General Summary

Receives pharmaceuticals and maintains proper inventory levels. Complies with required drug storage and accountability in accordance to drug schedule and hospital and state regulations. Performs related pharmacy duties assigned. Delivers and picks-up medications and related items to and from the patient care areas. Assists pharmacy area customer needs.

Principal Responsibilities and Tasks

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

• Packages or selects products, and labels medications into unit doses for inspection and approval by the pharmacist. Fills drug, drug trays supply requests as instructed by requestor and by supervisor.
• Retail Pharmacy specific duties: Processes prescriptions per protocol: Data entry of HIPPA patient and insurance information supplied by customer. Enters correct prescription information into computer for both on-line and off-line verification. Selects correct drug product for each prescription processed, fills prescriptions, and matches all labels for each script. Files and dispense prescriptions to customer after final check by pharmacist.
  • Processes labels correctly.
  • Ensures that the appropriate NDC is being used and the old NDC is blocked. If NDC is changed, knows how to reprocess the prescription.
  • "Packaging holding"- appropriately dates, initials, and documents reason for call. Separates the bags, labels, and prescriptions.
  • Follows proper packaging steps for reconstitutions and procedure for ringing up.
  • Puts away order and follows procedures (e.g. marking opened bottles with an "X" after used).
• Delivers and picks up pharmacy documents and medications from various departments and patient care locations. Responds to requests from pharmacy satellites and patient care areas.
• Delivers medications to automated dispensing cabinets, responds to stockouts, loads medications and triages cabinet issues.
• General knowledge of medical informatics including order-entry systems, automated dispensing devices, bar-code packaging devices, bar-code medication administration (BCMA) systems, clinical integrated systems and system/application maintenance.
• Prepares controlled substances orders. Verifies and maintains controlled substance drug inventories and coordinates the return of controlled substances to the narc vault.
  • Documents all required information regarding controlled substances per policy.
  • Returns re-usable medications and supplies to appropriate space.
  • Verifies and maintains controlled substance inventories.
  • Returns all expired or damaged controlled substances to designated controlled substance staff or pharmacist assigned.

Maintains appropriate inventory levels of medications and pharmaceutical supplies in the department and in the inpatient care areas. Tracks and maintains stock levels of pharmaceutical supplies to ensure availability in accordance to established par levels.

• Handles inventory short medication appropriately; double checks all totes and shelves. Check the invoice again, then pass on to pharmacist. If time permits, notify the patient
  • Verifies accuracy of supplies received by comparing packing order to original purchase order request. Stores incoming merchandise in proper locations as instructed. Informs the supervisor/pharmacist of stock needs and stock shortages.
  • Retrieves expired medications from all patient care areas and shelves; if applicable documents information on expired bags, bottles and disposes of them properly.
• Performs expiration checking as assigned.
• Retrieves expired medications from patient care areas; documents information on expired bags, bottles and disposes of properly.
• Checks and replenishes floor stock and related medications and medical supplies to patient care areas, as appropriate.
• Processes medication recalls when required in accordance with departmental policy and procedure.
  • Keeps area supplied with appropriate vials, bags and labels. Participates in bi-annual inventories for medications and supplies.
  • Contacts vendor to resolve discrepancies, incorrect orders or forwards them to purchasing personnel to resolve.
  • Contributes to the organization of areas assigned and maintains compliance with hospital regulations as they pertain to medication storage and distribution.
  • Demonstrates effectively oral and written communication to report quality assurance compliance and resolution of sensitive matters.
  • Observes established departmental policies, procedures, behavioral and attitudinal norms, and quality assurance programs, safety, security, environmental and infection control standards.
  • Properly handles hazardous substances by observing and demonstrating proper safety procedures and/or "Universal Precautions," as appropriate.
  • Assists in the care and maintenance of department equipment and supplies, such as, computers and printers, packaging and manufacturing equipment.
  • Attends in-service training, staff huddles and various educational programs to enhance professional growth and development.
  • Follows and completes duties as outlined in assigned area responsibility grids and shift checklists.
  • Performs related pharmacy duties as required.