Pharmacy Assistant

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Qualifications

• Pharmacy Assistant course from a recognized program
• Other combination of education and experience may be considered
• Province of Manitoba Class 5 Drivers License, or equivalent from province of residence, 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 organizational skills and ability to work independently
• Demonstrated problem solving and decision making skills
• Demonstrated flexibility to facilitate changes in techniques and procedures in a changing environment
• Demonstrated knowledge and competence of skills and concepts related to the position
• Demonstrated communication skills
• Ability to respect and promote confidentiality
• Ability to perform the duties of the position on a regular basis
• Ability to respect and promote a culturally diverse population
• Ability to work effectively and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, clients and within interdisciplinary team
  

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 medstations (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.

Overview

RESPONSIBILITIES:

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 and/or final 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 medstations as required.
• Selects medications from stock for refill and loads Pyxis medstations.
• Loads assigned medications, refills standard medications and unloads medications without orders at Pyxis medstations.
• Responds to stock out bulletins, stock critical low bulletins, picks medication and refills the medication at Pyxis medstations.
• 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 medstations.
• 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 medstations.
• 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.