Pharmacy Technician III - Inventory Specialist

The Pharmacy Technician - Inventory Specialist works under the supervision of the Director of Pharmacy and Pharmacy Strategic Sourcing Manager. The position will manage pharmacy inventory by maintaining pharmaceutical stock to meet daily needs by determining inventory level for pharmacy operations, anticipating medication needs and supplies, and removing outdated and recalled drugs. In addition, they will assist in inventory control by communicating variations in pharmaceutical usage and urgent needs of pharmaceuticals to the pharmacy buyer, assist in adjusting supply/order levels based on usage, investigate back orders and stock outs and take steps to maintain inventory. The technician will perform required regulatory inspections and restock supplies and medications in pharmacy, patient care areas, ambulatory clinic medication rooms and ancillary care areas. They will coordinate with the automation technician to maintain accurate inventory to maintain par levels to avoid stockouts and reduce waste and also the pharmacy buyer to ensure medication stock. In addition, the position will staff the pharmacy as a technician as needed.

• Optimize and manage perpetual inventory database to maintain par level of system stock of formulary medications to avoid stockouts and reduce wastage.
• Performs required regulatory inspections and restocks supplies and medications in pharmacy, patient care units, clinics, and ancillary care areas.
• Coordinate with Willow analyst to confirm drug products are up-to-date and accurate within the pharmacy inventory system and EHR database
• Conducts regular quality assurance inspections focused on TJC requirements, including examination of product integrity and expiration.
• Coordinate medication procurement for clinics and patient care areas.
• Conducts inventory cycle counts on regular cadence.
• Monitor shortage lists to proactively order mediations and/or supplies with minimal disruption to our patients.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, optimize inventory management with par level adjustments, and maintain good working relationships with key stakeholders.
• Work closely with the pharmacy buyer for compliance with Drug Supply Chain Security Act.
• Prepares medications under the direction of the pharmacists and problem solves as needed with the ability to accurately prioritize workflow.
• Prepares intravenous solutions (i.e. large volume fluids with additives, intravenous piggybacks, chemotherapy, TPN) utilizing aseptic technique.
• Refill automated dispensing units (ADU) and floor stock of departments and units; including accurately troubleshooting automation related issues.
• Other duties as assigned

• H.S. Diploma - Required

• Hospital pharmacy experience - Preferred
• Intravenous admixture, unit-dose, pharmacy automation knowledge - Preferred
• Pharmacy inventory management systems - Preferred

• Application with the Missouri Board of Pharmacy as a Pharmacy Technician or Pharmacy Intern (Intern license required if currently enrolled in a school of pharmacy) within 3 days of hire - Required Upon Hire
• Registration (completion) with the Missouri Board of Pharmacy as a Pharmacy Technician OR Pharmacy Intern (Intern license required if currently enrolled in a school of pharmacy) within 75 days of hire - Required Upon Hire

Essential Technical/Motor Skills

• Ability to accurately enter computer data (medications, dosages, strengths, drug expiration dates and additional information). Computer skills.
• Able to speak clearly and use telephone etiquette in a professional and courteous manner.
• Able to calculate dosages accurately (orally, IV, and other).
• Able to exercise precise hand-eye coordination to prepare intravenous solutions, chemotherapy, TPN solutions accurately and safely.
• Able to manipulate small items and equipment, and to use fine motor skills when handling IV medications, prepackaging, computer, needles, syringes, etc.

Interpersonal Skills

• Able to communicate appropriately, clearly, handle telephone, take and deliver messages.
• Able to prioritize and multi-task to accomplish required workload without losing focus. Flexible in handling additional work.
• Able to work in a Team environment to meet the needs of our customers.
• Able to be flexible with personal schedule to meet department staffing requirements.

Essential Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift and push varying degrees of weights (not to exceed 50 pounds).
• Ability to constantly move between a kneeling, stooping, reaching, standing, and sitting positions.
• Able to completely walk the facility and return to the pharmacy within 40 minutes.
• Able to handle the assembly functions of the intravenous admixture and unit-dose prepackaging system.

Essential Mental Abilities

• Able to manipulate numbers and calculate metric conversions in order to calculate dosages on order fill.
• Able to interpret data, analyze and read medication orders for input into the computer.
• Able to follow established standards, and medication protocol on order input.
• Able to calculate physician ordered dosage from stock solution.
• Able to comprehend and understand written and verbal medication requests for computer order input or follow-up.
• Able to adapt to the workload demands, and good organizational skills for the prioritization of requests for medications.
• Able to focus attention and be alert during tasks.

Essential Sensory Requirements

• Ability to visually read and understand written physician orders for processing; ability to hear and handle telephone requests or receive ongoing verbal instructions from supervisory pharmacist and carry it out
• Ability to visually assess colors in order to determine if admixed solutions were dispensed and mixed as ordered.

Exposure to Hazards

• Chemical hazards, hazardous medications, potential lifting injuries, sharps hazards, biological hazards.

Other Skills and Abilities

• Ability to function after appropriate training period with minimal supervision.