Prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. May measure, mix, count, label and record amounts and dosages of medication according to prescription orders. Also act as a patient advocate by ensuring that the patients' prescribed drug therapy is followed as prescribed and coordinate patients prescribed pharmacy care with their healthcare providers to ensure that drug therapy is successful.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Performs duties assigned by PHC pharmacist. Areas of work are checked routinely for maintenance of quality control. Work is conducted in accordance with generally accepted standards of practice following departmental procedures and policies as outlined in the department operations manual.
Fills individual patient drug bins working from a medication fill list; records doses for credit or charge; acknowledges filling of cassette by initialing work done.
Process prescriptions
Transfer medications from vials to the appropriate number of sterile, disposable syringes, using septic techniques.
Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate.
Establish and maintain patient profiles, including list of medications taken by individual patients.
Maintain proper storage and security conditions for drugs.
Answer telephones, and courteously respond to questions or requests.
Prepack bulk medications, fill bottles with prescribed medications, then type and affix labels.
Mix pharmaceutical preparations according to written prescriptions.
Clean, Sterilize and maintain equipment or work area and glassware according to prescribed methods.
Price and file all filled prescriptions.
Prepare and process medical insurance claim forms and records.
Assist customers by courteously answering questions, locating specific items, or referring them to the Pharmacist for specific information.
Flexible and proactive to meet varied patient needs.
Restock intravenous (IV) supplies and add measured drugs or nutrients to IV solutions under sterile conditions to prepare IV packs for various uses, such as chemotherapy medications.
Accept payments from customers.
Compute charges for medication and/or equipment dispensed to patients and enter data into computer.
Assists PHC billing department by using appropriate computer function, reason codes and dates for charging and crediting.
Continues to educate by attending drug in-services and keeping up with policy changes.
Manage medication inventory by ordering, labeling and inventory stock of medicine, chemicals or supplies and enter inventory data into computer system.
Receive and properly store incoming supplies, verify quantities against invoices, check and remove outdated meds on a routine basis to ensure that no deteriorated meds are in stock. Keeps appropriate records and inform supervisor (PIC) of stock needs and shortages.
Develop constructive and cooperative working relationships with others and maintain them over time.
Able to collaborate with other healthcare professionals.
Strong interpersonal and "people" skills
Deliver medications and/or pharmaceutical supplies to clinic or other departments as necessary.
Receive and properly store incoming supplies, verify quantities against invoices, checks and removes outdated meds on a routine basis to ensure that no deteriorated meds are in stock. Keeps appropriate records and informs supervisor (PIC) of stock needs and shortages.
Process Medicare, Medicaid, and Insurance claims.
Must have working knowledge of pharmaceutical calculations.
Able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure; this may include using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals and being able to compute rate, ratio, and percentage.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Support current organizational initiatives and exhibits creativity and flexibility in times of change.
Seeks experiences and formal and independent learning activities to maintain and develop clinical/administrative and professional skills and knowledge.
Promotes, models, mentors and leads customer service excellence.
Communicates consistently with Clinic Care Manager. And other providers on operational and oversight issues.
Able to swiftly and accurately calculate dosage, dispense medication, prepare prescriptions for approval by pharmacist.
Use the pharmacy's computer program (Pioneer) to access prescription information including patient and prescriber data, drug selection, prescription interpretation and insurance billing.
Able to research and resolve dosage conflicts, potentially harmful drug interactions, insurance issues and other matters to ensure patient safety/wellness and build customer loyalty.
Must adhere to all safety standards and procedures.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
None
QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:
High school graduate and at least one (1) year of experience as a Certified Pharmacy Technician; pleasant telephone etiquette; ability to deal tactfully and effectively with patients; must be computer literate.
LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Ability to read, write, speak, and comprehend written documents fluently. Bilingual in Spanish is preferred.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:
Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
CERTIFICATES/LICENSES/REGISTRATIONS:
Certificate from Pharmacy Technical Training Program, junior college graduate or State certification as Pharmacy Technician. All candidates will be required to submit a criminal background check and drug screening as a part of pre-employment.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
This job operates in a health care setting. This position requires frequent standing and walking to storage shelves and filling counters to fill prescriptions.
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
This job description includes the major duties and responsibilities of the job but is not inclusive of every task inherent to the job. In addition, it may be occasionally necessary for employees to be assigned tasks not specifically covered by their permanent assignment. Employees will be expected to comply with reasonable requests from their supervisor.
In the course of performing the job, this position typically involves sitting, standing, climbing stairs, walking, carrying (15lbs), and lifting (15lbs). Coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously. Perform repetitive motion activities. Operates a computer keyboard, adding machine; firm/strong grasping required. Makes and receives telephone calls. Daily use of general office equipment: copier, fax machine, phones, etc.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Stand for long periods.
Pick and pinch small tablets with fingers, and seize, hold, grasp, or turn objects with hands.
Perceive the size, shape, temperature, or texture of objects by touching with fingertips.
Lift and push or pull up to 20 pounds.
See objects at close vision and be able to identify and distinguish colors.
Able to use hands and arms in handling, positioning, and moving materials and manipulating things.
Able to store pharmaceutical supplies.
Able to sterilize, and/or clean laboratory equipment or healthcare equipment.
PHC will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, including the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendment Act, and all other Federal, State, and local legislative requirements. PHC will ensure that reasonable accommodations are made to enable a qualified individual with a disability to perform the essential functions of that position.