Pharmacy Technician II

The Department of Pharmaceutical Services provides a full range of services for patients cared for by the UCSF Medical Center, as well as its providers and payers. These services include, but are not limited to, drug procurement, storage, and security; safe accurate and timely preparation and distribution of drugs; clinical pharmacy services for patients; Development of drug uses policies within the Medical Center; drug information services for clinicians and patients; and participation in technology assessment and quality assurance programs.  The Department encompasses with the Department of Clinical Pharmacy, an academic campus unit within the School of Pharmacy, which has a primary responsibility for teaching professional courses in the PharmD curriculum, research and public service. The Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Services share their philosophy of pharmaceutical care. Under Pharmaceutical Services, the Inpatient Pharmacy, at Parnassus and Mount Zion Sites, provides pharmaceutical care to patients hospitalized at Moffitt, Long and Mount Zion Hospitals and specialized services to researchers on campus.

All Pharmacy Technicians are accountable to the supervising or operating pharmacist who is legally responsible by virtue of state licensure for the care and safety of patients served by Pharmaceutical Services. The Pharmacy Technician II performs all activities related to traditional pharmacy prescription dispensing and medication distribution.  They may also participate in the computer entries of medications and prescriptions, including entries of special medications in the patient profile as directed by a pharmacist.
 

DUTIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

%  

of time

Essential Function (Yes/No)

Key Responsibilities

(To be completed by Supervisor)

100%

• Interpret and prepare patient medication orders (doses) for immediate delivery.  Block fill standing order doses in patient medication drawer and/or unit dose cassettes, requiring interpretation of medication orders on patient profile.

• Fill patient orders for nursing units, per floor, under traditional drug distribution system. Fill and prepare, when required, departmental and research unit requisitions. Filling orders may consist of compounding and preparation of extemporaneous compounded products. This requires proper identification of chemicals, mathematical calculations, accurate weighing procedures; technical skills and knowledge of pharmaceutical compounding to produce acceptable product; observe and follow department and state safety regulations.

• Prepare and issue controlled substances to nursing units and maintain accurate records for drug control according to policy and procedures; report and resolve any discrepancies to nursing unit and pharmacist in charge. Assure that all information has been accurately and thoroughly documented.

• Fill and record departmental requisitions from existing stock and compounding of certain requisition orders. This includes inventory, careful screening for identity and expiration dates, and recording of stock. Urgent orders or requisitions are hand-delivered to a specified nursing unit/floor.

• Interpret investigational drug orders and/or compound prescriptions as ordered.

• Participate in the computer entries of all prescriptions/medications using digimedics/pyxis computer system; Assist the pharmacist with computer entries of special prescriptions in the patient profile as directed by a pharmacist.

• Implements policy and procedures developed by the Investigational Drug Pharmacist.

• Cross-trained to perform all duties and essential job functions in the I.V. (Intravenous) Additive Service area. These duties include, but are not limited to, preparing hyperalimentation orders and routine electrolyte solutions, preparing antineoplastic (chemotherapy) agents. This involves familiarity with I.V. terminology and common I.V. solutions.

• Interacts with investigators or their representatives in promoting and coordinating pharmacy involvement with investigational drugs.

• Maintains dispensing records required by the research protocols.

• Aseptically prepares investigational medications for administration. Repackages and properly labels investigational drugs for administration by outpatients and inpatients.

• Serves as a resource person for pharmacy-coordinated investigational drug studies in the absence of the Investigational Drug Pharmacist.

• Follow-up to assure the investigational drug inventory is kept in a neat and orderly manner.

• Adhere to Medical Center Telephone and House Standards including Philosophy and Mission.

100%

(To update total %, enter the amount of time in whole numbers (without the % symbol - e.g., 15, 20) then highlight the total sum (e.g., 1%) at the bottom of the column and press F9. The total sum should add up to 100%.)

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Completion of a recognized/accredited Pharmacy Technician Training Program (includes hands-on training period during externship), or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Minimum two (2) years experience as a Pharmacy Technician in a hospital or health care setting or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Good communication and interpersonal skills; Ability to work effectively with a large, diverse population including maintaining good relationship between Pharmacy and Nursing Units.
• Possess the skills, knowledge, and abilities to compound pharmaceutical preparations and prepare commercially unavailable oral preparations. These manipulations require mathematical calculations, use of analytical balance and pharmaceutical compounding technique.
• Ability to work in a fast pace environment and work under constant pressure.
• Ability to use good judgment in responding to or referring questions by nurses, physicians, and other professional personnel.
• Knowledge, skills, and ability to perform basic computer entries.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATION

• Pharmacy Technician Certification CPhT

• Prefer candidates with a hospital-setting Inpatient Pharmacy/I.V. Additives experience.

• Prefer candidates with excellent communication skills, both orally and in writing.

REQUIRED LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS

• Licensed  Pharmacy Technician by the California Board of Pharmacy and in good standing.