Pharmacy Assistant

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 ( labels, profiles)

3. Generates and reviews selected non-patient specific reports ( outpatient, inventory, statistical, narcotic, Pyxis). Reviews and adjusts reports and follows up with Pharmacist when necessary

4. Sorts and processes medications returned to pharmacy ( return bin). Records, credits and returns medication to the stock location or discards medication

5. Assembles, files and maintains departmental records ( prescriptions, patient profiles)

6. Performs intermediate checks on prepared medications for accuracy as per departmental procedure ( 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 ( 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 ( 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