Pharmacy Technician Job Descriptions, Average Salary, Interview Questions

Pharmacy technicians needed at [Your Company Name!] A pharmacy technician is the middle between the client and the pharmacists. One task required in this job is filling and delivering the prescriptions to clients. This is why a basic understanding of medicine, proven from possible certification or experience in the field, is required. If you work in a hospital as a pharmacy technician, preparing and distributing medicines and IVs will be inevitable. You will speak with clients directly, collecting and entering data about them. On top of all this, it will be on your shoulders to organize, count, and prepare the inventory. Safe and effective use of medicines will be up to the pharmacy technician, ensuring clients and patients get the most out of their medicines. Depending on your location chosen with this position, your job restrictions may vary due to legal reasons. If it sounds like this is a fitting job for you, and you have confidence in your ability to complete the described tasks, then please apply.

Typical duties and responsibilities

• Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that the information is complete and accurate
• Answer telephones, responding to questions or requests
• Establish or maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by each patient
• Order, label, and count stock of drugs, chemicals, or supplies and enter inventory data into computer
• Operate a cash register to accept payment from customers
• Mix pharmaceutical preparations, according to written prescriptions
• Compute charges for medication or equipment dispensed to hospital patients and enter data into computer

Education and experience

This position requires an associate degree in pharmaceutical technology; a bachelor’s degree is preferred. A valid state certification is also required.

Required skills and qualifications

• Knowledge of dosage administration and measurement, chemical compounds, medical brands, etc.
• Knowledge of medication names, actions, uses, and doses
• Expertise in pharmacy law and medical terminology
• Excellent verbal communication and customer-service skills
• Experience with an online prescription system is a plus

Preferred qualifications

• Up to date certifications proving continued education
• 2+ years working at a pharmacy or clinic
• Knowledge of common prescription drugs and how they are prescribed
• Ability to work with a wide variety of prescriptions and medical needs

We are looking for a dependable Pharmacy Technician that will process and fill prescriptions. You will undertake other tasks under the direction of a pharmacist to provide excellent customer service and ensure the pharmacy runs smoothly. As a pharmacy technician you must be detail-oriented and reliable since the job has high responsibility. You must possess excellent communication skills as well as aptitude in using computers.

Responsibilities

• Sterilize surfaces and equipment and prepare the pharmacy for opening
• Greet customers and answer questions
• Receive prescriptions and check their validity
• Process prescriptions electronically and ensure all information is complete and accurate
• Resolve issues when they arise (e.g. rejected insurance claims)
• Select the appropriate medicine and measure dosages to fill prescriptions
• Sort, stock, label medication and monitor inventory
• Undertake administrative tasks (e.g. record-keeping) as assigned
• Comply with all security measures and quality standards

Skills

• Proven experience as pharmacy technician
• Experience with an online prescription system is a plus
• Knowledge of medication and dosage measurement
• Knowledge of pharmacy law and medical terminology
• Excellent communication and customer service skills
• Outstanding organizational skills
• Reliable with a keen eye for detail
• Successful completion of a pharmacy technician program
• Certified Pharmacy technician is an asset

Position summary

Perform duties to review, translate, and enter prescription data into systems for benefit investigation, prior authorization support, and pharmacist verification working within the limits of standard or accepted practice. Demonstrate the company’s core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion, and safety.

Essential job functions

• Review all elements of prescriptions for accuracy, including, but not limited to appropriate signature, date, directions, quantity, and refills
• Perform tasks to process prescriptions in compliance and understanding of the state and federal laws and internal policies and procedures governing the handling, dispensing and distribution of prescriptions
• Translate and enter prescription data elements required to complete all patient access functions and dispensing
• Transfer or coordinate verbal transfer by a pharmacist of prescription to alternate pharmacy if required
• Respond to inbound calls and triage to appropriate clinician/department if required
• Demonstrate excellent customer service while communicating with patients, prescriber’s offices, and associates to build business relationships
• Initiate communication with new patients informing them of prescription and welcoming them to ABC Company
• Obtain and process new prescriptions, clarifications, and refill authorizations from provider’s offices; obtain patient’s medication drug list for DUR investigation
• Review and adjudicate prescription insurance claims of medications to be delivered
• Contact patient, providers’ office, and insurance companies for appropriate processing of claims
• Investigate and verify benefits for pharmacy and medical third-party claims
• Complete assessments mandated by either manufacturer contracts, operations, and facilitates patient enrollment with manufacturer Hubs when required
• Documents case activity, communications, and correspondence in system to ensure completeness and accuracy of patient contact records
• Ensure that work activities are conducted in compliance with regulatory requirements and the organization’s defined standards and procedures, and in a manner that provides the best level of service and quality
• Perform or assist with any operations, as required to maintain workflow and to meet schedules and quality requirements
• Participate in meetings to communicate issues, obtain approvals, resolve problems and maintain knowledge of new developments, requirements, and policies
• Perform other related duties assigned
• Must be able to perform the essential job functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation

Minimum position qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED
• Pharmacy Technician Registration or Credentials
• Demonstrated excellence in listening, speaking, and writing skills, with proven ability to communicate clearly and effectively at all levels of the organization
• Proven skills in customer service and customer relationship building skills
• Demonstrated organizational skills and the ability to problem solve and multitask between data entry and telephonic communication
• Consistent focus and attention to detail resulting in superior accuracy
• Proficiency with pharmacy applications and computer operations with knowledge of MS Office software including Word and Excel
• Clear understanding of healthcare privacy protocols including HIPAA

Desired previous experience/education

• 1 year of healthcare/pharmacy customer service experience with knowledge of benefits access and prescription processing
• Demonstrated knowledge of medications utilized for therapy in the defined disease state served by the assigned pharmacy

An ABC Company Pharmacy Technician 1 is primarily responsible for maintaining all unit-dose medications required for daily dispensing out of Omnicell automation equipment. The Pharmacy Technician 1 will prepare and maintain the ABC Company automated equipment for daily use, perform general equipment troubleshooting, maintain optimal medication inventory levels, review/maintain reports and identify any customer concerns directly to the Pharmacy Services Manager.

Responsibilities

• Perform automation tasks in an error free manner, consistent with pharmacy services best practices
• Follow Safe Handling of Hazardous Drugs procedures when handling medications
• Responsible for identifying/ordering medications to ensure medication inventories are at optimal levels
• Perform automation equipment cleaning, maintenance, and optimization as prescribed
• Responsible for monitoring and ordering consumable supplies required for the operation of the equipment
• Responsible for prescribed maintenance of automation equipment and reporting unresolved equipment issues to the TAC
• Maintain a high level of communication with pharmacy services manager and customer, to ensure proactive, solution-oriented problem identification, and resolution
• Maintain high levels of customer satisfaction by aligning the Pharmacy Services Program to provide customer-focused support emphasizing quality, professionalism and responsiveness
• Conduct per diem employee orientation and training, and ensure completion of all required documents and compliance with all Pharmacy Services procedures and policies
• Promote and optimize customer product ownership and satisfaction by serving as a skilled resource
• Maintain fiscal responsibility for work-related expenses associated with timekeeping, per diem employees and consumable supplies
• Comply with reasonable procedures, policies and guidelines established by the Customer facility
• Maintain state and/or national credentialing to meet established guidelines

Required knowledge and skills

• Good organizational skills, accurate, reliable, and efficient
• Demonstrated customer-facing skills
• Strong interpersonal, communications and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work with mechanical equipment
• Working knowledge of computer hardware, PC Windows

Basic qualifications

• High school diploma or GED
• Current PTCB
• Current State Board of Pharmacy Registration/ License, if required
• Previous experience in pharmacy or healthcare industry

Preferred knowledge and skills

• One year of experience working in hospital environment
• Proficient in the use of PPE and hand hygiene techniques
• Knowledge of pharmacy automation
• PTCB certification

Work conditions

• Pharmacy environment
• Capable of standing for several hours at a time
• Potential exposure to hazardous drugs
• Able to lift 25–30 lbs.