Sr. Pharmacy Technician - Inventory Management

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A Brief Overview
The Sr. Pharmacy Tech is responsible for purchasing pharmaceutical stock and supplies required to prepare and dispense medications; ensuring adequate inventories to support the patient care needs of the institution; managing drug shortages by locating, procuring, and arranging delivery of pharmaceuticals when not available through regular suppliers; managing inventory to maximize utilization of budgeted resources; conducting recalls of various drugs; and complying with regulatory and accreditation requirements related to the purchase and documentation of all pharmaceutical transactions.

What you will do

• Inventory Management:
• Determines and establishes inventory levels for main storage locations using current AMU data, package sizes and refill turn-around times (minimum, maximum, reorder quantities)
• Min and max levels for new medications must be calculated and reviewed with the Purchasing Pharmacist Lead
• Maintains designated inventory of pharmaceuticals, IV solutions, and related supplies such as plastic bags, IV supplies, and compounding supplies for the pharmacy.
• Uses kanban cards
• Maintains kanban cards. Documents missing kanban cards weekly and reports to Purchasing Pharmacist Lead
• Ensures wholesaler's reorder barcodes are up to date and present on a minimum of 98% of kanban cards
• Maintains current main inventory storage shelves.
• Main Inventory storage shelves and refrigerated storage shelves must be current within 2 weeks of notification regarding a formulary medication addition or change
• Each formulary medication must have a storage bin in designated main storage areas and placed in alphabetical order
• The bin must be labeled with a typed label. A wholesaler barcode must be placed on the shelves
• Formulary medications taken off of the formulary must be removed from the formulary storage shelves and placed in the non-formulary sections within 2 weeks of notification
• Manages inventory by maximizing inventory turns and minimizing stock-outs to achieve the most appropriate utilization of budgeted funds
• Conducts audits for proper kanban placement and ensures ordering to max quantity
• Utilizes kanbans and other purchasing practices to maximize inventory turns and minimize stock-outs to achieve the most appropriate utilization of budgeted funds
• Blood Factor Products:
• Reviews Daily Blood Factor usage report verifying patient usage
• Maintains pre-determined par levels
• Places supplemental orders of Blood Factor products to address emergent patient needs
• Coordinates return of Blood Factor products with pending expirations
• Facilitates the annual physical pharmaceutical inventory count providing requested cost reports or inventory documents
• Oversees monthly return of outdates through returns company
• Ordering:
• Orders inventory stock:
• Per kanban card, procure products at an appropriate time, quantity, inventory location and supplier
• In response to above average product use by specific patients, temporarily increase reorder quantities beyond maximum quantities on kanban card (no greater than 4-5 day supply) with daily monitoring of patient status
• Orders for controlled substances are accompanied by all required documentation
• Utilizes wholesaler computer systems to purchase drugs
• Evaluates available products and utilizes contracted options 95% of the time
• Optimizes value of both GPO and 340B program participation in product selection
• Utilizes hospital electronic purchase order system to place direct orders with manufacturers and suppliers of drugs and related supplies
• Obtains non-formulary or specialty pharmacy medications requested by a physician - approved by a Clinical Pharmacist
• Minimizing duplication of supply of non-formulary medication (i.e. drug, strength, concentration)
• Complying with all clinical and financial verification requirements prior to purchase
• Promotes purchasing decisions that support Pharmacy department core processes in maintaining operational efficiencies
• Assists with the selection and purchase of alternate products when shortages occur
• Ensures medication purchases are compatible with department technology requirements
• Drug Shortages - New stock-outs or potential stock-outs must be reported to designate pharmacy management within 4 hours of discovery
• Stock out information includes the following information: estimated length of stock out, current inventory, average monthly use, projected utilization period for current stock, alternative sources of product
• Determine quantity of medication to order based on AMU, reason of shortage, projected length of shortage
• Monitor status of drug shortage on a weekly basis, updating the drug shortage database and responding with commensurate purchasing actions
• Coordinates emergency purchases/borrowing of medications or related supplies as needed to meet unanticipated patient care requirements and communicates related delivery information to appropriate department staff in a timely manner
• Coordinates with Wholesaler for Return product / Return Authorization Form in response to the following events and processes return/credit within 72 hours of request:
• Recall
• Request from Supervisor
• Something ordered in excess in error
• Processes off-site requests for medications or related supplies
• Information Management:
• Maintains accurate records of all stock, purchase and receipt transactions
• Maintains accurate records of controlled substance purchase and receipt transactions
• Maintains Access database of Drop-ship purchases
• Responds to inquiries from healthcare professionals and industry representatives regarding drug prices and inventory
• Develops reports and retrieves data as requested by Pharmacy administrators
• Maintains drug shortage database:
• Provide weekly up to date information regarding product shortage status
• Provide weekly up to date inventory data
• Provide weekly up to date inventory receipt of back order medication
• Maintain current and accurate Borrow/Lend log
• Lend and Borrow items must be reconciled within 2 months of transaction
• Maintains current and accurate records of all contracts, purchase transactions, direct purchase orders and credits for returned expired medications
• Files must be arranged in alphabetical order by manufacturer. Within each manufacturer's folder - subdivided into 3 sections: 1. A current contract - if applicable, 2. A current catalog - if applicable, 3. Invoices from current and previous fiscal year
• Quality Improvement:
• Participates in hospital and departmental Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities.
• Utilizes Lean Principals to analyze, and resolve problems in a systematic manner
• All improvements must be made in accordance with the scientific method.
• Participates in departmental LEAN Projects (RPI / 5S)
• Works OT to allow co- workers to participate in department RPI
• Provides pre- and post- project feedback and supports sustaining measures to ensure successful outcomes
• Achieves patient safety and satisfaction through the use of Lean principles:
• 5S
• JIT
• Quality
• Promotes and Complies with Standardized Procedures and work:
• Identifies waste in ownership process and recommend solutions for implementation
• Corrects abnormal conditions
• Performs other related duties as assigned by authorized personnel to provide departmental flexibility to patient care needs including those for emergency situations.

Education Qualifications

• High School Diploma / GED - Required
• Technical Diploma Pharmacy Technician - Preferred
• Associate's Degree - Preferred
• Bachelor's Degree - Preferred

Experience Qualifications

• At least two (2) years pharmacy experience - Preferred

Skills and Abilities

• An understanding of pharmacy services or experience working in pharmacy or a healthcare field
• Purchasing/inventory control
• Demonstrated skill with personal computers and applications (Word Processing and Excel Spreadsheets with proficiency in basic spreadsheet functions)
• Understanding of Lean management principles and application to daily work responsibilities
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• knowledge of 340B purchasing requirements (Preferred proficiency)

To carry out its mission, CHOP is committed to supporting the health of our patients, families, workforce, and global community. As a condition of employment, CHOP employees who work in patient care buildings or who have patient facing responsibilities must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and receive an annual influenza vaccine. Learn more.

Employees may request exemptions for valid religious and medical reasons. Start dates may be delayed until candidates are immunized or exemption requests are reviewed.

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