Retail Pharmacy Technician

sluhn; Bethlehem (Northampton County); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

St. Luke's University Health Network in Bethlehem, PA is seeking a Pharmacy Technician to support the pharmacist by filling medications, preparing IV admixtures, and assisting with unit-dose preparation and inventory control within a busy hospital pharmacy.

This role requires attention to detail, ability to follow federal and state pharmacy laws, and effective communication with nurses and other staff. The technician delivers medications, maintains records, and helps ensure safe, efficient

Qualifications

• Pharmacy knowledge of hospital network and department training programs.
• Accurate filling of medications and IV orders under supervision.
• Ability to communicate with staff and direct drug information to a pharmacist.

Responsibilities

• Fill medications and IV orders from computer labels and deliver to patient care areas.
• Maintain logs for controlled substances and inventory.
• Prepare prepackaged medications under pharmacist supervision.
• Conduct medication area inspections and ensure compliance with laws.
• Answer telephone/window and coordinate with pharmacy staff.

Skills

Pharmacy knowledge

IV Admixture

Medication delivery

Customer service

Tools

Pharmacy computer system

Pneumatic tube system

Job description

St. Luke's is proud of the skills, experience and compassion of its employees. The employees of St. Luke's are our most valuable asset! Individually and together, our employees are dedicated to satisfying the mission of our organization which is an unwavering commitment to excellence as we care for the sick and injured; educate physicians, nurses and other health care providers; and improve access to care in the communities we serve, regardless of a patient's ability to pay for health care.

The Pharmacy Technician under the direction of a pharmacist, delivers medications, performs unit dose activities, including filling patient medication orders and cassettes, ADT updates, floor stock orders, outpatient prescriptions, performs routine medication area inspections, maintains records for controlled substances, and utilizes the pharmacy computer system. Assumes IV/Admixture responsibilities including labeling pre-mixed solutions, restocking and ordering solutions and supplies, preparing large and small volume parenterals, parenteral nutrition solutions, irrigations, anti-neoplastic solutions and extemporaneous compounds. Performs administratively assigned duties.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Obtains and maintains appropriate knowledge and understanding of the St. Luke's University Health Network and the Department of Pharmacy. This knowledge will include an overview of the department, the content of the department's training program, and other topics as determined by the supervisor.
• Accurately and timely fills medications and IV orders from computer generated labels, fills and updates. Delivers medications to and picks up medications from patient care areas and automated dispensing cabinets or uses the pneumatic tube to deliver medications when appropriate.
• Accurately credits returned patient medications.
• Demonstrates ability to answer telephone/window and deal with visitors to pharmacy appropriately. Demonstrates ability to involve other pharmacy staff when appropriate including directing all drug information questions to a pharmacist.
• Prepares prepackaged medications under pharmacist supervision using proper technique, maintains appropriate log books and completes work within shift.
• Prepares parenteral, admixture, anti-neoplastic and Home IV Therapy orders, extemporaneously compounds under pharmacist supervision using proper aseptic technique, maintains appropriate log books and completes work within shift.
• Keeps work area clean and neat and free of excess items, maintains adequate par levels of medications within shift and removes all outdated drugs.
• Reviews, fills, delivers nursing floor stock and controlled substances; performs medication area inspections for all areas with medications; prepares outpatient prescriptions in accordance with federal and state pharmacy laws.
• Delivers or retrieves medications when the supervising pharmacist views the situation as necessary.
• Completes and maintains IV/Admixtures lab and departmental competencies.
• Performs floor inspections for all areas with medications as assigned.
• Maintains a working knowledge of the general chemical and physical properties of drugs handled in the pharmacy department. This includes, but is not limited to, identifying medications that are light sensitive, requires refrigeration, are caustic, or poisonous. Is able to use reference books and website references for stability information or material safety data sheets.
• Carries out the calculations required for the usual dosage determinations and solutions preparation, using weight and volume equivalents in the metric systems.
• Performs the essential functions relating to drug purchasing and inventory control.
• Utilizes effective interpersonal communication skills while maintaining confidentiality of hospital information and addressing co-workers, nurses and others in a pleasant and cooperative manner.
• Performs routine activities with minimal supervision, offering to provide additional help when needed, participates in training of new employees.
• Maintains safe working habits, does not create hazardous conditions within the work environment.
• Utilizes effective interpersonal communication skills while maintaining confidentiality of hospital information and addressing co-workers, nurses and others in a pleasant and cooperative manner.

PHYSICAL AND SENSORY REQUIREMENTS:

• Standing and walking for up to eight hours per day and up to three consecutive hours.
• Sitting for up to six hours per day, and up to two consecutive hours.
• Continuously fingering; frequently handling, firm grasping, twisting and turning.
• Frequently lifting and carrying up to 35 pounds.
• Frequent, continuous stair climbing and decent while carrying up to 35 pounds.
• Periodically, extended walking.
• Occasionally pushing and pulling up to 200 pounds.
• Frequently stooping and bending.
• Repetitively looking up.
• Occasionally crouching.
• Continuously reaching above shoulder level.
• Frequent neck bending.
• Hearing as it relates to normal conversatio