IV Pharmacy Technician

Department: Pharmacy

Reports To: I.V. Pharmacy Manager

SUMMARY: The I.V. Pharmacy Technician is responsible for the day-to-day tasks necessary to ensure accurate and timely delivery of I.V. medications to the end-user in long-term care, hospice, and home care settings

QUALIFICATIONS: Success is based on the performance of the essential duties and responsibilities. Candidates shall also possess the following educational and/or work experience:

Education / Work Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Prior I.V. admixture experience, graduate of an accredited pharmacy technician training program, and National Pharmacy Technician Certification are desirable

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

I. Supply & Add-Vantage Gathering and Labeling

• Ability to examine, reexamine and verify accuracy of supplies against printed supply label
• Ability to distinguish supply types
• Ability to properly label all supplies and medications
• Ability to distinguish and fill Add-Vantage medication orders
• Verify that all items on delivery receipt accompany the order prior to pharmacist check

II. Admixture of Sterile Products

• Dispense medications while observing handling precautions
• Dispense medications in proper container based on label instructions, drug category, and type of therapy, according to notes on compounding record, or by direction of IV Pharmacist
• Assist IV Technician Team Leader or IV Pharmacist in coordination and scheduling the preparation of sterile admixtures
• Preparation of sterile admixtures, including but not limited to parenteral nutrition, antibiotics, chemotherapy, hydration, and narcotic analgesics while following proper policies and procedures
• Appropriate completion of compounding records by filling out lot numbers and expiration dates
• Verify that proper handling precautions are noted on delivery receipt
• Calculation of correct dosage by weight or volume
• End point testing of IV products
• Annual competency (Admix) testing

III. Pump Cleaning and Tracking

• Clean, maintain, store, and inspect all infusion pumps according to proper policy and procedure on a daily basis
• Ensure the biohazard area is properly set up and cleaned as needed
• Completion of necessary forms to ensure accurate tracking of all electronic flow control devices prior to delivery
• Preparation of pump return request notifications and follow up on each request
• Completion of necessary forms to ensure accurate tracking of all infusion pumps upon return to pharmacy; including updating the Preventive Maintenance Schedule
• Daily check for pumps to be returned for Preventive Maintenance
• Ensure returned potentially contaminated equipment is placed in proper location
• Notify the IV Technician Team Leader of any damaged, abused, or incorrectly tracked infusion pump
• Weekly tracking of infusion pumps to ensure each facility has the correct quantity on site
• Communication with the IV Technician Team Leader and customers of pumps that need to be returned

IV. Emergency Drug Kit

• Ability to read/interpret faxed Emergency Drug Kit forms to ensure the customer always has an emergency supply of IV products
• Ability to follow proper procedure to refill Emergency Drug Kits in Rescot as needed
• Ensure facilities have the correct quantity of Emergency Drug Kits on a monthly basis or as needed
• Complete necessary forms to ensure proper tracking of supply and fluid Emergency Drug Kits prior to delivering and upon returning
• Communicate with the IV Technician Team Leader and customers when Emergency Drug Kits need to be returned
• Review all medications and supplies for expiration dates while refilling items used from the Emergency Drug Kits
• Ensure any item(s) that are removed from the Emergency Drug Kits are accounted for and the proper information is given to the IV Billing Representative in a timely manner

V. Inventory

• Daily review of medication and supply stock with responsibility to reorder through the purchasing department
• Periodic review of medication bins to assure that correct medication is in correct bin
• Monthly review of all medications for expiration dating
• Examination of medications and supplies returned for credit to assure expiration dating and lack of tampering
• Weekly ordering from direct suppliers
• Assist IV Technician Team Leader with updating inventory sheets prior to the quarterly count
• Quarterly count of IV supplies and medications
• Ensure all supplies, including supplies in the ante-room, and medications are restocked as needed or on a daily basis

VI. I. V. Room Maintenance

• Ensure clean room and related equipments are cleaned and maintained according to proper policies and procedures
• Ensure clean room and ante-room are restocked with supplies after each use
• Ensure clean room, ante-room, storage room waste products are removed and discarded properly after daily use, or more frequently as necessary
• Perform and record various quality control activities including air sampling, bacterial counts, and other established sterility verifying techniques under the supervision of the IV Pharmacist and IV Technician Team Leader

VII. Scheduling of Refills

• Communication with customers with regard to arranging refill times and quantities
• Communication with IV Technician Team Leader or IV Pharmacist concerning workflow and the ability to complete work within the established time frame
• Calculate correct refill quantity based on frequency of usage supplies and medication
• Operate computer system to refill medications and supplies and call out labels and receipts