Pharmacy Technician I

Advocate Health; Barrington (IL); On-site; USD 40,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Advocate Health in Barrington, IL is seeking a Pharmacy Technician to assist licensed pharmacist with preparing and distributing medications in a fast-paced hospital setting. You will handle inventory, labeling, and third-party billing support, while ensuring compliance with safety policies and USP standards.

Certification within 18 months is required; strong communication, teamwork, and willingness to travel between locations are essential.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Registration/licensure with state board of pharmacy.
• CPhT or ExCPT certification within 18 months of start date.
• No work experience required.

Responsibilities

• Assist licensed pharmacist with medication preparation and distribution.
• Accurately select, prepare, and label medications including hazardous drugs and controlled substances.
• Assist with medication distribution tasks and inventory control.
• Screen calls and route according to proper etiquette.
• Document removal, stocking, and wasting of controlled substances as applicable.
• Perform nonsterile compounding per USP standards.
• Prepare sterile IV admixtures with aseptic technique as applicable.
• Inspect storage areas for policy compliance and safety.
• Document patient admission histories and data entry into pharmacy system.
• Support quality improvement initiatives and staff training as needed.
• Ensure compliance with organization policies and regulatory standards.
• Assist area leaders with goals and assignments.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Multitasking

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Customer service

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Major Responsibilities

• Assistslicensed 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
• Assistswith medication distribution tasks
• Screens phone calls and routes as needed using proper telephone and voicemail etiquette
• Assistsin daily pharmacy procurement, inventory control, and outdate checking
• Complete documentationrequiredfor 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
• Seeksadditionalduties whenrequiredwork is done and accepts other duties as assigned
• Mayparticipatein quality improvement initiatives to assure the excellence of departmental services
• Mayassistin 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 andcomplies withall legal, regulatory, and accreditation standards
• Supports area leadersregardinggoals and work assignments
• Obtaining and recording initialpatientdemographic 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 todemonstrateknowledge and skills necessary to provide careappropriate tothe age of the patients served.
• May obtain immunization certification and perform immunizations for patients under the supervision of a registered pharmacist, where applicable
• Responsible foroperatingan 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 NationalHealthcareer Association (ExCPT)within 18 monthsfrom start date, or sooner if inmore stringent in state

Experience

• Noworkexperiencerequired

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 metricsutilizedto 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 ofapproximately50poundsand lifting 35 pounds of material
• Must have functional vision,touchand 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 diseasefor whichappropriate personalprotective equipment (PPE) isutilizedto minimize exposure
• Frequent fine motor motion of hands and wrists to perform manipulative skills such as writing, typing, data entry into the computer,andpreparation of medications, including use of syringes
• Takes necessary precautions to avoid inadvertent needle sticks, minorcutsor bruises. Exposed to various conditions throughout the workday such as walking on hard surfaces, climbingstairsand changes in temperature and humidity.
• Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job
• Flexibility to travelbetween pharmacy locations
• This job descriptionindicatesthe general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover orcontaina comprehensive listing of physical requirementsandworking conditions.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.