PHARMACY TECHNICIAN

Job Specifications

COUNTY OF SANTA CRUZ

DEFINITION

Under supervision of a registered pharmacist, perform activities related to ordering, receiving, controlling, labeling, counting, pouring, mixing and dispensing pharmaceuticals and medications; and perform other duties as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Pharmacy Technician is assigned to a clinic in the Health Services Agency to perform certain non-discretionary tasks under the supervision of a registered pharmacist and may serve as lead worker to a Clerk II position. This class is distinguished from the next higher class of Pharmacist in that the latter is a registered pharmacist performing duties authorized by federal or state law. This class is distinguished from the class of Clerk II assigned to the Health Services Agency Pharmacy in that the Pharmacy Technician requires possession of a certificate of registration issued by the California State Board of Pharmacy and performs non-discretionary tasks defined by California regulations.

TYPICAL TASKS

Receive prescriptions from clients and determine their financial category such as MediCal, Medi-Cruz or self pay; type and affix prescription labels; package prescriptions; count, pour or mix pharmaceuticals; place pharmaceuticals in containers; code prescriptions with proper Medical codes and manufacturing abbreviations; price each prescription properly; maintain medical supply inventories by requisitioning, receiving, pricing and record keeping; remove drugs from stock; prepare medical supplies for delivery to off-site facilities; call physicians' offices for prescription refill authorization; place orders to vendors by telephone or computer; maintain the pharmacy work area neat, clean and orderly; and may serve as a lead worker to Clerk II's assigned to the Health Services Agency Pharmacy.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

Knowledge of:

Working knowledge of:

• Common medical and pharmaceutical terms, abbreviations and supplies.
• Federal and State laws pertaining to dispensing prescriptions.
• Methods and procedures involved in proper handling and storing of pharma ceutical supplies.
• Standards and terminology of weights and measures.

Ability to:

• Read and interpret physician prescription orders for completeness.
• Type medication labels accurately.
• Use measuring and weighing devices and office equipment including calcu lators and typewriters.
• Perform routine mathematical calculations in order to fill and price prescriptions.
• Recognize "legend" prescription drugs from "over-the-counter" medica tions.
• Communicate with patients and physicians clearly and courteously.
• Write legibly and transfer information from records with accuracy.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships and others.
• Learn to input, access and analyze data using a computer terminal.
• Work independently.

Education and Experience:

• No training or experience is needed in addition to the required certificate of registration as a Pharmacy Technician issued by the California State Board of Pharmacy.

  Special Requirements/Conditions:

  • Certificate: Possession of a certificate of registration as a Pharmacy Technician issued by the California State Board of Pharmacy.
  • Background Investigation: Fingerprinting is required.

  PREVIOUS CLASS TITLES: None
  Bargaining Unit: 41
  EEOC Job Category: 06
  Occupational Grouping: 01
  Workers' Comp Code: 0290