leaders to develop and coordinate education, training, and competency for team members, and serve as a liaison to system pharmacy teams in your specialty area. The position requires a strong understanding of age-specific patient care needs and the ability to assess and interpret data reflective of each patient's status.

Responsibilities

• Perform services and functions within assigned areas requiring advanced skills and knowledge beyond those of a standard Pharmacy Technician.
• Work in atypical environments such as compounding and remote dispensaries.
• Serve as an expert with equipment and technology in specialized areas, solving technical issues as they arise.
• Identify quality improvement opportunities to ensure safe, effective, and efficient services and patient care.
• Provide input to and support the implementation of operational changes and advancements.
• Participate in specialized work teams, committees, and councils.
• Act as a role model in clinical support needs, including DIR fees.
• Comply with legal, regulatory, and accreditation standards, and stay current with changes in the specialized field.
• Collaborate with department leadership to adopt best practices and hold others accountable to them.
• Serve as a resource for other pharmacy team members, physicians, nurses, and ancillary departments, solving complex problems and escalating issues as needed.
• Collaborate with department leaders to develop and coordinate education, training, and competency for team members.
• Train other team members in specialized areas.
• Act as the department liaison to system pharmacy teams in specialty areas, communicating changes effectively.

Requirements

• Pharmacy Technician certification (CPhT) issued by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board or Pharmacy Technician Certified (CPhT) issued by the National Healthcare Association.
• High School Graduate.
• Typically requires 5 years of experience as a Pharmacy Technician, depending on specialty area.
• Good mathematical skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Exceptional customer service, communication, organization, problem resolution, and process development skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, maintain confidentiality, and take initiative.
• Advanced computer skills.

Nice-to-haves

• Diabetic shoe fitting certification (to be obtained through on-the-job training if applicable).

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage.
• Paid time off for major holidays.
• Flexible scheduling options.