Job Description

About Us:

SEARHC is a non-profit health consortium which serves the health interests of the residents of Southeast Alaska. We see our employees as our strongest assets. It is our priority to further their development and our organization by aiding in their professional advancement.

Working at SEARHC is more than a job, its a fulfilling career. We offer generous benefits, including retirement, paid time off, paid parental leave, health, dental, and vision benefits, life insurance and long and short-term disability, and more.

Job Overview:

This position functions within the pharmacy department at Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium to provide technical support to the pharmacists and the Department of Pharmacy Services. The work requires specialized knowledge, experience and skills to perform the technical work of a pharmacy and a thorough knowledge of the routine and procedures of the pharmacy department. The purpose of this position involves the preparation, review, supply, dispensing and control of medications and other pharmaceutical products. The position is essential to ensure all patients, departments and villages receive the medications they need and store them properly. All work is performed under the direct supervision of a pharmacist. Performs in a professional manner, respects confidentiality, and demonstrates qualities endorsed by following the seven Standards for Service Excellence outlined in the SEARHC Human Resources Manual.

Technicians must be able to interact with patients, nurses, health aids and practitioners to answer questions related to pharmacy services. They must know when to refer questions to a pharmacist and when to answer the question themselves. Must perform dosage calculations in order to correctly prepare compounded medications and be able to work quickly and efficiently without sacrificing accuracy. Must be able to maintain pharmacy equipment and troubleshoot problems. Must know how to meet the urgent needs of patient care areas, monitor and maintain stock.

This position requires handling of hazardous substances, standing for extended periods of time, usually 8 hours; walking to deliver medications all over the building and to pick up orders, lifting 30 lbs boxes. There is potential for exposure to infectious patients or materials, sticks or cuts by needles and other sharp items, musculoskeletal injuries and potential for harm from burglary or robbery. This position is a covered position for purposes of the Indian Child Protection Act.

$22.66- $26.06 per hour, DOE

Responsibilities:

• Retrieve medications from shelf of Scriptpro robot, counts medications, and labels containers under the supervision of the pharmacist. Communicates with patients at the pharmacy window and directs traffic within the pharmacy and waiting room. Cleans and refills the Scriptpro robot daily and as needed. Answers telephone and takes requests for prescription refills from patients. Orders and replaces stock in the pharmacy. Triages patient questions; answers questions when appropriate, refers other requests to a pharmacist. Processes confidential information. Return prescriptions to stock when they are not picked up by patients within two weeks; process prescriptions through software to reverse billing. Dispense prepared refill prescriptions under the supervision of the pharmacist.
• Retrieve and interpret medication orders; perform pharmaceutical calculations; enter orders into pharmacy computer system for pharmacists review. Label, fill and deliver medication to appropriate patient care locations. Compounding IV medication using sterile technique and following all USP 797 guidelines. Restocks and cleans the IV room on a daily basis and performs weekly and monthly cleanings as scheduled. Refills the emergency room Pyxis machine and files proper paperwork. Fill out appropriate paperwork when preparing and delivering controlled substances. Receive and triage information requests; research and provide information where appropriate; refer other inquiries to the pharmacist. Inventory, order, receive and stock drugs and supplies. Retrieve expired, recalled or discontinued medications from stock and patient areas; discard or return to stock as appropriate; complete corresponding documentation.

• Assist in documentation of unit-specific procedures and quality assurance activities under Pharmacist review.
• Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein. Monitors drug storage conditions and documents refrigerator temperatures.

• Prepack stock medications using both Scriptpro and PickPoint software. Fill orders for village clinics, hospital department and telepharmacy operations. Fill orders for the Pyxis machines. Fills out appropriate paperwork for all controlled substances prepackaged and sent to the village locations.
• Inventory, order, receive and stock drugs and supplies using applicable software. Fill orders for vaccines; properly prepares them for shipping to ensure they maintain the required temperature; arranges for direct shipment to the villages; files appropriate paperwork. Applies postage to mail out prescriptions and delivers them to the warehouse. Put away freight and handling boxes of up to 30 lbs. Orders medications from wholesaler; evaluates pricing and strives for cost containment and inventory control
• Checks crash carts for used, outdated or recalled drugs and replenishes them as needed. Keep pharmacy areas clean, neat and well organized. Retrieves expired or discontinued medications from stock; prepare boxes for expired medications and ship to reverse distributor. Monitor refrigerator temperatures in all refrigerators used to store medication in the pharmacy.
• Other duties as assigned

• Education necessary to obtain license to practice in the State of Alaska
• Fluent in the reading, writing and speaking of the English language

• License to practice in the State of Alaska

• One year Hospital pharmacy, ambulatory clinic pharmacy, or retail pharmacy experience
• OR successful completion of the SEARHC Trainee program
• OR successful completion of a formalized pharmacy technician training program (i.e. University of Alaska)

• Drug names and strengths, generic equivalents, pharmaceutical and medical terminology and pharmacy law
• Computer systems as well as knowledge of operation and capabilities of all automated equipment within the pharmacy

• Sterile compounding skills - Must pass a written, visual and manual test with 3 months of hire
• Hazardous drug handling - must pass written test with in 3 months of hire
• Basic math skills required to calculate dosages

• Communicate with patients verbally in person and on the phone
• Multitask with constant interruptions and adapt to changes in workload and work schedule
• Work cooperatively with all health-system and pharmacy staff and deal with difficult people
• Set priorities and solve problems and respond quickly in emergencies

Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium