Pharmacy Technician - Inpatient Pharmacy

This position functions primarily in the inpatient care areas and the Pharmacy Service within the VA Medical Center. The incumbent practices as a Pharmacy Technician in the Inpatient Pharmacy of Columbia VA Healthcare System. This area serves adult and elderly Veterans needing care within the Medical Center 24 hours a day 7 days a week, nights, weekends, and holidays.

Total Rewards:
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Duties include, but not limited to:

A. Medication Management System:

* Reads and interprets prescriptions, obtains proper medication or material in the proper strength and dosage form, determines proper amount, and counts, pours, or measures the medications

* Performs final review of medication when prepared by another technician, to be dispensed to inpatient areas (med-carts, ward stock), and/or fills unit-dose carts independently without secondary review when necessary for unit-dose medications.

* Collects drug use evaluation data for quality improvement purposes as required.

* Reviews orders for technical accuracy and converts the order, if necessary, so that the item dispensed corresponds to the drug and dose ordered after prescription/order(s) are reviewed by a pharmacist for therapeutic propriety.

* Maintains a training/education manual for the focus area assigned.

B. Sterile Product Compounding

* Follows USP 797 /800 Guidelines for the compounding of all sterile preparations, including ophthalmic, cardioplegic, TPN, hazardous, large & small volume IV solutions, PCAs, etc.

* Correctly interprets physician orders, selects, and measures appropriate ingredients, mixes ingredients in a safe and effective manner, inspects the final product for accuracy, suitability, and elegance, labels the product, maintains records of the manufacturing process, and supplies the product for pharmacist verification and delivery.

* Uses standard protocols to determine an accurate expiration date for each sterile compound prepared.

* Ensures medications are delivered timely to the appropriate ward or patient care area to prevent delays in patient care.

C. Automation Dispensing Machine and Unit-Dose Duties:

* Assists inpatient Pharmacists with filling and delivering of new medication orders and/or missing dose reports in a timely manner to ensure appropriate patient care.

* Reviews, prioritizes, fills, and delivers medications for clinics and wards using automated system inventories. Monitors all areas and automated dispensing machines for discontinued or expired medications to assure both safe and cost-efficient drug delivery.

* Maintains all required records regarding distribution, lot numbers, expiration, and packaging for all clinic areas.

* Facilitates the return of all unused medications from the wards and clinics for proper credit or destruction, as appropriate.

D. Ward Inspections/Crash Carts:

* Conducts ward inspections of patient care areas and clinic inspections to ensure that medications are stored properly, have not exceeded their expiration date, stock is not excessive, and that storage complies with all VA and Joint Commission guidelines.

* Inventories and replenishes emergency crash carts according to policy with appropriate medications and supplies.

* Properly documents all required information for tracking of medications stocked in each crash cart.

E. Controlled Substances

Activities:

* These functions will be supported in the absence of the controlled substance technician (i.e., after hours, weekends, and leave).

* Accurately interpret, fills, and readies prescriptions with appropriate medications for pharmacist verification

* Documents all controlled substance related transactions as indicated by VA and DEA guidelines.

* Assures that inventory counts are correct at the time of restocking.

Work Schedule:

7 days on/7days off, Monday-Friday, 6:00am-6:30pm, Saturday-Sunday, 6:00am-4:30pm. May be required to work extra weekends and holidays during periods of staffing shortages. Tour of duty is subject to change based on agency's needs.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus):
Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance):
Not Authorized

Pay:
Competitive salary and regular salary…