Pharmacy Assistant

QUALIFICATIONS
* Pharmacy Assistant course from a recognized program
* Other combination of education and experience may be considered
* Evidence of ability to pass and maintain pharmacy technician or pharmacy assistant verification validation
* Province of Manitoba Class 5 Drivers License, and access to a personal vehicle to provide service within the Prairie Mountain Health
* Proficiency with Microsoft programs (Outlook, Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint), as well as Internet applications and other Information Technology
* Demonstrated leadership
* Demonstrated written and oral communication skills
* Ability to prioritize in a changing environment
* Strong organizational, decision making and problem solving skills
* Ability to display independent judgment
* Ability to respect and promote a culturally diverse population
* Ability to respect and promote confidentiality
* Ability to perform the duties of the position on a regular basis

POSITION SUMMARY:
The Pharmacy Assistant shall be accountable to the location manager and is responsible for performing the technical functions necessary for the general day-to-day operation of the department; replenishing Pyxis med stations (where applicable), filling prescriptions, checking prepared medications for accuracy, entering patient information, running reports, maintaining records, sterile and non-sterile compounding, providing technical assistance in stock-flow control, training new pharmacy staff and performing other related duties as assigned.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Overview:
General
1. Enters patient information into the applicable computer system for profile updates, label generation and charging purposes. Examples of information entered are: inpatient and outpatient refills, chemotherapy orders and leave of absence orders.
2. Generates patient specific reports (i.e. labels, profiles)
3. Generates and reviews selected non-patient specific reports (i.e. outpatient, inventory, statistical, narcotic, Pyxis). Reviews and adjusts reports and follows up with Pharmacist when necessary
4. Sorts and processes medications returned to pharmacy (i.e. return bin). Records, credits and returns medication to the stock location or discards medication
5. Assembles, files and maintains departmental records (i.e. prescriptions, patient profiles)
6. Performs intermediate checks on prepared medications for accuracy as per departmental procedure (i.e. strip packaged medications)
7. Directs inquiries from phone calls and visitors as applicable
8. Performs inspections of medication storage areas in pharmacy and on the nursing units for appropriate storage, cleanliness and expiry dates
9. Trains new pharmacy Assistants
10. Delivers medications to appropriate nursing units
11. Accumulates data and maintains records for departmental statistics (i.e. workload)
12. Handles cytotoxic and biological products
13. Orders stationary supplies
14. Monitors expiry of medications
Inpatient Dispensing
15. Fills prescriptions by selecting the medication, placing it into an appropriate container and affixing the label to the container
16. Performs extemporaneous compounding as required and maintains manufacturing records
17. Prepares medications for delivery or shipping as required
18. Stores and maintains records of patients’ medications from home
19. Counts and records quantity of narcotics on hand
20. Fills stock medication requisitions
21. Assists the Pharmacist in dispensing prescriptions
22. Issues and delivers controlled drugs and maintains records to non-Pyxis areas. Participates in inventory reconciliation
PYXIS (where applicable)
23. Runs Pyxis reports daily at the Pyxis console and assigns new patient specific medications to Pyxis med stations as required
24. Selects medications from stock for refill and loads Pyxis med stations
25. Loads assigned medications, refills standard medications and unloads medications without orders at Pyxis med stations
26. Responds to stock out bulletins, stock critical low bulletins, picks medication and refills the medication at Pyxis med stations
27. Checks and replenishes ward stock at each nursing unit
28. Maintains adequate supply of strip packaged medications for ward replenishment
29. Assists in maintaining appropriate medications and inventory in the Pyxis med stations
30. Empties Pyxis and non-Pyxis return bins and returns inventory
31. Checks expiry dates, inspects drug storage areas, maintains ward stock lists and organizes and labels cupboards
Sterile Services
32. Assembles medications and supplies required for patient specific and bulk sterile compounding
33. Assists in the preparation of sterile products, using aseptic technique, in the Horizontal Laminar Flow Hood, and Biological Safety Cabinets.
34. Performs batch and patient specific sterile compounding (i.e. adult Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN), pediatric TPN, large and small volume parenterals, chemotherapy, epidurals)
35. Prepares sterile compounds
36. Stocks sterile room with supplies
Inventory
37. Maintains adequate inventory levels
38. Receives and verifies incoming drug shipments
39. Reconciles invoices and credits
40. Orders non-stock supplies
41. Fills order request from non-contract purchasers
42. Maintains pertinent inventory records
43. Processes month-end and year-end
44. Sends expired goods to vendors for credit
45. Reconciles inventory issues
Database Management
46. Enters medication and financial information into the Pyxis, BDM and Logibec databases
47. Monitors and tests pharmacy interface systems
48. Reviews, updates and maintains the formulary in response to the Pharmacy and Therapeutics recommendations upon Regional Medical Advisory Committee (RMAC) approval
49. Analyzes system reports and staff feedback to determine inventory levels
50. Oversees the building of Pyxis med stations
51. Resolves system issues
Secondary Hospital Site & Remote Locations
52. Fills and sends orders to facilities
53. Receives expired stock from contract facilities, sorts and catalogues the stock according to manufacturer/wholesaler then records which facility the stock belongs to and ships expired goods to the appropriate vendor
54. Divides credit invoice amounts and provides an itemized list along with a credit total to each facility
55. Prepares and updates ward stock sheet lists
56. Heat seals (blister packs) controlled drug stock for use at the facilities
57. Checks controlled drug sheets for error/omissions and makes arrangements to have them completed/corrected. Files and stores sheets as required by the College of Pharmacists
58. Checks expiry dates of products
59. Other duties as assigned