Entry Level Pharmacy Technician Jobs

Full-Time Pharmacy Technician – Emergency Department | UPMC Chautauqua

Department: Pharmacy, but this role is based within the Emergency Department

Schedule: Full-Time, 12-hour day shifts

Days: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday

Weekends: Typically, no weekend requirement

Holidays: Holiday rotation required

$5,000 Sign-On Bonus available for eligible candidates with a two-year work commitment.

Make an Impact in the Emergency Department

UPMC Chautauqua is seeking a Full-Time Pharmacy Technician to join our Pharmacy team in a unique role based within the Emergency Department.

This position offers the opportunity to work somewhat autonomously while maintaining the support and collaboration of both the Pharmacy and Emergency Department teams. You'll play an important role in helping the care team obtain accurate medication information so patients can receive safe, effective, and appropriate medication therapy.

If you are detail-oriented, comfortable speaking directly with patients, and enjoy taking ownership of your work while being part of a collaborative team, this could be a great opportunity to continue growing your pharmacy career.

About the Role

A key focus of this position is obtaining accurate medication histories for patients within the Emergency Department. The Pharmacy Technician will interview patients to develop a complete and accurate account of the medications they are currently taking. This includes gathering information directly from patients while also reviewing available electronic resources and contacting pharmacies when additional verification is needed.

Accurate medication histories are an important part of supporting safe medication use and helping the clinical team make informed decisions regarding a patient's care.

The Pharmacy Technician also supports the delivery of pharmaceutical care by demonstrating proficiency in pharmacy systems and medication-use processes. Depending on departmental needs and training, the role may include support for complex IV admixtures, medication preparation and distribution, pharmacy information systems, and other specialized technician functions.

Job title and salary will be determined based on education and experience.

What We're Looking For

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

• The ability to work independently while knowing when to seek support from Pharmacy or ED team members.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy, particularly when gathering and verifying patient medication information.
• Confidence and professionalism when speaking directly with patients about their medications.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills when working with Pharmacy and Emergency Department staff.
• The ability to efficiently research and verify medication information using multiple resources.
• A commitment to medication safety and accurate documentation.
• Dependability, organization, and the ability to take ownership of assigned responsibilities.

Why Join UPMC Chautauqua?

This position provides a unique opportunity to combine pharmacy expertise with direct patient interaction in the Emergency Department. You'll have the opportunity to work with a great interdisciplinary team, develop greater independence in your practice, and contribute directly to medication safety and quality patient care.

The consistent Monday through Wednesday, 12-hour day-shift schedule, along with typically no weekend requirement, also provides a distinctive schedule for a full-time pharmacy position.

UPMC offers opportunities for continued professional growth and development, making this a great next step for an experienced Pharmacy Technician looking to expand their skills and responsibilities.

Job title and salary will be determined based on education and experience.

Responsibilities:

• Filling:
• Assist in filling medication orders through correct labeling, counting and stocking practices.
• Initial and date products as required.
• Assist in the preparation of the proper oral and injectable medications (including intravenous admixtures and TPN (Total Parenteral Nutrition)) for the correct patient for administration at the appropriate time. Use proper technique in the preparation of medications.

• Consistently has the ability to work in the Sterile Product area preparing cytotoxic and hazardous drugs (e.g. chemotherapy) using proper aseptic technique.

• Distribution:

• Participate in the distribution of medication including medication cassettes, emergency medication carts and the delivery of controlled substances per department policy and state and federal requirements.
• Retrieve medications that have been discontinued and return (and credits if necessary) them to the appropriate pharmacy area.

• Develop and maintain positive and productive service relationships during medication distribution process.

• Investigational:

• Assist in the procurement, accountability, storage, preparation and distribution of investigational and study drugs.

• General:

• Provide and received information (via telephone, person-to-person, or written) to hospital personnel, patients and visitors.
• Refer all drug information questions to Staff Pharmacists.
• Ensure that all medications in all areas have been safely and securely stored according to Department of Health, The Joint Commission, and State Board of Pharmacy regulations.
• Develop and maintain a clean, organized, and adequately stocked work environment.
• Practice appropriate hand hygiene both in the pharmacy and in the units.
• Use computer skills to process and maintain all patient information and records.
• Maintain all pertinent documentation as required.
• This includes eye wash logs, refrigerator logs, perpetual inventory logs etc.
• Finalize sales using cash register, follow proper cash handling policies and procedures.
• Comply with Federal and State laws such as HIPAA, regulations such as OSHA, and PBM contracting requirements such as FWA and CMS.
• Maintain all patient information and records.
• Maintain the pharmacy computer system as required.
• Procure and maintain adequate inventory levels on daily basis in applicable areas such pharmacy medication stock rooms, automated medication carousels, and automated dispensing machines.
• Maintain and update automated med stations, unit and department stock, emergency boxes, and crash carts.
• Assist in the training of pharmacy personnel and students.
• Demonstrate a high level of accuracy and skill in maintaining controlled substance records and the distribution process for controlled substances.
• Audit and maintain accurate records for controlled substances.
• Assure that all such drugs are stored and dispensed in compliance with Federal, State, and Department Regulations.
• Participate in departmental quality improvement activities in order to continually improve and evaluate pharmaceutical care as reflected by operational and patient care indicators.

Note: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned this job. They are not exhaustive lists of all duties, responsibilities, knowledge, skills, abilities and working conditions associated with the job.

Qualifications:

Completion of high school diploma or equivalent required AND one of the following:
- Completion of an accredited pharmacy technician program
- Six months of previous pharmacy technician experience
- Six months experience as a Pharmacy Assistant within the UPMC Health System
- Enrollment in an undergraduate pharmacy program and in good standing

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:

• Non-licensed Pharmacy Technicians working in a NY facility are not permitted to perform Sterile Compounding.
• All Pharmacy Technicians working in NY facilities performing sterile compounding are required to have received certification from a nationally accredited pharmacy technician certification program (CPhT) and be registered with the New York State Board of Pharmacy.
• RxPartners specific BU criteria require Driver’s License and Automotive insurance.
• Registration is dependent on the state they work in.
• NY Registered Pharmacy Technician (RPhT) OR PA Pharmacy Tech Registration.
• Act 34.

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran