Pharmacy Technician - Squamish General Hospital

Lower Mainland Pharmacy Services delivers integrated pharmaceutical care, services and programs across Fraser Health (FH), Providence Health Care (PHC), Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) and Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH). Lower Mainland Pharmacy Services includes 10 functional portfolio groupings across the four organizations - Residential Care, Community Based Pharmacy Programs, Professional Practice and Education Programs, Medication Safety, Information Systems and Technology, Medication Use Management, Business Support, Pharmaceutical Purchasing, Pharmaceutical Production, and Drug Distribution Systems. We employ all levels of Pharmacy Professionals across Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and the Sunshine Coast.

We currently have an exciting opportunity for a Pharmacy Technician at Squamish General Hospital in Squamish, British Columbia.

Working as an integral part of our Pharmacy Team some of your duties may include:

• processing medication orders verified by a pharmacist
• preparing, processing, dispensing and compounding medications including intravenous medications
• transferring prescriptions to and receiving prescriptions from other pharmacies
• utilizing the latest automation technology in the medication distribution system

You may also have the opportunity to work in specialty-areas, be involved in pharmacy projects, and to use your critical thinking skills to help develop quality assurance processes.

As the successful applicant you have current practicing registration as a Pharmacy Technician with the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia.

We value self-directed individuals who are experts in their field and find satisfaction working innovatively and collaboratively to help improve the lives of those in their community.

Effective October 26, 2021, all new hires to Fraser Health will need to have full COVID 19 vaccination (have received a full series of a World Health Organization “WHO” approved vaccine against infection by SARS-COV-2, or a combination of approved WHO vaccines).  Please note this applies to all postings, and individual medical exemptions must be approved by the Provincial Health Officer.

One Team, Best Pharmacy Care, Better Lives.

The Pharmacy Technician operates in accordance with the competency guidelines and scope/standards of practice for Pharmacy Technicians as outlined by the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia and according to organizational policies, procedures, standards and unit specific protocols.

Processes medication orders that are clinically reviewed for therapeutic appropriateness and approved by a Pharmacist; receives verbal and non-verbal prescriptions from practitioners and ensures that prescriptions are complete and authentic; prepares, processes and compounds prescriptions; ensures the accuracy and completeness of dispensed prescriptions prepared by self or others by verifying order entries and/or performing the final check of dispensed prescriptions; processes prescriptions for temporary inpatient leaves of absence; transfers prescriptions to and receives prescriptions from other pharmacies; enters and ensures the accuracy and completeness of drug and personal health information in the Pharmacy information system; maintains stock levels and performs clerical duties as assigned.

1. Processes clinically reviewed and approved medication orders for distribution to a patient, client or resident.
2. Receives prescriptions (verbal and non verbal) from practitioners and ensures that prescriptions are complete and authentic by performing duties such as verifying allergy status and/or demographics.
3. Prepares and processes prescriptions by performing duties such as entering orders, counting, measuring, packaging or re-packaging medications and compounding various sterile pharmaceutical products according to established procedures. Pre-packages oral, liquid and topical medications into unit-of-use format.
4. Ensures the accuracy and completeness of dispensed prescriptions prepared by self or others by verifying order entries, and/or performing the final check of dispensed prescriptions.
5. Processes prescriptions for temporary inpatient leave of absence by methods such as reviewing, translating and converting existing inpatient medication orders previously reviewed and approved by a pharmacist.
6. Enters and ensures the accuracy and completeness of drug and personal health information in the pharmacy information system.
7. Transfers prescriptions to and receives prescriptions from other pharmacies.
8. Maintains accurate records such as medication verification and the results of quality assurance checks.
9. Distributes medications and maintains relevant inventory, wardstock and narcotic records.
10. Maintains inventory and wardstock levels. Fills wardstock and narcotic requisitions.
11. Identifies outdated drugs to be returned or destroyed by checking stock for lot expiry dates.
12. Maintains department work areas by ensuring tidiness and order. Stocks pharmaceuticals, labels, containers and glassware in accordance with established procedures and standards.
13. Performs related clerical duties such as keyboarding, answering telephone, filing and maintaining medication and prescription records. 
14. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

Grade 12 and graduation from an accredited Pharmacy Technician program or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. Current practicing registration as a Pharmacy Technician with the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia.

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to deal with others effectively.
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.
• Ability to keyboard.
• Ability to organize work.
• Ability to operate related equipment.