Employment

Primary Function

The incumbent in this position serves as a Pharmacy Technician for the Cherokee Service Unit under the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority. The incumbent for this position has prior and/or initial experience as a pharmacy technician. The incumbent is responsible for the provision of technical and support duties associated with the provision of pharmaceutical services to the patient population that is served by the organization.

Job Description

• The technician fully assists the pharmacist in the preparation and provision of medications in the fulfillment of patient care functions.
• The technician will have responsibilities for inventory control, which include, but are not limited to, ordering of pharmaceuticals and supplies, management of stock, inventory maintenance, maintenance of appropriate records, and management of requisitions and requests.
• The technician will participate in the provision of outpatient pharmaceutical services. This includes, but is not limited to: performing receptionist/clerical duties; performing data entry functions; preparing prescriptions for patient use; maintenance of appropriate records; and completing functions related to insurance and billing.
• The technician will participate in the provision of inpatient pharmaceutical services which include: data entry responsibilities; preparation of intravenous admixtures; preparation of unit dose supplies; maintenance of appropriate records; and maintenance of medication inventories for patient use.
• The technician will have responsibilities related to medication supply management including packaging, labeling, minor compounding, maintenance of appropriate records, and maintenance of adequate supplies to meet patient and hospital needs.
• The technician will have other general department duties including: automated equipment maintenance and monitoring; department cleaning and organizing; professional interactions with pharmacy and hospital staff; proper monitoring of medication storage conditions and status; and maintenance of appropriate records related to pharmacy operation.
• The technician will be responsible for other duties as assigned, in order to meet the mission of the pharmacy department to provide patient care.
• More specific information related to job duties is available as a supplement to this job description.

Basic knowledge of or possess the ability to obtain knowledge of:

• Pharmaceutical nomenclature
• Characteristics, strengths, and dosage forms of pharmaceuticals
• Pharmaceutical Calculations
• Pharmaceutical systems and metric/apothecary systems of weights and measures
• Procedures and techniques involved in the care, storage, repackaging, bulk compounding, and distribution of pharmaceuticals
• Sterile and aseptic procedures
• Federal pharmacy laws and regulations, JCAHO and IHS standards
• Operation of various types of pharmaceutical apparatus, equipment, automated technology, compounding techniques, and measurement of ingredients
• Public relation skills
• Valid driver’s license may be required

Experience and Job Training

General Experience

• Ability to learn and/or knowledge of basic pharmacy process and systems, pharmaceutical drug names, calculations, and regulations.
• Ability and/or knowledge to manage the ordering, receipt, accounting of, and proper storage of supplies.
• Ability to work with a variety of people from various backgrounds.
• Ability to exercise tack and diplomacy in order to gain the confidence, support, and cooperation of the individuals.
• Any type of work that demonstrates the applicant’s ability to perform the work of the position, or experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the board subject area of the occupation.
• Basic proficiency in position expected within 6 to 12 months of the date of hire.

Specialized Experience

• Two to Four Years of specialized experience including experience as a pharmacy technician, working in health care in a hospital or practice setting with direct patient care experience, or in a pharmaceutical firm or laboratory.
• For consideration for this position, certification by the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board as a Certified Technician (CPhT).

Education

Minimal required schooling:

• High School graduate with diploma
• Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations
• Ability to operate a typewriter and/or keyboard for the production of documents, labels, and other printed materials.

Additional formal schooling may be required. See Specialized Experience.