SIH-PHARMACY TECH-PD

Sparrow Health System - Ionia, MI

Full-time - Entry Level

Ionia, MI

Ambulatory Health Care Services

About the position

The Pharmacy Technician position at Sparrow Health System is a critical role that involves compounding and dispensing medications accurately while adhering to established operational protocols. The technician will be responsible for processing retail prescriptions and assisting pharmacists with various related duties. This position requires a strong commitment to patient safety and confidentiality, as well as compliance with federal, state, and local laws regarding medication handling and patient information. The technician will work in a dynamic environment, where they will be expected to manage multiple tasks efficiently and effectively. In this role, the technician will answer phone calls, relay messages, and process new and refill prescription orders in a timely manner. They will collect necessary information to fill prescriptions and ensure that all data entered into the computer system is accurate and secure. The technician will assist pharmacists in the safe preparation and delivery of intravenous (IV) medications and other pharmaceuticals, following all instructions and directives provided by the pharmacists. Additionally, they will verify orders with the pharmacist, particularly in cases where medications may not align with the patient's condition or previous prescriptions. The technician will also be responsible for maintaining a clean and safe work environment, which includes organizing and restocking medications, managing outdated or overstocked items, and ensuring compliance with Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) guidelines. They will mix IV additive solutions and chemotherapy as required, using aseptic techniques, and will be involved in the compounding of both non-sterile and sterile medications, adhering to the standards set by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). Overall, this position is essential for ensuring that patients receive their medications safely and effectively, while also supporting the overall operations of the pharmacy department.

Responsibilities

• Compounds and dispenses medications accurately according to established operations.
• Processes new and refill prescription orders in a timely manner.
• Collects information needed to fill prescriptions and records it appropriately.
• Abides by federal, state, and local laws to collect and prepare patient information.
• Enters data into the computer while considering patient safety and confidentiality.
• Keeps all prescription forms after prescriptions are dispensed.
• Assists pharmacist in safe preparation and delivery of IVs and medications.
• Follows pharmacist instructions and directives in performing daily duties.
• Verifies all orders with the Pharmacist on duty and informs them of any discrepancies.
• Assists in maintaining a clean and safe work environment.
• Prepares prescriptions by counting, packaging, pouring medications, and labeling containers.
• Orders medication from wholesalers or manufacturers and ancillary pharmacy supplies.
• Communicates with pharmacist regarding prescriber and patient questions and medication warnings or interactions.
• Receives, prices, and stocks all orders from wholesalers and manufacturers, updating drug prices as needed.
• Organizes outdated or overstocked medications for return to manufacturers for credit.
• Maintains various daily logs according to JCAHO guidelines.
• Checks crash carts, restocks Pyxis machines, and distributes medications to nursing units.
• Mixes IV additive solutions and chemotherapy as required using aseptic technique.
• Compounds non-sterile medications and sterile medications according to USP standards.

Requirements

• Certified as a Pharmacy Technician (PTCB)
• State of Michigan Pharmacy Technician License
• Experience as a Pharmacy Technician, preferred
• High School Diploma or GED
• Excellent oral & written communication skills
• Excellent time management skills
• Strong departmental team player
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to work well under pressure