Pharmacy Purchasing Associate

St. Luke's is proud of the skills, experience and compassion of its employees. The employees of St. Luke's are our most valuable asset! Individually and together, our employees are dedicated to satisfying the mission of our organization which is an unwavering commitment to excellence as we care for the sick and injured; educate physicians, nurses and other health care providers; and improve access to care in the communities we serve, regardless of a patient's ability to pay for health care.

The Pharmacy Purchasing Associate assures the control of pharmacy inventory and purchasing of designated supplies. Sets up inventory and purchasing communication systems with other departments associated with the hospital. Reviews inventory and special order requests, obtains product information and pricing, handles returns to vendors, and reconciles drug invoices. Under the direction of a pharmacist, delivers medications, packages unit dose medications, floor stock orders, performs routine medication area inspections, maintains records for controlled substances, and utilizes the pharmacy computer system. Accountable for all pharmacy technician responsibilities as designated by site manager, see pharmacy technician job description.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Prepares and executes pharmacy wholesaler orders after reviewing daily medication order sheets and determining appropriate items and quantities to order via telephone or computer ordering devices (i.e., Telxon or MSI).
• Reviews purchase orders, packing slips, and invoices and reconciles any discrepancies on a daily basis.
• Checks in and puts daily purchased orders away and maintains product bar code labeling.
• Reviews Premier Purchasing Partners (GPO) monthly bid updates and makes appropriate changes in purchasing database.
• Informs management/staff of new products, package sizes, availability, backorders, product changes, temp outs, etc. on a daily basis.
• Reviews inventory levels for direct accounts and non-formulary drugs and determines appropriate items and quantities to order.
• Obtains generic equivalent substitutes when needed, seeks assistance for other outages.
• Arranges borrowing and lending of medications between SLHN facilities and other organizations.
• Processes orders and floor stock for specialty areas.  Facilitates billing of floor stock items handled by facility.
• Coordinates chemotherapy medication needs with physician’s offices.
• Processes pharmaceutical returns to the appropriate vendor or a bulk pharmaceutical returns company.
• Participates in the annual departmental physical inventory.
• Receives and processes drug samples according to departmental policy.
• Orders weekly supplies from Storeroom.
• Utilizes effective interpersonal communication skills while maintaining confidentiality of hospital information.  Addresses co-workers, vendors, and others in a pleasant and cooperative manner.
• Coordinates and implements the departmental drug recall procedure and assures product removal as indicated.  Obtains required replacement medications in a timely manner to assure continuity of patient care.
• Completes and maintains departmental competencies.
• May be required to: Fill medication and IV orders from computer generated labels, fills and updates patient cassette drawers.  Delivers and picks up medication from patient care areas when appropriate. (noted pharmacy technician responsibility).
• May be required to: Prepare prepackaged medications under pharmacist supervision using proper technique. (noted pharmacy technician responsibility).
• Demonstrates ability to answer telephone/window and deal with visitors to pharmacy appropriately.
• Competently handles the other functions of a Pharmacy Technician.

PHYSICAL AND SENSORY REQUIREMENTS:

Sitting for up to 2-3 hours per day and up to one consecutive hours.  Walking and standing for up to 4-5 hours per day and up to 50 consecutive minutes.  Frequently fingering and handling; occasionally firm grasping, twisting and turning; repetitively looking up.  Frequently lifting and carrying up to 35 pounds; occasionally pushing and pulling up to 15 pounds.  Occasionally stooping, bending, squatting, crouching and kneeling.  Rarely crawling and climbing.  Frequently reaching above shoulder level.  Hearing as it relates to normal conversation, high and low frequency.  Seeing as it relates to general vision, near vision, far vision and color vision.

EDUCATION:

High school