Outpatient Pharmacy Technician

120 Advocate North Side Health Network; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Educational assistance

Retirement plan

Job summary

Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center - Pharmacy is seeking a reliable Pharmacy Technician for a full-time, outpatient role. You will support pharmacists in preparing and dispensing medications, manage inventory, and assist with patient interactions and billing. Certification within 18 months is required, and no prior experience is necessary.

The position operates Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM, with occasional duties across hospital patients and community/ discharge processes.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent.
• Registration or licensure with state board of pharmacy.
• CPhT or ExCPT certification within 18 months from start date.

Responsibilities

• Assist licensed pharmacist in preparation and distribution of medications.
• Prepare, label, and dispense medications for patients, including hazardous drugs.
• Assist with medication distribution, inventory control, and procurement.
• Screen calls and route messages; support patient interactions and billing tasks.
• Document medication histories and ensure regulatory compliance; assist in compounding as needed.
• Maintain adherence to USP standards for compounding and sterile/ nonsterile preparations.

Skills

Excellent communication

Detail oriented

Customer service

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Pharmacy Technician Certification (CPhT) or ExCPT

State board registration/licensure

Job description

Department

Department: 38411 Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center - Pharmacy: Outpatient Status: Full time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hours Per Week: 40 Schedule Details/Additional Information: We are seeking a reliable and detail-oriented Pharmacy Technician with strong customer service skills and who enjoys interacting with patients to join our team full-time. Currently, our hours of operation are Monday-Friday 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM, and we are closed on major holidays. Advocate Pharmacy is an outpatient pharmacy located inside Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. We work with the inpatient hospital patients in addition to patients in the community presenting to our pharmacy. The role supports pharmacists in preparing and dispensing medications, maintaining inventory, and ensuring compliance with all regulatory guidelines. Additionally, we support the Meds to Beds (Meds to Go) program, which provides bedside delivery of discharge prescriptions to hospitalized patients prior to leaving the facility. Our team coordinates remote payment collection and collaborates closely with Social Work/Care Management to help patients overcome financial barriers and ensure access to prescribed medications upon discharge.

Pay Range

Pay Range: $21.85 - $32.80

Major Responsibilities

• Assists licensed pharmacist in technical duties related to preparation and distribution of medications
• Accurately selects, prepares, and labels medications for patients including hazardous drugs and controlled substances
• Assists with medication distribution tasks
• Screens phone calls and routes as needed using proper telephone and voicemail etiquette
• Assists in daily pharmacy procurement, inventory control, and outdate checking
• Complete documentation required for removing, stocking, and wasting controlled substances, where applicable
• Perform nonsterile compounding following proper USP standards, where applicable
• Perform sterile IV admixture, as defined at the entity level, using proper aseptic technique, where applicable
• Inspects all assigned medication storage areas for adherence to storage policies
• Completes and documents medication admission histories, as applicable at the facility level
• Seeks additional duties when required work is done and accepts other duties as assigned
• May participate in quality improvement initiatives to assure the excellence of departmental services
• May assist in training pharmacy technicians and extenders in orientation to the policies, procedures, and workflows involved in pharmacy operations as applicable at entity level
• Abides by all organization policies and procedures and complies with all legal, regulatory, and accreditation standards
• Supports area leaders regarding goals and work assignments
• Obtaining and recording initial patient demographic and other required information, data entry of required information into the pharmacy system for record keeping, insurance verification and label generation purposes, and cashiering
• Develop competence in third-party billing functions
• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served.
• May obtain immunization certification and perform immunizations for patients under the supervision of a registered pharmacist, where applicable
• Responsible for operating an Advocate Health-owned motor vehicle to deliver medications and other essential medical supplies as required by the designated department

Minimum Job Requirements

Education

High School Diploma or GED equivalent

Certification / Registration / License

Registration or licensure with state board of pharmacy per state of employment requirements

Must receive certification through Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (CPhT) or National Healthcareer Association (ExCPT) within 18 months from start date, or sooner if in more stringent in state

Experience

No work experience required

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven skills in working effectively with multiple departments and matrix organizational structures.
• Strong ability to influence and develop others to move toward common goals and outcomes.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to work effectively with moderate guidance or direction.
• Effective critical thinking, creativity, problem solving, and decision-making skills.
• Expert knowledge of metrics utilized to measure revenue cycle quality and processes.
• Ability to lead a diverse group of teams.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Must be able to sit, stand, walk, lift, bend, kneel, climb, twist, crawl and reach above shoulders
• Requires considerable walking, standing, pushing mobile cart of approximately 50 pounds and lifting 35 pounds of material
• Must have functional vision, touch and hearing
• Must be able to speak and be understood by others to communicate effectively
• May be exposed to chemical and hazardous waste as well as blood and body fluids and communicable disease for which appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is utilized to minimize exposure
• Frequent fine motor motion of hands and wrists to perform manipulative skills such as writing, typing, data entry into the computer, and preparation of medications, including use of syringes
• Takes necessary precautions to avoid inadvertent needle sticks, minor cuts or bruises.
• Exposed to various conditions throughout the workday such as walking on hard surfaces, climbing stairs and changes in temperature and humidity.
• Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job
• Flexibility to travel between pharmacy locations

Our Commitment to You

Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including:

• Compensation Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training
• Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job
• Incentive pay for select positions
• Opportunity for annual increases based on performance
• Benefits and more Paid Time Off programs
• Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
• Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
• Educational Assistance Program
• Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview.

About Advocate Health

Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits. This is Transformation One shared purpose brought us together. Now, as one of the 10 largest not-for-profit, integrated health systems in the United States, our combined strength and stability drives us forward. Starting with You Caring for nearly 3 million people has inspired a transformation. One in which the patient’s experience guides our vision and empowers us to offer new possibilities in our communities. Reshaping Access What is access? It’s offering more sites of care than any other health system in the Midwest. But there’s a new frontier. Access is exploring the latest technologies to deliver care to patients exactly where they are and exactly when they need it Inspiring Professionals With our dynamically inclusive workforce and strong connections to the places where we live and work, we’ll touch more lives and contribute to stronger and more vibrant communities. Transforming Care We’re redefining the standard for care with world-class doctors and caregivers, innovative solutions, outstanding outcomes, and leading-edge research and clinical trials. Combined, Advocate and Aurora are recognized for clinical excellence in: Cardiovascular Care Neurosciences Gynecology Oncology Pediatrics Primary Care Neurology Geriatrics Trauma Care