Pharmacy Service Clerk

Requirements and Responsibilities:

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED) required.

Pharmacy Technician I:

• 3-6 months of experience and/or training in hospital, retail pharmacy or elsewhere - OR - equivalent combination of education and experience is preferred.

• If not previously trained, a 3-month formal training in pharmacy procedures is preferred.

• Temporary or permanent Michigan Pharmacy Technician license required upon hire with permanent Michigan Pharmacy Tech licensure required within one year from issuance of temporary license. Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) certification is required by the State of Michigan to transition from temporary to permanent licensure. Failure to obtain permanent licensure in required timeframe would end employment.

• Students currently enrolled in an accredited school of pharmacy with a valid pharmacy intern license are not required to have Pharmacy Technician Certification.

• Skills in mathematics and basic algebra.

• Ability to read, interpret and analyze data from various systems and equipment in order to set an appropriate plan of action in coordination with the pharmacists.

• Effective communication skills to report and discuss findings, as needed with pharmacists, hospital personnel and external customers

• Ability to foster a positive, professional working relationship with coworkers

• Self-motivation

• Accuracy and initiative to complete routine and urgent tasks

• Ability to effectively prioritize tasks within the constraints of stated objectives and to provide effective timely follow-up as needed.

• Work which is constantly and exceptionally tiring mentally and/or visually. Conditions exist more than 90% of the work time.

• Involves regularly lifting of bulky or moderately heavy weights (i.e., up to 50 pounds), and occasionally assisting with heavier tasks or expending the equivalent effort in pushing, pulling, or otherwise handling material, equipment, and other objects. Able to walk/stand for prolonged periods of time.

• Valid driver's license may be needed for some job functions

• Job duties specific to outpatient/retail pharmacy include: prescription processing, inventory management (re-stocking, rotation of stock, expired medication removal), performing a prescription sales transaction through the point of sale system and cash register, prescription filling, answering and responding to phone calls, prioritizes and processes orders per instruction from the pharmacist, and maintains work area and equipment in a clean and orderly condition and documents as required.

• Job duties specific to hospital pharmacy include: inventory management (re-stocking, rotation of stock, expired medication removal), delivery of supplies and medications to the nursing units, operating the medication carousel (at selected locations), answering and responding to phone calls, packaging/repackaging medications, assist in receiving the medication delivery, prepare non-sterile medication compounds, completes assigned inspections of medication storage locations, prioritizes and processes orders per instruction from the pharmacist, and maintains work area and equipment in a clean and orderly condition and documents as required

Pharmacy Technician II:

• Permanent Pharmacy Technician license in good standing with State of Michigan is required.

• Internal applicants must have no current disciplinary action plans and the most recent performance evaluation score above 2.0.

• Skills in mathematics and basic algebra.
• Ability to read, interpret and analyze data from various systems and equipment in order to set an appropriate plan of action in coordination with the pharmacists.
• Effective communication skills to report and discuss findings, as needed with pharmacists, hospital personnel and external customers;
• Ability to foster a positive, professional working relationship with coworkers
• Self-motivation
• Accuracy and initiative to complete routine and urgent tasks
• Ability to effectively prioritize tasks within the constraints of stated objectives and to provide effective timely follow-up as needed.
Work which is constantly and exceptionally tiring mentally and/or visually. Conditions exist more than 90% of the work time.
Involves regularly lifting of bulky or moderately heavy weights (i.e., up to 50 pounds), and occasionally assisting with heavier tasks or expending the equivalent effort in pushing, pulling, or otherwise handling material, equipment, and other objects.
• Demonstrates ability to complete and maintain all competencies of a Pharmacy Technician I
• Job duties specific to outpatient/retail pharmacy includes:  all those required for Pharmacy Technician I as well as outpatient pharmacy purchasing of supplies and medications.

Functions in the role of OR Technician, ED Technician or Decentralized Pharmacy Technician
• Job duties specific to hospital or infusion pharmacy includes:  all those required for Pharmacy Technician I as well as one or more of the following: assisting the pharmacist in obtaining patient home medication histories and clarifying/reconciling home medications; utilizing the teach back method, able to provide patient medication education under the direction or supervision of the pharmacist; perform sterile medication compounding, which may include parenteral nutrition preparation, following institution policies, procedures, and protocols consistent with USP <797>; running and maintaining any pharmacy robotic medication compounding equipment; assisting the pharmacist, with oversight in reviewing and comprehending pharmacokinetic reports, collect and enter patient height/weight into the department documentation system, review and comprehend patient lab reports or other unit specific information.

Pharmacy Technician III:

• Permanent Pharmacy Technician license in good standing with State of Michigan

• Internal applicants must have no current disciplinary action plans and the most recent performance evaluation score above 2.0. 

• Skills in mathematics and basic algebra.

• Ability to read, interpret and analyze data from various systems and equipment in order to set an appropriate plan of action in coordination with the pharmacists.

• Work which is constantly and exceptionally tiring mentally and/or visually. Conditions exist more than 90% of the work time.

• Involves regularly lifting of bulky or moderately heavy weights (i.e., up to 50 pounds), and occasionally assisting with heavier tasks or expending the equivalent effort in pushing, pulling, or otherwise handling material, equipment, and other objects.

• Job requires effective communication skills to report and discuss findings, as needed with pharmacists, hospital personnel and external customers; ability to foster a positive, professional working relationship with coworkers; self-motivation; accuracy and initiative to complete routine and urgent tasks; ability to effectively prioritize tasks within the constraints of stated objectives and to provide effective timely follow-up as needed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Demonstrates ability to complete and maintain all competencies of Pharmacy Technician II.

• Job duties specific to outpatient retail pharmacy include: all those required for Pharmacy Technician I and II as well as one or more of the following: supporting the beside medication delivery program (meds to beds) which includes assisting the  pharmacist in obtaining patient home medication histories and clarifying/reconciling home medication, coordinating the delivery of the medication to the patient, interacting with other hospital personnel to coordinate medication therapy for the patient; specialty pharmacy program support which includes coordination of shipping, medication ordering, inventory management of specialty prescriptions.

• Job duties specific to hospital or infusion pharmacy include:  all those required for Pharmacy Technician I and II and one or more of the following: chemotherapy compounding following institutional policies, procedures, and protocols consistent with USP <797> and USP <800>; advanced level home medication histories for admission reconciliation in the emergency department, advanced level pharmacy buying; advanced level automated dispensing cabinet configuration, maintenance, and optimization; controlled substance diversion monitoring; advanced inventory management; departmental scheduling for large departments.

• Additional criteria to be considered includes active professional organization involvement; mentoring, leadership, or ownership roles on projects/activities within the department or organization.