Pharmacy Technician - Omaha, United States - Department Of Veterans Affairs

Description

Summary

The Pharmacy Technician must be a nationally certified pharmacy technician who can work autonomously, utilizing independent technical judgment (without the need for readily available supervision) as well as with a comprehensive and thorough working knowledge of complex pharmacy principles and practices to perform a full range of duties. The pharmacy technician has operational responsibility in the inpatient and/or the outpatient pharmacy performing highly complex procedures.

Duties

Major duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Pharmacy Dispensing/Distribution Services: The Pharmacy Technician will be involved in assuring appropriate, safe, and accurate medications are dispensed to veterans in an efficient manner. The pharmacy technician will provide a range of medication management and administrative services. These activities include:
  • Maintains workflow patterns that assure timely delivery of pharmacy services and ensures accurate documentation and dispensing of pharmaceuticals.
  • Effectively organizes workload, solves problems, and achieves established goals.
  • Provides patient care utilizing an in-depth knowledge of specialized areas of pharmacy practice. Maintains and understands the operation of pharmacy equipment and automation, such as ScriptPro, TCG-Rx, BD Cato, and Pyxis.
  • Assists staff and patients, either by phone or in person, concerning drug distribution, refill requests, mail, and general triaging of requests for the pharmacists. Documents patient requests as necessary in CPRS and alerts the appropriate provider.
  • Assists in assuring that pharmacy programs are compliant with all regulatory and accrediting body requirements (i.e., Joint Commission, FDA, ASHP, DEA, OIG, etc.).
  • Actively participates in the procurement process supporting just in time inventory management. This may include serving as a back-up procurement technician where responsibilities may include ordering or receiving product. This may also include processing of invoices using the VistA Drug Accountability system.
  • Inspects all areas of the facility outside of the pharmacy where medications are dispensed, administered, or stored, including medication carts, automated medication dispensing cabinets, (Pyxis MedstationsTM), physical cabinets and drawers, supply carts, refrigerators, crash carts, and emergency kits.
• Distributive
  • Interprets pharmacy orders; obtains medication in the correct strength and dosage form; determines proper amount and prepares product; affixes proper label; and documents proper information.
  • Prepares non-sterile compounds independently for dispensing to patients or other health care providers for use in clinical areas.
  • Compounds sterile products to be delivered in the form of large volume, small volume, and other complex pharmaceuticals such as chemotherapy. Completes documentation and uses knowledge of safe handling and disposition of hazardous materials used in pharmacy.
  • Dispenses controlled substances according to current policies and procedures and standards established by DEA, FDA, VA, and Joint Commission.
  • Effectively utilizes the Veterans Integrated Systems Technology Architecture (VistA), Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS), and Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA) computer systems and other automated pharmacy equipment and computer software systems.
• Controlled substances:
  • Accurately interpret, fills, and readies prescriptions with appropriate medications for pharmacist verification
  • Appropriately restocks controlled substances items in automated secured cabinets (i.e., Pyxis) in pharmacy or throughout medical center, as assigned.
  • Documents all controlled substance related transactions as indicated by VA and DEA guidelines.
  • Assures that inventory counts are correct at the time of restocking.
  • Ensures that proper handoff occurs when receiving or delivering controlled substances, always assuring that these medications are never left unsecured.
  • Reports unresolvable discrepancies to immediate area supervisor for resolution. Assist in investigating, witnessing, and resolving discrepancies.
  • Complies with all laws, regulations, directives, policies, and procedures applying to the dispensing, storage, transfer, inventory, and accountability of controlled substances. h) Assists inspectors with the inventory and accountability inspections.
• Patient Care Services: The Pharmacy Technician will promote a patient-focused, team based multidisciplinary model of patient care. Activities include:
  • Supporting formulary management principles and effective drug use criteria.
  • Identifying basic therapeutic problems such as patient allergies and duplicate drug therapy and alerting the pharmacists to the possible need for clinical intervention.
  • Calling patients to obtain information and to relay prescription information.
  • Using databases and spreadsheets to assist pharmacists and other health care professionals to monitor and track patient information.