Job Description:

Pharmacy Intern is a licensed pharmacy position who supports pharmacy services by assembling and participating in the distribution of medications. A pharmacy intern will need licensure by the board of pharmacy in their respective State. This position will assist the department's professional staff, under direct supervision, in numerous aspects of ordering, receiving, storage, distribution, and monitoring medication use. This position will also require knowledge of USP 797 and sterile compounding.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

The following is a summary of the major functions of this individual's job. He/she may perform other duties, both major and minor, which are not mentioned below, and specific functions may change from time to time.

• Greets health care providers and patients in person or by phone; answering questions and requests when appropriate; refers drug information calls to a pharmacist.
• Adheres to infection control policies and protocols and maintains a safe and clean pharmacy, while also maintaining a neat and orderly work area.
• Fills stock orders, inpatient and outpatient orders within state and federal laws for checking by a pharmacist or nationally certified pharmacy technician when applicable by state laws and regulations.
• Packages and labels all medication per department guidelines; prepares unit of use medication when appropriate. May validate bar code accuracy for use in the automated dispensing machines with the integrity and accuracy of the medication validated by a pharmacist.
• Performs station inspections for assigned areas, orders needed medications, checks in and stocks ordered medications, fills stocking reports from automation to restock units, cart fill, and cabinet restocking. Rotates stock to avoid product out dates.
• Performs necessary calculations accurately.
• Delivers medication to appropriate unit in an accurate timely fashion. Assists the pharmacist in maintaining the security of medications. Stocks automated dispensing cabinets.
• Handling of controlled substances in accordance with pharmacy department policies and procedures.
• Provides appropriate documentation as required.
• Attends and contributes to the content of meetings and committees as assigned.
• Prepares simple non-sterile compounding in accordance with USP 795.
• Restocks returned medication in a timely manner and assists pharmacy management in monitoring waste to identify areas for potential improvement/cost savings.
• Restocks emergency boxes.
• Ensures a smooth workflow by completing all assigned tasks prior to the end of shift. Identified problems, that cannot be corrected, will be reported to the pharmacy technician supervisor or a pharmacist on duty.
• Performs medication inquiries on patient medication profiles in response to questions.
• Familiarity with medication formulary and standard abbreviations.
• Assists in training new staff when assigned.
• Ability to prioritize workflow by patient impact.
• Maintains a working knowledge of appropriate regulatory body (i.e. The Joint Commission, HFAP, or DNV) and federal/state laws and regulations for nonsterile compounding and sterile compounding.
• Prepares sterile compounds (hazardous and nonhazardous) in accordance with department guidelines and applicable USP standards, local and federal regulations and utilizing strict aseptic technique for final verification by a pharmacist.
• Ability to identify stock needed to compound sterile products; work with materials management to keep supplies in stock; ability to order necessary supplies to maintain appropriate inventory.
• Serves as a mentor for new pharmacy employees in regards to processes involving sterile compounding, including but not limited to, overseeing training of new staff, students and residents.
• Works on cost containment of compounded sterile products by minimizing expirations, providing alternative product suggestions, and providing alternatives to accommodate drug shortages.
• Performs environmental testing of the sterile compounding environment, with appropriate action taken and documented per departmental procedure based on results.
• If trained, may order medication from drug wholesaler when needed; identifies and communicates backorders; maintains appropriate inventory.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education and Training

• Registration with Kentucky Board of Pharmacy (KY hospitals) within 30 days of hire date if you are a new registrant. If previously registered, you must have registration upon hire.
• Registration with Indiana Board of Pharmacy (IN hospitals) within 30 days of hire date if you are a new registrant. If previously registered, you must have registration upon hire.
• 6 months of hospital pharmacy experience preferred.