Pharmacy Technician

Job Type

Full-time, Contract

Tucson, AZ

HCA Solutions is seeking qualified candidates for a Pharmacy Technicianposition for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) in Tucson, AZ!

This is a contracted, W-2, full-time position - Current normal clinic hours are open 24 hours per day. The Pharmacist are subject to vary work hours depending on staffing needs and may be revised as deemed appropriate by the Department Director.

The Pharmacy Technician shall furnish services at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) at 3601 S. 6th Ave. Tucson, AZ 85723. To include the:

• Casa Grande CBOC 1876 East Sabin Drive, Suite 15, Building A Casa Grande, AZ 85122-6198
• Green Valley CBOC 380 West Vista Hermosa Drive, Suite 140 Green Valley, AZ 85614-1901
• Northwest CBOC 3920 West Linda Vista Boulevard Tucson, AZ 85742-9565
• Safford CBOC 355 North 8th Avenue Safford, AZ 85546-2694
• Sierra Vista CBOC 101 North Coronado Drive, Suite A Sierra Vista, AZ 85635-6359
• Southeast CBOC 7395 South Houghton Road, Suite 129 Tucson, AZ 85747-3305
• Yuma CBOC 3111 South 4th Avenue Yuma, AZ 85364-8122.

The primary responsibility of the Pharmacy Technician is to provide pharmacy services to all areas served by inpatient pharmacy at the Southern Arizona Veterans Affairs Health Care System (SAVAHCS) including the inpatient care areas and clinic locations. Specific requirements include proficiency in the use of all pharmacy automation, the Electronic Medical Record (EMR), Microsoft Outlook, pneumatic tube system, barcoding procedures, inspection processes, and sterile compounding procedures. This technician works independently under the direct supervision of the Pharmacy Technician Supervisor, Pharmacist Supervisor and the Pharmacy Program Manager. Functions include but are not limited to:

• Continually uses advanced knowledge of technician practice to proactively improve patient care.
• Makes recommendations and solves routine problems.
• Identifies opportunities for improvement and takes initiative to solve problems.
• Conducts monthly inspections as assigned and communicating any concerns with immediate supervisor.
• Completes inspection paperwork in a timely fashion.
• Proficiently operates and maintains pharmacy automation.
• Troubleshoots pharmacy automation including initiating and coordinating completion of work orders with vendors when necessary.
• Clearly documents packaging records in preparation for pharmacist verification.
• Verifies all unit dose medications scan properly for use in pharmacy automation.
• Fills pre-exchange medications in preparation for pharmacist verification.
• Troubleshoots missing medication requests.
• Operates the pneumatic tube system.
• Delivers medications to patient care areas as assigned.
• Tests eyewash stations and completes necessary documentation.
• Operates automation to complete daily cart fill. Delivers daily cart fill.
• Prepares all medication and documentation for code carts and all pharmacy kits including heart boxes, anesthesia trays, and rapid sequence intubation kits in preparation for pharmacist verification.
• Receives incoming pharmacy purchases, reconciles received quantities against invoice quantities and reports any discrepancies to management.
• Adds newly acquired stock to automation and existing stock ensuring stock rotation.
• Processes outpatient prescriptions in preparation for pharmacist verification.
• Effectively reads and interprets pharmaceutical and medical terminology.
• Maintains work area free of clutter and debris.
• Completes controlled substance inventory in the vault twice a week.
• Assists controlled substance inspectors during monthly inspections.
• Assists reverse distributor with controlled substance destruction transactions.
• Fills controlled substance requests in preparation for pharmacist verification.
• Ensures required documentation for all deliveries is completed upon return to pharmacy.
• Receives controlled substance inventory in accordance with policy.
• Conducts required counts when receiving or removing controlled substances from pharmacy stock.
• Completes inspections of all controlled substances.
• Expiring stock is pulled and set for destruction. Ensures strict controlled substance accountability within the pharmacy, the units, wards and clinics using the EMR controlled substance package and automated dispensing cabinets.
• Prints labels for compounded sterile products. Compounds sterile products in accordance to USP 797/800 standards. Inspects final compounded sterile product prior to pharmacist verification.
• Regularly stocks clean rooms with pharmaceuticals and supplies while adhering to USP 797/800.
• Ensures safe and proper disposal of all pharmaceutical waste.
• Cleans all areas used for compounding sterile products, hazardous drug preparation, and all associated ante areas following USP 797/800 guidelines.
• Promptly answers the telephone in a courteous and professional manner.
• Communicates effectively with all SAVAHCS staff, Veterans, and visitors.
• Answers questions within a Pharmacy Technician's scope of knowledge.
• Directs all other questions to a clinical pharmacist.
• Independently troubleshoots automation issues, contacting Pharmacy ADPAC and initiating contact with the vendor when necessary.
• Delivers all medications unable to be tubed to patient care areas in a timely and professional manner.
• Performs other duties deemed essential to the efficient operation of the Pharmacy Service.

Physical Demands:

• Must be able to perform all activities of the position without restriction.
• Moderate physical effort (lift/carry up to 50-100 lbs.)
• Prolonged extensive, or considerable standing/walking
• Lifts, positions, pushes, and /or transfers patients
• Assists with lifting and moving patients
• Lifts supplies/equipment
• Pushes/pulls or moves/lifts heavy equipment/supplies
• Manual dexterity and mobility
• Intermittent exertion when performing treatments
• Considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, and crouching

• Must have certification from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
• 2 years of experience
• ACLS, BLS, CPR
• VA Mandatory Training
• Negative Tuberculosis Screening
• Proof of Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella, Tdap and Influenza vaccinations
• Hepatitis B
• FBI Fingerprinting
• Ability to pass a Criminal Background check