Pharmacy Technician

About the Role

UPMC Mercy is hiring a Full Time Pharmacy Technician, Associate to support our Pharmacy. This position will work varied daylight/evening shifts with rotating weekends/holidays. This position is eligible for a $5,000 sign-on bonus with a 2-year commitment.

The Pharmacy Technician, Associate provides pharmaceutical care to patients within the UPMC Health System by assisting with sterile and nonsterile medication preparation, medication filling, and medication distribution. Services are provided in compliance with Department of Health, The Joint Commission, and State Board of Pharmacy regulations.

Key Responsibilities

Filling

• Assist in filling medication orders through correct labeling, counting, and stocking practices.
• Initial and date products as required.
• Assist in the preparation of oral and injectable medications (including intravenous admixtures and TPN (Total Parenteral Nutrition)) for the correct patient for administration at the appropriate time.
• Consistently work in the Sterile Product area preparing cytotoxic and hazardous drugs (e.g., chemotherapy) using proper aseptic technique.

Distribution

• Participate in the distribution of medication including medication cassettes, emergency medication carts, and the delivery of controlled substances per department policy and state and federal requirements.
• Retrieve discontinued medications and return (and credit if necessary) them to the appropriate pharmacy area.
• Develop and maintain positive and productive service relationships during the medication distribution process.

Investigational

• Assist in the procurement, accountability, storage, preparation, and distribution of investigational and study drugs.

General

• Provide and receive information (via telephone, person-to-person, or written) to hospital personnel, patients, and visitors.
• Refer all drug information questions to Staff Pharmacists.
• Ensure that all medications in all areas are safely and securely stored according to Department of Health, The Joint Commission, and State Board of Pharmacy regulations.
• Develop and maintain a clean, organized, and adequately stocked work environment.
• Practice appropriate hand hygiene.
• Use computer skills to process and maintain all patient information and records.
• Maintain all pertinent documentation as required, including eye wash logs, refrigerator logs, perpetual inventory logs, etc.
• Finalize sales using a cash register, follow proper cash handling policies and procedures.
• Comply with Federal and State laws such as HIPAA, regulations such as OSHA, and PBM contracting requirements such as FWA and CMS.
• Maintain the pharmacy computer system as required.
• Procure and maintain adequate inventory levels on a daily basis in applicable areas such as pharmacy medication stock rooms, automated medication carousels, and automated dispensing machines.
• Maintain and update automated med stations, unit and department stock, emergency boxes, and crash carts.
• Assist in the training of pharmacy personnel and students.
• Demonstrate a high level of accuracy and skill in maintaining controlled substance records and the distribution process for controlled substances.
• Audit and maintain accurate records for controlled substances. Assure that all such drugs are stored and dispensed in compliance with Federal, State, and Department Regulations.
• Participate in departmental quality improvement activities to continually improve and evaluate pharmaceutical care.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Act 34
• PA State Board of Pharmacy Registration required for all PA locations.

Qualifications

• AND one of the following:
• Completion of an accredited pharmacy technician program.
• Six months of previous pharmacy technician experience.
• Six months experience as a Pharmacy Assistant within the UPMC Health System.
• Enrollment in a college program and in good standing.