Pharmaceutical Buyer

Job Summary

The Pharmacy Buyer is responsible for all aspects of pharmaceutical purchasing. Must demonstrate stewardship and inventory control by ensuring an appropriate balance of stock to meet patient need while staying on budget. Receives, prepares and places drug and supply orders on a daily basis. Takes initiative and utilizes problem solving in purchasing patterns with respect to drug shortages to prevent risk of delayed therapy or inability to treat patients. Is responsible for maintaining compliance with the 340B Program by making the correct determination whether to purchase on PHS, GPO or WAC contracts based on eligibility. Must comply with CAMC formulary policy and purchase preferred NDCs with few exceptions. Uses sound judgment to optimize cost savings by identifying changes in preferred items to the most favorable priced alternative consistent with quality, quantity and required specifications. Validates the items and quantities received in each order are correct as stated on the accompanying packing slip or invoice. Must ensure compliance with state and federal regulatory guidelines with all purchasing practices.

Responsibilities

* Receiving and Ordering: Receive and unpack orders, check quantities against invoice and place the items into stock under appropriate storage conditions. Manage inventory by completing a physical review of the current inventory of pharmaceuticals, IV solutions and supply inventory levels and comparing it against established par levels. Use the purchase order prepare process as provided by the pharmacy wholesaler ordering system to ensure preferred items are being purchased with few exceptions. Verify eligible quantities to purchase on PHS, GPO or WAC contracts based on accumulator balances available for each National Drug Code (NDC). Appropriately complete a purchase requisition with correct vendor, price and terms for supply items. • Inventory Control and Supply Chain Management: Manage inventory for the pharmacy to ensure on hand stock is adequate to meet the needs of the patient census while staying on budget with expense. Notify management when budget may be exceeded due to buy ins, peak utilization of expensive items, etc. Make purchasing decisions within scope of authority and seek approval/guidance from management when necessary on buy ins to ensure pharmacy can maintain adequate stock through the duration of a national drug shortage. Specifically notify supervisor and pharmacy leadership about impending drug shortages. Seek out improved and/or less costly drugs/IV solutions/supplies within classifications from approved vendors and wholesalers. Manage inventory by controlling the purchase of non-formulary items unless approved through a non-formulary request process. • Communication and Teamwork: Compliance with purchasing policies and procedures to include obtaining approval of appropriate managers for unusual purchasing requests. Ensure customer and patient needs are being met. Participate in the implementation of goals and objectives, and policy and procedures of the department. Assist in the education of pharmacy staff on non-formulary request process. Make recommendations to manager(s) on new opportunities identified of products or equipment that are lower in cost, better quality and/or easier to procure. Communicate with manager(s) and/or vendors to resolve problems such as drug shortages or issues affecting the budget. Keep management or other appropriate personnel advised of lead-time required to obtain special order items. • Sound Judgment: Participate in relevant Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) initiatives. Establish priorities to maintain workflow. Make quick and calculated decisions on amounts of stock to maintain, especially during drug shortages, when notified of special circumstances or patients scheduled to receive unusually high doses of medication. Recognize the symptoms of upcoming drug shortages and take proactive measures to prevent stock outs. Make decisions to perform purchasing of 340B drugs to ensure compliance with the 340B program. • Maintenance and Organization of Inventory: Remove recalled items from inventory. Identify items that are returnable, such as overstock that will not be used before expiration, recalled items, items made non-formulary, short dated product, etc, and process them for return. Assist in pulling expired medications from stock and monitor refrigerator temperatures to ensure proper storage. Maintain adequate storage space and proper organization of the inventory. Update reorder point labels on a quarterly basis. Perform housekeeping duties as necessary to keep the storeroom and Pharmacy Department stock areas clean and orderly. • Reporting: Maintain records in compliance with regulations and procedures. Document action taken on each drug recall. Maintain a log of purchase orders (PO) daily for the purpose of tracking orders. Post order confirmations in a common area of the pharmacy for staff review. Maintain and update database daily with the dollar value of purchase orders received for the purpose of tracking and monitoring expense activity. Ensure all PO numbers in the database are updated with invoice numbers daily, as invoices are received. Retain packing slips from direct purchase orders received. Use hand held ordering device to receive wholesaler orders. Document received quantities and segregation of ordering and receiving duties for all orders. Report discrepancies of amount received to the vendor to ensure accurate invoicing. Perform invoice reconciliation and pre approval of invoices in the automated invoice processing software so invoices may be processed for payment. Maintain required records pertaining to all orders to include. • Customer Service and Employee Relations: Maintain good company image and supplier relations through daily business contacts. Exhibit CAMC values and standards of behavior in all interactions and tasks. • Performs other duties as assigned or scheduled and completes all required organizational competencies.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Patient Group Knowledge (Only applies to positions with direct patient contact) The employee must possess/obtain (by the end of the orientation period) and demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide developmentally appropriate assessment, treatment or care as defined by the department's identified patient ages. Specifically the employee must be able to demonstrate competency in: 1) ability to obtain and interpret information in terms of patient needs; 2) knowledge of growth and development; and 3) understanding of the range of treatment needed by the patients. Competency Statement Must demonstrate competency through an initial orientation and ongoing competency validation to independently perform tasks and additional duties as specified in the job description and the unit/department specific competency checklist. Common Duties and Responsibilities (Essential duties common to all positions) 1. Maintain and document all applicable required education. 2. Demonstrate positive customer service and co-worker relations. 3. Comply with the company's attendance policy. 4. Participate in the continuous, quality improvement activities of the department and institution. 5. Perform work in a cost effective manner. 6. Perform work in accordance with all departmental pay practices and scheduling policies, including but not limited to, overtime, various shift work, and on-call situations. 7. Perform work in alignment with the overall mission and strategic plan of the organization. 8. Follow organizational and departmental policies and procedures, as applicable. 9. Perform related duties as assigned.

Education

* Formalized Training (Required) Experience: 3 Years Pharmacy Technician

Credentials

* Pharmacy Tech, Nat'l Cert (Required)
* Pharmacy Tech, State Cert (Required)

Work Schedule: Days

Status: Full Time Regular 1.0

Location: General Hospital

Location of Job: US:WV:Charleston

Talent Acquisition Specialist: Pamela M. Price pamela.price@vandaliahealth.org