Provides technical support in the delivery of pharmaceutical care to clients of Mercy Medical Center, including the preparation and delivery of medications and sterile products, review of charts for specific information/audits, stocking and ordering of drugs and other products. Performs technical work and tasks allowable by Iowa law for a Pharmacy Intern under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist.

Essential Key Job Responsibilities

 Prepares patient drug orders.

Delivers medications and IV admixtures to patient rooms, critical care areas, and other ancillary areas.

Reviews patient MAR and care plans to determine need to return medication to the pharmacy for credit.

Picks up medication orders from nursing areas and distributes for processing.

Credits to the patient and restock usable medications/IVs returned to the pharmacy.

Files medication orders.

Fills unit-dose exchange envelopes.

Processes medication drawers and orders files for admissions, discharges, and transfers.

Assists the pharmacists with audits.

Completes assigned unit inspections.  

Restocks automated medication dispensing machines (AcuDose or Pyxis).

Enters fill stock requisitions for other departments.

Restocks tackle boxes and cart inserts (crash carts, airway carts, latex carts), and completes check in/out process.

Communicates stock utilization and ordering needs.

Checks medication expiration dates and alerts pharmacist when needed.

Compounds and labels extemporaneous liquid and solid products for patients according to procedure.

Answers telephone and processes requests according to procedures.

Prepares IV admixtures including TPNs, chemotherapy IVs, IV piggybacks, and syringes. In doing so, always follows strictly described, specific policies and procedures.  This includes those intended to comply with USP 797 and hazardous drug regulatory requirements. In addition, inventories and orders selected supplies; prepares and appropriately labels stock sterile products; coordinates the supply of investigational products.

Charges and credits individual patient accounts from pharmacy file lists.

Outpatient prescription processing, including:  enters patient prescription orders into the computer; prepares prescription products for checking by a pharmacist including proper labeling; manages third party billing; assists with inventory and ordering of pharmaceuticals.

Provides training and mentoring to new employees and assists in directing workflow as needed.

After completing training, provides ‘final’ checks of medications contained in and in response to med bags and stock requisitions.

Performs patient counseling related to medication use including, but not limited to, discussion of drug names, strengths, doses, and possible side-effects.

Completes robot and AcuDose quality checks.

Assists pharmacists, clinical specialists, and management team in patient-specific clinical information gathering & departmental projects.

The job summary and responsibilities listed above are designed to indicate the general nature of the work performed within this job. They are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all job responsibilities required of employees assigned to this job. Employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Required Education and Experience

• High school diploma or GED.
• Current enrollment in a pharmacy school or program or proof of verbal commitment to a pharmacy school or program.

Required Licensure and Certifications

• Must be registered as a pharmacy intern with the State of Iowa at the time of hire or registered as a Technician in Training for up to 12 months until able to apply for Intern status after first day of pharmacy school or program. May also be registered as a Certified Pharmacy Technician until Intern status can be obtained.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certified or obtained within three (3) months of hire. The acceptable credentialing body for this requirement is the American Heart Association.
• Proof of completion of mandatory reporter within three (3) months of hire.

Required Minimum Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Training

N/A

Summary of Essential Cognitive Functions

Ability to comprehend and follow instructions; maintain attention and concentration for necessary periods; synthesize, coordinate, and analyze data, perform simple and repetitive tasks; maintain a work pace appropriate to given work load; perform complex and varied tasks; relate to other people beyond giving and receiving instructions; get along with co-workers and peers; understand the meaning of words and how to use them appropriately and effectively; understand and remember detailed instructions; make independent decisions or exercise judgment based on appropriate information; accept and carry out responsibility for direction, control and planning.