Pharmacy Technician - Prior Authorization, Help Desk

Kaiser Permanente; Renton (WA); On-site; USD 37,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Kaiser Permanente Pharmacy Technician in Renton, WA performs functions to support daily pharmacy workflow and ensure timely, compliant drug distribution. The role includes data entry, labeling, stocking, dispensing according to sig and patient weight, and maintaining high standards of patient safety and service.

The position emphasizes adherence to pharmacy policies, strong communication with patients and prescribers, and collaboration with pharmacists to optimize drug therapy outcomes.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of safety and compliance in drug dispensing.
• Ability to interpret prescriptions and sigs.
• Excellent communication with patients and providers.

Responsibilities

• Support daily pharmacy workflow: typing refills, data entry, stocking, labeling, filing, inventory, and cashiering.
• Read, interpret, and fill prescriptions with correct medication and quantities based on sig and weight-based dosages.
• Ensure patient safety and provide excellent service; perform safety checks and report unusual occurrences.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Pharmacy calculations

Team player

Problem solving

Pharmacy law knowledge

Education

Approved pharmacy technician training program

Job description

PREFERRED CLINICAL EXPERIENCE, SPECIALTY DRUGS EXPERIENCE OR PA DEPARTMENT EXPERIENCE.

Job Summary

The Kaiser Permanente Pharmacy Technician performs functions that support the daily workflow of the pharmacy. The Kaiser Permanente Pharmacy Technician ensures the timely and appropriate distribution of drug therapy in compliance with state and federal laws and in accordance with Kaiser Permanente policies and procedures.

Essential Responsibilities

• Performs functions that support the daily workflow of the pharmacy including: Typing new prescriptions; Processing refill prescriptions and entering other prescription data into the computer; Counting and pouring medications from stock bottles; Entering chronic condition information; Prepackaging and labeling medications; Stocking shelves; Filing prescriptions; Performing inventory functions; Releasing refill medications and OTC products to patients; Handling non-professional phone calls including refill requests from patients and refill authorizations from prescribers; Calling prescribers to obtain refill authorization; Triaging phone calls to the appropriate person. Working knowledge and competency with cashiering processes and procedures. Adherence to Kaiser Permanente Cash Security and Compliance standards.
• Ensures the timely and appropriate distribution of drug therapy by: reading, interpreting, and filling prescription orders with the correct medication; ensuring the quantities are correct based on the sig; accurately calculate dosages based on the patients weight
• Ensures patient safety and provides excellent customer service to the patient by: identifying opportunities to prevent unusual occurrences; consistently performing safety checks when dispensing medications; taking appropriate steps to resolve and report unusual occurrences; and following standard work for greeting patients and providing excellent customer service; providing service recovery when appropriate and by following proper procedures
• Demonstrates dedication to evidence-based medicine in daily duties by staying current on clinical initiatives and priorities; and identifying specific issues and bringing them to a pharmacists attention (such as high risk meds, glucose strips, preferred drugs)
• Administers the different medication formularies by following Kaiser Permanente policies, procedures and protocols. Maintains and utilizes current knowledge of basic drug information and medical terminology when performing duties.

Basic Qualifications

Experience

• N/A

Education

• Completion of an approved pharmacy technician training program, or equivalent, in order to obtain Department of Health Pharmacy Technician Certification is required by date of hire/transfer.

License, Certification, Registration

• Pharmacy Technician Certification (Washington) required at hire

Additional Requirements

• Ability to use available resources and tools efficiently and effectively.
• Knowledge of Pharmacy law and its standards of practice.
• Skill in compounding extemporaneous entities.
• Ability to identify specified issues and bring to attention of pharmacist.
• Problem-solving skills to work with patients and other health care providers.
• Verbal and written communication skills.
• Customer service skills.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
• Ability to perform pharmaceutical calculations, identify drug names, and have knowledge of most common uses for pharmaceuticals.

Preferred Qualifications

• One (1) plus year of Pharmacy Technician experience.
• Two (2) plus years of IV experience.
• Two (2) plus years of warehouse experience.
• Ability to use available resources and tools efficiently and effectively.
• The ability to perform pharmaceutical calculations, identify drug names, and have knowledge of most common uses for pharmaceuticals.
• Completion of an approved pharmacy technician training program.