Pharmacy Technician Specialist, League City Campus Ambulatory Pharmacy

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Performs the job functions and duties of Senior Pharmacy Technologist when needed.
• Collects data and analyzes complex information and prepares precise written summaries, reports, and/or recommendations for a variety of purposes for pharmacy leadership as appropriate or as directed.
• Assists with the maintenance of policies and standard operating procedures for area of specialty to ensure the pharmacy department meets all legal, accreditation, and certification requirements
• Completes documentation and maintains records according to established policies and procedures
• Essential job functions vary depending on the assigned specialty area:  
  • Pharmacy Business
    • Provide administrative support and completes clerical tasks
    • Assists patients with completing required registration forms for pharmaceutical programs, reimbursement applications, copay cards, and other forms as needed for their care
    • Communicates alternatives to providers and office staff when appropriate and escalates to a pharmacist when requests require extensive clinical review or denial
    • Perform financial reconciliations (including accounts receivable) to identify program exceptions and variances. Analyze root cause and follow up with recommendations for appropriate corrections.
    • Prepare and review monthly accounting reports and journal entries, validating for accuracy and completeness. Collaborate with accounting department to design accounting processes that accurately reflect business operations.
  • Medication Safety
    • Contributes to organized initiatives to evaluate and improve the quality and safety of medication use within the health care system.
    • Identifies, reports, and assists in resolution of potential or actual errors, omissions, unsafe practices, or illegal practices.
    • Completes a variety of quality assurance and performance improvement audits such as JCAHO medication management, TSBP, and CMS compliance audits
  • Informatics                                            
    • Ensures the integrity and accuracy of information in automated technology (e.g., compounding, repackaging, cartfill, and automated dispensing systems) and pharmacy information systems
    • Demonstrates proficiency with the operation and maintenance of automated technology and pharmacy information systems
    • Proficient with automated dispensing machine applications as they interface to other clinical systems and pharmacy equipment
    • Troubleshoots equipment and system problems
    • Identifies and reports issues related to informatics or automated technology and reports identified problems or potential patient safety issues
    • Schedules service with appropriate vendor, CES, or CISAC                                                                                                                                                                            
    • Participates in the implementation, upgrade, and testing of pharmacy information and automation systems
    • Solicits and reviews feedback from end users, compiles, and analyzes support data and recommends procedural and educational changes as appropriate
    • Participates in vendors user groups and maintains relationship with vendors to remain knowledgeable and provides input about new and proposed system enhancements and functionality
  • Training and Development
    • Supports the professional development and training of staff through the coordination, oversight, development, and implementation of area-specific training upon hire and ongoing as needed. 
    • Makes recommendations to improve initiatives and/or specific training programs as appropriate
    • Provide expertise, oversight, and management of competency assessments
  • Clinical Services
    • Works to improve patient outcomes by ensuring patients receive the safest and most effective medication regimen
    • Gathers clinical information on patients and conducts medication histories
    • Provides medication dispensing for patient’s diagnosis, weight, and age
    • Provides specialized drug delivery for related new drugs or technologies
    • Provides education and counseling about the drug cost and financial assistance
    • Ensures compliance with medication safety standards for clinical specialty area
    • Provide pharmacy support to patients who are forced to use external pharmacies for their care, including helping patients troubleshoot issues with getting their prescriptions filled
    • Provides support and is a resource for clinical pharmacy services and the clinical pharmacists
    • Tracks completion of unit audits, pharmacist monthly reports, and goals
    • Supports functions of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee including preparation of meeting materials
    • Coordinates in-services, events, and meetings including conference room management
    • Supports pharmacist provision of in-person or telephonic/video-telehealth medication therapy management (MTM) services, drug therapy management (DTM) services, and immunization clinics
    • Assists with the preparation and completion of staff skill and competency assessments
  • Hazardous Compounding
    • Ensures compliance with USP 800 and medication safety standards
  • Diversion
    • Ensures compliance with DEA rules and regulations and monitors for controlled substance diversion
• Adheres to internal controls and reporting structure.
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES

• Has advanced skills in area of specialty.
• Must have current knowledge of safety regulations in the department and in the implementation of new policies and procedures.
• Proficient knowledge of operating system software, desktop applications such as excel, power point, etc., interfaces, and pharmacy information system applications as they relate to the automated dispensing machines.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and solve problems.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Communicates effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, work well under pressure, take initiative, and be flexible and cooperative.
• Able to spend most of the day standing, walking, or bending.  Able to sit, stand, walk, bend, stoop, pull, reach, push up to 50 lbs., and regularly and occasionally lift 0-30 lbs.

Equal Employment Opportunity

UTMB Health strives to provide equal opportunity employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. As a VEVRAA Federal Contractor, UTMB Health takes affirmative action to hire and advance women, minorities, protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.