Pharmacy Technician A/B (Penn Vet)

The University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An esteemed institution is seeking a dedicated Pharmacy Technician A to join its vibrant veterinary hospital team. This entry-level position offers a unique opportunity to work in a supportive environment while caring for animals and assisting with pharmacy operations. Candidates will engage in various responsibilities, including prescription management, medication handling, and customer service. With a commitment to professional growth and a rich array of benefits, this role is perfect for those passionate about animal care and pharmacy. Join a leading organization that values innovation and excellence in veterinary medicine, and make a meaningful impact in the lives of pets and their owners.

Benefits

Health insurance

Tuition assistance

Generous retirement benefits

Professional development opportunities

Wellness programs

Flexible work hours

Adoption assistance

Discounts on goods and services

Long-term care insurance

Time away from work

Qualifications

• Entry-level position requiring certification and pharmacy experience.
• Knowledge of pharmacy law and medication handling is essential.

Responsibilities

• Receive and screen prescriptions for accuracy and completeness.
• Handle hazardous drugs and perform medication cycle counts.
• Communicate effectively with veterinary staff and clients.

Skills

Critical thinking skills

Self-management skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Education

High School Diploma

Two Year College Degree

Four Year College Degree

Tools

Biological Safety Cabinet

Omnicell

Excel

Job description

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer, Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions, with the most recent award from Forbes naming Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Pharmacy Technician A/B (Penn Vet)

Job Description Summary

The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine is a global leader in veterinary education, research, and clinical care. Founded in 1884, the School is a proud member of the One Health initiative, linking human, animal, and environmental health. Forbes recognized the University of Pennsylvania as one of America’s Best Large Employers of 2023 marking our third consecutive year in a row to achieve this status.

Located on the beautiful and vibrant campus of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Vet's Ryan Veterinary Hospital in Philadelphia provides care for dogs, cats, and other domestic/companion animals, handling more than 30,000 patient visits a year, some 9,000 of which are emergency cases. Ryan Hospital is a Level One Trauma Facility certified by Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECSS).

As a valued member of Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital, you will work in a supportive environment where you will have professional growth opportunities. If you are a skilled Veterinary Nurse who is passionate about caring for animals, interested in further developing your skills and working with an elite team of clinicians, then Penn Vet is the place for you.

Ryan Hospital has an ongoing need for Pharmacy Technicians. This posting describes the basic responsibilities and requirements for this role. If you meet the qualifications outlined below and have an interest in being considered as positions become available, please apply to this posting. Your information will be reviewed, and you will be contacted if we would like to learn more about your background.

Pharmacy Technician A is responsible for proficiently performing the duties of all 4 pharmacy workstations: data entry, filling, phones/mail outs, checking. They must be able to independently complete all secondary responsibilities prior to the end of their shift by strategically using downtime. PTA must be able to answer basic questions from hospital staff such as drug strength and dosage forms, and client pricing. Work sometimes involves communicating with veterinary and pharmacy students, clinicians, and nurses.

Responsibilities of the Pharmacy Technician A:

• Receive and screen prescriptions/medication orders for completeness, accuracy, and authenticity
• Use of certain equipment (Biological Safety Cabinet, Omnicell, etc.)
• Proper handling of hazardous drugs, including chemotherapy.
• Medication cycle counts through Omnicell
• Medication cycle counts through Excel spreadsheets or current pharmacy inventory management system
• Resolution of simple customer service issues such as triaging phone calls, communicating reasons a prescription cannot be filled such as no refills/expired, and communicating pharmacy and hospital policy to clients related to medications.
• Proper prioritization of new and refill requests for clients not registered in the hospital
• Proper stocking technique, including checking expiration dates and rotating stock
• Adequate knowledge of pharmacy supply usage to fill out pharmacy supply reorder sheets
• Ability to fill departmental medication stock orders
• Proper procedure for unit dosing medication, including printing of labels
• Proper packaging of all mail out prescriptions
• Proper storage of all medication, including refrigerated and light sensitive storage, and documenting date opened on all MDV
• Appropriate use of auxiliary labels
• Proper documentation of any medication related changes
• Proper clarification and documentation on all prescriptions with missing or inaccurate information
• Thorough understanding of pharmacy law with the ability to communicate federal and state laws and hospital policy to other members of the healthcare team and clients
• Ability to close out credit card machine and log daily transactions in hospital computer system
• Proper maintenance of the Biological Safety Cabinet, including performing daily and weekly decontamination
• Ability to restock pharmacy Omnicell from CSM as well as restock department Omnicells
• Communicate with clinicians regarding missing/incorrect prescription information
• Ability to compound medication by following the Master Formula and completion of corresponding compounding log
• Critical thinking skills application (i.e. intuition, logic, experience, common sense)
• Self-management skills (time management, stress management, and adapting to change)
• Interpersonal skills (negotiation skills, conflict resolution, and teamwork)
• pharmacy workflow (i.e., duties of each workstation including checking, importance of process and procedure, organization and attention to detail)

*The above list is representative of pharmacy technician responsibilities and is not meant to be inclusive.

Qualifications

Pharmacy Technician A role:

Pharmacy Technician A (PTA) is an entry-level position.

Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhT) with a high school diploma plus two years of pharmacy related experience or a minimum of a two year college degree in lieu of certification with a minimum of two years of pharmacy related experience or a four year college degree and no pharmacy experience are eligible for hire into the PTA position.

Pharmacy Technician B role:

A Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) license is required. High School diploma plus five years of pharmacy related experience and CPhT license. Minimum of a two year college degree with a minimum of two years of pharmacy related experience and CPhT license. Four year college degree and CPhT license.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Veterinary Medicine

Pay Range

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

Special Requirements

Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay