Pharmacy Tech

Overview:
Saint Joseph Hospital is a 433-bed facility located in Lexington Kentucky. Founded in 1877 a small group of Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in Kentucky led by Sister Euphrasia Stafford began their health ministry. Their mission was to provide compassionate care to the poor and underserved – a tradition still carried out today. Saint Joseph Hospital primarily serves central and eastern Kentucky with a full range of services including distinguished awards for cardiology orthopedics and stroke care. CHI Saint Joseph Health supports 5000 active employees 8 hospitals specialty clinics and a Medical Group with more than 200 locations across Central and Eastern KY. CommonSpirit Health was formed by the alignment of Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) and Dignity Health in 2019. With our combined resources CommonSpirit is committed to building healthy communities advocating for those who are poor and vulnerable and innovating how and where healing can happen both inside our hospitals and out in the community.

Responsibilities:

Job Summary / Purpose

Performs the manual technical tasks involved with the proper storage, distribution, packaging and labeling of drugs, associated record keeping and patient charging systems. Works under the supervision of a Registered Pharmacist. Follows proper procedures for the operation of equipment and use of supplies.  Maintains and coordinates systems to ensure that pharmacy operations run efficiently on a day-to-day basis.

 

Essential Key Job Responsibilities

Assists pharmacist in providing pharmaceutical care to include (but not limited to):

Preparing, filling and distributing medication

Screening phone calls/orders and alerting the pharmacist to patient-specific data 

Prepares labels with medication name, strength, lot number and expiration date.

Performs monthly patient care area inspections and reports as assigned by the manager.

Completes charges/credits daily for billing.

Maintains the various work areas of the department and equipment/utensils in a neat, clean, and orderly appearance.

Restocks special care stock supplies (i.e. emergency drugs to crash carts and heart carts) under pharmacist supervision.

Performs duties in documented accordance with requirements of all regulatory and governing bodies. Mandatory education from a system and department level is completed.

Safe handling/disposal / packaging for Transport of Pharmaceutical Waste/ Hazardous Materials/Bio- Hazardous Regulated Medical Waste. 1) Completes the Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) and Hazardous Waste education during employee orientation. 2) Tri –annually education for the D.O.T training. 3) is knowledgeable of the process for identifying the proper waste stream and uses the appropriate container to dispose of waste. 4) Knowledgeable regarding the process to contact the emergency response coordinator for hazardous waste/pharmaceutical release/spill clean-up.

Other duties as assigned by management.

 

The job summary and responsibilities listed above are designed to indicate the general nature of the work performed within this job. They are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all job responsibilities required of employees assigned to this job. Employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:
Required Education and Experience 

High school/GED 

Required Licensure and Certifications

Registered or eligible to register as pharmacy technician with the State Board of Pharmacy Examiners

Required Minimum Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Training

Knowledge of the standards, techniques and tools relating to pharmaceutical patient care.

Knowledge of the regulatory requirements applicable to pharmaceutical patient care.

Knowledge of the standards, procedures and tools relating to an automated medication distribution system.

Ability to mix oral powders and compounded drugs and to prepare intravenous admixture and other parental drugs.

Ability to understand and use/apply I.V. admixture, automated distribution systems, outpatient services and decentralized pharmacy services.

Knowledge of mathematical functions, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, basic algebra and calculations. 

Knowledge of the sources and availability of medications, bio-technology products, pharmaceutical supplies and equipment and related items.

Ability to understand and apply standards, procedures and techniques to the work assignment.

Ability to identify and resolve discrepancies in a timely and effective manner.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as required by the duties of the position.

Adequate conversational English is required in order that the individual be able to take direction from management, understand how to complete job tasks, communicate adequately with patients and co-workers as necessary, understand and follow safety guidelines, and organizational policies. 

Ability to use office equipment and automated systems/applications/ software at an acceptable level.

Preferred Qualifications

Previous Pharmacy Technician experience preferred

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