PHARMACY PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

Job Role Summary

The Pharmacy Procurement Specialist is responsible for day-to-day inventory management, including placing and receiving medication and supply orders, ensuring 340B Program compliance, and responding to shortages and inventory recalls.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

•    Performs all duties with a focus on safety, recognizing that safety is our top priority; evaluates compliance with established medication safety procedures; offers suggestions to improve medication safety based on best practice (e.g. ISMP); routinely documents medication errors; promotes an environment with a constant focus on medication safety
•    Performs the following technical skills:  procures pharmaceuticals and associated supplies for pharmacy and ancillary departments; prioritizes efforts to prevent delays in patient care; optimizes medication inventory to ensure adequate stock levels to meet patient care needs, improve department workflow and efficiency (e.g. reduce stock-outs), and prevent inventory expiration; analyzes purchasing data to identify trends; forecasts drug utilization and availability; ensures accurate inventory quantity-on-hand counts; coordinates cost containment efforts with pharmacy management by reducing expired medications, improving inventory turns, and proactively identifying opportunities for cost savings (e.g. generic utilization); understands and consistently utilizes all information systems; maintains databases and strictly adheres to established systems change control process to ensure database integrity and alignment of systems; audits the accuracy of electronic medications lists, updates default dispense medications, and ensures new medications are properly added to pharmacy workflow; manages inventory in response to drug shortages and supply issues; responds to inventory recall notifications and appropriately documents activities; establishes, implements, and monitors expired medication monitoring and removal procedures; responsible for all loan/borrow transactions and associated follow-up and record keeping; maintains appropriate and accountable inventory records; batches procurement receipts/invoices and issue receipts for processing; prepares for and directs inventory audits; assists with 340B Program audits and accumulation corrections
•    Performs the following regulatory compliance responsibilities: ensures constant state of readiness for The Joint Commission, DEA, Board of Pharmacy, Board of Health, FDA, HRSA, and all other regulatory bodies; ensures compliance with established inventory procurement, distribution, tracking, storage, returns, and auditing policies and procedures; ensures compliance with established group purchasing agreement, purchasing contracts, and 340B Program policies and procedures; directs questions or compliance issues to Pharmacy Procurement Supervisor; evaluates compliance with established policies and procedures related to the management of high-alert, look-alike/sound-alike, controlled-substance, and hazardous medications
•    Works with a sense of urgency to assist customers and encourages the same sense of urgency in others; resolves crisis situations in a calm, constructive, and professional manner
•    Works collaboratively with multidisciplinary team members to provide patient-centered care
•    Remains up to date on departmental processes by attending staff meetings, reviewing meeting minutes, and reading email communications
 

Job Requirements

•    Completion of a high school education or equivalent required
•    Bachelor’s degree preferred
•    Two years of experience controlling pharmacy inventory required
•    Licenses/Certification required: Pharmacy Technician License in the State of Indiana
•    CPhT certification through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board preferred
•    Successful completion of Eskenazi Health Pharmacy Technician Training Program within 122-day probationary period
•    Participation in continuing education activities to meet licensure and certification requirements
 

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

•    Knowledge of medication classes, pharmaceutical terminology, abbreviations, symbols; knowledge of manufacturing, packaging and labeling of drug products, use of pharmaceutical instruments and equipment; knowledge of metric system/mathematical calculations; knowledge of 340B Program regulations
•    Ability to manage multiple software systems and evaluate their performance in meeting organizational needs