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

• 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.
• Generates patient specific reports (i.e. labels, profiles)
• 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
• Sorts and processes medications returned to pharmacy (i.e. return bin). Records, credits and returns medication to the stock location or discards medication
• Assembles, files and maintains departmental records (i.e. prescriptions, patient profiles)
• Performs intermediate checks on prepared medications for accuracy as per departmental procedure (i.e. strip packaged medications)
• Directs inquiries from phone calls and visitors as applicable
• Performs inspections of medication storage areas in pharmacy and on the nursing units for appropriate storage, cleanliness and expiry dates
• Trains new pharmacy Assistants
• Delivers medications to appropriate nursing units
• Accumulates data and maintains records for departmental statistics (i.e. workload)
• Handles cytotoxic and biological products
• Orders stationary supplies
• Monitors expiry of medications

Inpatient Dispensing

• Fills prescriptions by selecting the medication, placing it into an appropriate container and affixing the label to the container
• Performs extemporaneous compounding as required and maintains manufacturing records
• Prepares medications for delivery or shipping as required
• Stores and maintains records of patients’ medications from home
• Counts and records quantity of narcotics on hand
• Fills stock medication requisitions
• Assists the Pharmacist in dispensing prescriptions
• Issues and delivers controlled drugs and maintains records to non-Pyxis areas. Participates in inventory reconciliation

PYXIS (where applicable)

• Runs Pyxis reports daily at the Pyxis console and assigns new patient specific medications to Pyxis med stations as required
• Selects medications from stock for refill and loads Pyxis med stations
• Loads assigned medications, refills standard medications and unloads medications without orders at Pyxis med stations
• Responds to stock out bulletins, stock critical low bulletins, picks medication and refills the medication at Pyxis med stations
• Checks and replenishes ward stock at each nursing unit
• Maintains adequate supply of strip packaged medications for ward replenishment
• Assists in maintaining appropriate medications and inventory in the Pyxis med stations
• Empties Pyxis and non-Pyxis return bins and returns inventory
• Checks expiry dates, inspects drug storage areas, maintains ward stock lists and organizes and labels cupboards

Sterile Services

• Assembles medications and supplies required for patient specific and bulk sterile compounding
• Assists in the preparation of sterile products, using aseptic technique, in the Horizontal Laminar Flow Hood, and Biological Safety Cabinets.
• Performs batch and patient specific sterile compounding (i.e. adult Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN), pediatric TPN, large and small volume parenterals, chemotherapy, epidurals)
• Prepares sterile compounds
• Stocks sterile room with supplies

Inventory

• Maintains adequate inventory levels
• Receives and verifies incoming drug shipments
• Reconciles invoices and credits
• Orders non-stock supplies
• Fills order request from non-contract purchasers
• Maintains pertinent inventory records
• Processes month-end and year-end
• Sends expired goods to vendors for credit
• Reconciles inventory issues

Database Management

• Enters medication and financial information into the Pyxis, BDM and Logibec databases
• Monitors and tests pharmacy interface systems
• Reviews, updates and maintains the formulary in response to the Pharmacy and Therapeutics recommendations upon Regional Medical Advisory Committee (RMAC) approval
• Analyzes system reports and staff feedback to determine inventory levels
• Oversees the building of Pyxis med stations
• Resolves system issues

Secondary Hospital Site & Remote Locations

• Fills and sends orders to facilities
• 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
• Divides credit invoice amounts and provides an itemized list along with a credit total to each facility
• Prepares and updates ward stock sheet lists
• Heat seals (blister packs) controlled drug stock for use at the facilities
• 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
• Checks expiry dates of products
• Other duties as assigned