Pharmacy Technician

**Organization**:
PAMF-Palo Alto Medical Foundation CAD

**Position Overview**:
Provides timely and accurate pharmaceutical care. Prepares, compounds, packages, labels, and dispenses medication, nutritional products, IV admixture and solutions (e.g., chemotherapy, biotherapy, etc.), and Durable Medical Equipment (DME) according to Sutter Health policies, state/ federal regulations, and The Joint Commission standards. Assists with medicine and supplies inventory management and control, including maintaining adequate stock levels, checking accuracy of pricing, and completing required regulatory documentation. Adheres to all standards, procedures, cleaning protocols, and infection control polices to maintain a safe and sterile medication area, clean rooms, and laminar flow hoods.

**JOB ACCOUNTABILITIES**:
PHARMACY SERVICES
- Provides quality pharmaceutical services including drug packaging and labeling, distribution, inventory control, quality control, and proper documentation according to policies, procedures, and regulations.
- Assists pharmacists in preparing, administering, and documenting medications and treatments in accordance with state and federal regulations.
- Prepares and delivers timely admixture services of chemotherapeutic and biotherapeutic agents, other intravenous medications, and IV solutions to Sutter Health outpatients.
- Performs pharmaceutical calculations for common dosage determination.
- Completes clerical/computer entry work regarding patient medical records, doctors’ orders, lab results, billing, and documentation to meet regulatory standards/requirements.
- Obtains a working knowledge of drug identification, medication dosages, administration routes, dosage forms, and storage requirement.

INVENTORY MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL
- Manages pharmaceutical inventory, including the procurement, storage, preparation, and distribution of medications, equipment, and materials to maintain adequate supply levels and achieve cost-saving inventory control.
- Determines and regularly evaluates Periodic Automatic Replenishment (PAR) levels to ensure drug availability and on-shelf volume.
- Monitors expiration dates of drugs in the pharmacy and department.
- Performs monthly physical inventory of all pharmacy items on the shelves and in Pyxis med stations.
- Handles all medication recalls, including removing outdated and damaged drugs from the pharmacy inventory.

COMPLIANCE
- Complies with state and federal drug laws as regulated by the state board of pharmacy, the Drug Enforcement administration (DEA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by assisting pharmacists in monitoring and inspecting nursing unit; maintaining records for controlled substances; checking pharmacy inventory for expired or damaged drugs; and keeping current on existing, new, and anticipated legislation.
- Follows the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)/Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Chemotherapy Safety Standards and Chemotherapy Biotherapy preparation policies, procedures, and guidelines for sterile compounding of IV solutions and medications.
- Implements United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Standards, such as 795 (nonsterile compounding), 797 (sterile compounding), and 800 (handling of hazardous drugs)/
- Ensures compliance with protocol or drug storage, accountability, handling, preparation and delivery of investigational agents, including maintaining an accurate record of all controlled substances.
- Adheres to USP, Occupational Safety and health Administration (OSHA), infection control, and regulatory guidelines for the preparation of mixing and ante room, including cleaning (IV hood, flat surfaces, shelves, bins), hood recertification, and monitoring refrigeration temperatures to protect patients and technicians.
- Maintains strictest confidence of all patients protected health information (PHI) and protects all PHI from accidental, intentional, or inappropriate disclosure.
- Retains certification and completes mandated continuing education requirements to meet facility and regulatory agencies accreditation and licensure requirements.

**EDUCATION**:
Other: Graduation from an accredited Pharmacy Technician program.

**CERTIFICATION & LICENSURE**:
PHRMTECHR-Registered Pharmacy Technician

OR PHARMC-Certified Pharmacy Technician

**TYPICAL EXPERIENCE**:
1 year recent relevant experience

**SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE**:
General understanding of contemporary pharmacy practices, including pharmaceutical compounding (drugs and nutritional solutions), generic and trade names of common drugs, and a familiarity with pharmacy data systems.

Working knowledge of medical terminology, drug nomenclature, abbreviations, and symbols, including a proficiency in math and pharmacy calculations for common dosage determination, admixture doses, and additive volumes.

Basic working knowledge of legal requirements and accreditation standards including The Joint Commission (TJC), Title XXII, Department of Human Services (DHS), Drug Enforce