City Of Philadelphia Office Of Human Resources

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3G35

PHARMACEUTICAL TECHNICIAN

Specialties

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General Definition

• This is routine pharmaceutical work providing assistance to pharmacists in dispensing drugs and medications prescribed by medical practitioners and repackaging bulk medication for distribution to various medical facilities. Employees in this class receive prescriptions from health center patients, package medications into prescribed quantities, and repackage bulk medications for use by disease control programs. Contact with health center patients is a significant aspect of the work. Work is performed under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist.

Allocating Factors:

(The following conditions must be met for a position to be allocated to this class.)

• The positions must assist licensed pharmacists in dispensing drugs and medications prescribed by medical practitioners and/or repackage bulk medications for distribution to various medical facilities.
• The positions must perform the work in the Health Department.

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Typical Examples Of Work (Illustrative Only)

GENERAL SPECIALTY

• Assists pharmacists in dispensing medications; receives original and refill prescriptions from patients; processes prescriptions; retrieves bottles from bins in pre packaged form if available; manually counts tablets and capsules, and bottles medication if necessary; reconstitutes liquid medications; evaluates for accurate patient identification.
• Dispenses drugs to tuberculosis patients under the direction of a pharmacist; requests and verifies current validity of patient's prescription plan; instructs patients to have physicians complete forms required to order medications not on formulary; assists pharmacists in maintaining patient profiles and other information necessary for billing; performs additional record keeping functions required for operations of the pharmacy under the direction of the pharmacist.
• Pre-packs medications for health center clinics; ensures that night clinic cart is stocked.
• Receives drug orders from district health centers, disease control program staff and other departmental divisions as required; repackages bulk medications into smaller quantities; counts tablets and capsules using a pill counting machine; places medication into bottles; prepares labels for bottles; affixes labels to bottles; maintains a log of all repackaged drugs; packs drugs in boxes or bags and indicates contents; notifies medical facilities when orders are ready for pick-up; maintains records of drug orders received and distributed.
• Checks drugs on hand against quantity required; orders drugs from drug supplier, pharmacy storeroom and warehouse; checks deliveries for completeness; shelves drugs after delivery; rotates dated items; sorts outdated merchandise for disposal or return to pharmaceutical drug vendor.
• Answers telephone; responds to routine patient inquiries.
• Performs related work as required.

• BILINGUAL SPECIALTY

  • Performs the duties shown below with members of the English language speaking and designated non English language speaking populations.

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Required Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

Knowledge Of:

• the principles, practices and procedures of the pharmacy field
• the materials and supplies used in the pharmacy field
• English spelling, grammar and usage
• customer service and personal service standards
• the storage of drugs and rotation of stock including the checking and verification of expiration dates
• brand name and generic drug equivalents, properties and interactions
• administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, and other office procedures and terminology.

Skill In:

• arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and their applications
• computer software used in the pharmacy field

Ability To:

• assist in the preparation of pharmaceuticals
• maintain complete and accurate records
• learn to use the necessary equipment for counting and labeling medication
• learn pharmacy drug and supply ordering procedures
• measure medication amounts using the metric system
• understand and follow written and oral instructions
• exercise courtesy and tact when dealing with the public
• speak, read and write in a specified non English language and in English fluently for the Bilingual specialty

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Minimum Acceptable Training And Experience

(The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for tests. Applications submitted by candidates for this class will be reviewed based on training and experience requirements as approved on 9/11.)

Education

• Education equivalent to completion of the twelfth school grade. AND

Experience

• One year of experience assisting a pharmacist in the preparation and dispensing of medications.

OR

• Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Office of Human Resources.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR THE BILINGUAL SPECIALTY

1. Sufficient training and/or experience to be able to understand and speak fluently and clearly in English and the designated non English language.

Physical And Medical Requirements

1. Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.

Licenses, Registrations And/Or Certificates

1. Certification as a Pharmacy Technician by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT) at the time of application and during tenure of employment as a Pharmaceutical Technician.

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PAY RANGE:

8

• Class Established:

  • CSC: 9/67, Ad Board: 10/67

• Latest Spec. Revision:

  • CSC: 9/11, Ad Board: 10/11

PF/jl

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End Of Job Class Specification - 3G35