Medication History Specialist - Clinical Risk Management - Full Time

CHRISTUS Health; Texarkana (TX); On-site; USD 25,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

CHRISTUS Health in Texarkana, TX seeks a Pharmacy Technician to collect comprehensive medication histories for admitted patients. Your role includes interviewing patients and families, verifying allergies, and coordinating with pharmacists to verify accuracy.

You will support pharmacists with medication preparation, inventory, and records while ensuring confidentiality and adherence to safety standards in a fast-paced Emergency Department environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• 2 years’ work experience in a retail pharmacy; hospital pharmacy technician experience preferred.
• Registered pharmacy technician in the state of practice required.
• ACPE accredited IV certification or meet minimum state requirements preferred.
• ASHP Medication History certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Interview patients and family to compile a complete medication history prior to admission.
• Verify patient allergy information and document reactions.
• Utilize resources to collect medication history from multiple sources.
• Communicate complex/high-risk medications to the pharmacist as needed.
• Assist pharmacists in preparing and distributing drugs and maintaining records.
• Maintain security, confidentiality and professionalism in all duties.
• Collaborate with nursing staff to verify and update medication histories.

Skills

Medication history collection

Patient communication

Electronic health record access

Clinical judgment

Confidentiality and professionalism

Organizational skills

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Summary

Under the supervision of the pharmacy compiles the best possible list of all medications a patient is taking prior to admission to the inpatient units through interviews of the patient or patient’s family coming through the Emergency Department.

Responsibilities

• Meets expectations of the applicable OneCHRISTUS Competencies: Leader of Self, Leader of Others, or Leader of Leaders.
• Interview patients and family members for the purpose of compiling an accurate and complete list of current medications the patient was taking prior to admission to the hospital, including all prescription, non‑prescription, and investigational medications including:
  • Name of each medication and formulation (i.e., Extended release)
  • Dosage
  • Route of administration
  • Include any PRN reason(s) for taking
  • Indication and/or any special circumstances under which the medication is taken (i.e., taken with food).
  • Last taken date and time (if known).
  • Provide information source(s) such as patient, family member, pharmacy, nursing home, etc.
• Verify patient allergy information and ensure complete documentation (i.e., substance, allergy category, reaction description).
• Utilizes available resources for medication history collection including but not limited to: patient and/or family interviews, medication lists, outside facility medication administration records, outpatient pharmacy records, and physician office records.
• Verifies preferred pharmacy and primary care physician information.
• Confirm patient is taking the medication(s) as directed on the medication bottle(s) and/or vial(s). Document any discrepancies.
• Document the reason for any PRN “as needed” medication.
• Communicate to the pharmacist any complex and/or high‑risk medications (i.e., insulin sliding scale, warfarin, methadone clinic, etc.) not comfortable with or does not have appropriate knowledge about.
• In addition to the above specialized responsibilities, the medication history pharmacy tech will also be able to function as a standard pharmacy tech:
  • Assisting pharmacists in preparing and distributing drugs, maintaining the drug inventory, and maintenance of records

• Discusses any questions or unresolved medication history issues that arise during the medication history process with the pharmacist.

SECONDARY JOB FUNCTIONS

• Use good clinical judgment skills to determine the accuracy of medication history list as obtained.
• Solicit other sources of information to verify accuracy.
• Collaborate with charge nurse and patient nurse to determine when patient can be interviewed.
• Has excellent knowledge of brand and generic medication names, common dosages and dosage forms and frequency of administration of each medication..
• Ability to communicate with patients of all education levels in an Emergency Department setting
• Ability to log on to an electronic clinical data base to determine if a medication list exists for patient
• Assess incompleteness of the current list of medications by looking at drug, dose, frequency, and indication for use.
• Establish rapport with patient to obtain medication history or determine if patient or family member can provide medication history or call patient's pharmacy or physician's office for medication history
• Attends pharmacy staff meetings and reads departmental email/communications daily.
• Complete all competence/skills assessment requirements.
• Answer telephone and direct calls to appropriate personnel.
• Maintain security and confidentiality.
• Always maintains safety-integrity-professionalism.
• Organizes and prioritizes work assignments.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements

Education/Skills

• High school diploma, or equivalent required.

Experience

• 2 years’ work experience in a retail pharmacy.
• Hospital pharmacy technician experience preferred.

Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications

• Registered pharmacy technician in the state of practice required.
• Certified pharmacy technician preferred.
• ACPE accredited IV certification program, including hazardous (minimum 40 hours); or meet the minimum State requirement.
• Optional BLS, ACLS, PALS for Pediatric practice.
• ASHP Medication History certification preferred.

Work Schedule

5 Days - 8 Hours

Work Type

Full Time