Specialty Pharmacy Tech II, Full-Time

Hackensack Meridian Health - Paramus, NJ

Full-time - Mid Level

Paramus, NJ

Hospitals

About the position

The Specialty Pharmacy Technician II at Hackensack Meridian Health plays a vital role in the preparation of sterile medications for patients, ensuring safety and accuracy in the compounding process. This position requires collaboration with pharmacists and other healthcare professionals to provide sterile compounding services while adhering to strict regulatory guidelines. The technician will be responsible for preparing both hazardous and non-hazardous intravenous (IV) admixtures and other sterile products, following established protocols in compliance with USP standards. In this role, the technician will maintain aseptic techniques throughout the compounding process to minimize contamination and ensure patient safety. Quality assurance is a key responsibility, which includes routine cleaning, testing, and monitoring of compounding equipment, cleanrooms, and laminar airflow hoods to ensure optimal performance and adherence to quality standards. The technician will also manage and monitor inventory of sterile compounding drugs and supplies, ensuring adequate stock levels and proper storage conditions. Documentation is critical in this position, as the technician will maintain accurate and detailed records of compounding activities, including batch records, logs, and quality control documentation. Collaboration with pharmacists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals is essential to meet patient needs and ensure timely medication delivery. The technician must adhere to all safety protocols and regulations, including the handling of hazardous drugs and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Continuous learning is encouraged to stay current with industry trends, guidelines, and best practices related to sterile compounding. The technician will also prepare uncomplicated and complicated parenteral mixtures for hazardous and non-hazardous preparations, utilizing CTSD devices and tubing to prepare complex chemotherapy products proficiently and safely. Responsibilities include delivering controlled substances and other medications to nursing units' automated medication dispensing cabinets (ADC) accurately and timely, filling controlled substance orders, and maintaining all necessary paperwork and legal documents for medications, including chemotherapy prepared for administration. The technician must assume responsibility for performing job duties safely and report any preventable hazards or unsafe practices immediately to management. Overall, the Specialty Pharmacy Technician II is integral to the pharmacy team, ensuring that patients receive the highest quality of care through safe and effective medication preparation and delivery.

Responsibilities

• Prepare sterile medications, including hazardous and non-hazardous intravenous (IV) admixtures and other sterile products, following established protocols and in compliance with USP and standards.
• Maintain aseptic techniques throughout the compounding process to minimize contamination and ensure patient safety.
• Conduct routine cleaning, testing, and monitoring of compounding equipment, cleanrooms, and laminar airflow hoods to ensure optimal performance and adherence to quality standards.
• Manage and monitor inventory of sterile compounding drugs and supplies, ensuring adequate stock levels and proper storage conditions.
• Maintain accurate and detailed records of compounding activities, including batch records, logs, and quality control documentation.
• Collaborate effectively with pharmacists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to meet the needs of patients and ensure the timely delivery of medications.
• Adhere to all safety protocols and regulations, including the handling of hazardous drugs, personal protective equipment (PPE) use, and waste disposal.
• Stay current with industry trends, guidelines, and best practices related to sterile compounding through ongoing education and training.
• Prepare uncomplicated and/or complicated parenteral mixtures for hazardous and non-hazardous preparations in the finished form such as large volume, small volume, infusion syringe, infusion pump or other modality as required.
• Utilize CTSD devices and tubing to prepare complex chemotherapy products proficiently and safely as possible.
• Deliver controlled substances and other medications to nursing units' automated medication dispensing cabinets (ADC) timely and accurately.
• Prepare medications and subsequently load and unload medication into ADC with appropriate bar code scanning.
• Support the drug inventory process including rotation and restocking of drug dispensing areas with drugs and supplies needed to process patient medication orders.
• Answer phones according to established phone etiquette and direct calls to the proper personnel.
• Fill controlled substance orders and reconcile all discrepancies on a daily basis.
• Fill and dispense unit dose, IV Admixtures, and/or chemotherapeutic medications under the direction of pharmacists.
• Maintain all necessary paperwork, legal documents, and records for all medications, including chemotherapy prepared for administration.
• Assume responsibility for performance of job duties in the safest possible manner, to ensure personal safety and that of coworkers, and to report all preventable hazards and unsafe practices immediately to management.
• Assist licensed pharmacists to formulate, label and dispense medications and other health care products in accordance with regulatory requirements.
• Lift a minimum of 5 lbs., push and pull a minimum of 5 lbs. and stand a minimum of 4 hours a day.
• Perform other duties and/or projects as assigned.

Requirements

• High School diploma, general equivalency diploma (GED), and/or GED equivalent programs.
• Minimum of 2 years of sterile compounding experience.
• Minimum of 2 years of hospital or similar experience.
• Minimum of 6 months of oncology compounding experience.
• Strong knowledge of aseptic techniques, USP and standards, and compounding equipment.
• Experience in the utilization of CTSD devices and tubing to prepare complex chemotherapy products.
• Knowledge of relevant regulatory requirements and compliance standards.
• Attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining a sterile environment.
• Effective communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a team.
• Proficiency in using software and computer applications such as EPIC.
• Strong knowledge of brand/generic oncology medications.

Nice-to-haves

• Cert Compounded Sterile Preparation Tech.
• NPTA Sterile Compounding Pharmacy Tech Certification.
• NPTA Hazardous Compounding Certification.

Benefits

• Competitive benefits package
• Supportive work environment
• Opportunities for continuous learning and professional development