Pharmacy Technician, Correctional Health Services (Float)

Physician Affiliate Group of New York, P.C. (PAGNY) for The Division of Correctional Health Services (CHS) of New York City Health Hospitals (H H) is responsible for the delivery of medical care, mental health care, and discharge planning in the jail system. Approximately 25% of new admissions per year to the NYC jail system will receive care on the mental health service. This service strives to provide safe, holistic and evidence-based therapeutic interventions for the diverse range of mental health issues that face the population, from serious mental illness to the natural struggles that accompany incarceration. The service provides some of the most comprehensive and unique treatment modalities in the country, including specialty housing uits for individuals with serious mental illness, a 24-hour on-call psychiatric service, robust creative arts programming, a strong DBT training program, clinics in each of the facilities, substance use treatment, integrated re- entry services, and relationships with multiple training institutions throughout the city.

The Pharmacy Technician performs all technical tasks in the unit dose, carry and out-patient drug distribution systems as well as other related duties of a satellite pharmacy. The Registered Pharmacist approves all work performed by the Pharmacy Technician.

Organizational Responsibilities

• Unit Dose and Carry Drug Distribution Systems
• Assists in maintaining accurate patient profiles by informing the pharmacist of changes in patient names, I.D. number or housing so modifications can be made in the pharmacy database.
• Fills and labels patient cassettes with non-carry and carry system medication bags from computer generated fill lists, and/or original drug orders.
• Fills and labels patient discharge medications from a prescription order.
• Prints and reviews all transfer reports, checks if the patients is on medication, prints patient medication profile and fills needed doses of medication for subsequent checking by pharmacist. If patient is on methadone or DOT medications, tells pharmacist of such.
• Transports patient cassettes to medication clinic areas and exchanges same when necessary.
• Files completed fill lists, updates lists, distribution lists, methadone sheets and other materials according to procedure.
• Checks, rotates and restocks all drug stock areas. Fills Pyxis machines as required. Files Pyxis reports with non pyxis stock records and retains them for 1 week. On a monthly basis checks for outdated medications in Pyxis, clinic floor stock, pharmacy stock and other areas where pharmacy stores medications. For non pyxis floor stock, maintains established par levels based on individual clinic or infirmary need. Records issues of stock on the non pyxis Floor Stock Inventory and Issue Record.
• Delivers emergency boxes and other requested items to clinic or infirmary areas as needed.
• Prepares weekly pharmacy stock order by utilizing par levels and building usage patterns for review by the pharmacist. Enters order into IDWhere and transmits on both a daily and weekly basis to packaging. Reconciles packing slip or invoice against items received. Notifies building pharmacist and packaging manager of any discrepancies. Puts away orders upon receipt, appropriately rotating stocks as required.
• Inspects all drug storage areas (clinic, mini-clinic, urgi-center, infirmary, pharmacy, par level rooms, dental, X-Ray, etc.) for outdated medication, IV solutions and related supplies on a monthly basis.
• Sorts, counts, prepares outdated drug manifest and packs up outdated medications for return to Central Medical Supply for submission to a reverse distributor.
• Records daily statistics on the RX Daily Stats Activity Report form in the computer. Gathers and records other statistical and survey information as required. Faxes or emails to appropriate party as requested.
• Has a working knowledge of the pharmacy and medical computer systems. Keys data into the pharmacy system (compliance) and retrieves data from the computer as directed by the pharmacist and permitted by law. Prints or reprints all reports/labels as required.
• Maintains all pharmacy areas, including “bubbles,” in a clean, orderly and well stocked fashion for all shifts. Helps arrange for sanitation pick-up and cleaning of these areas with the Department of Correction.
• Allows new personnel to shadow them.
• Monitors the quality of patient care through quality assurance/improvement mechanisms. Can remind patients that they are on medications and how to pick up the medications. Can refer patients to pharmacist or health triage for additional information. Can compare daily output of medical computer and pharmacy computer and notify users of missing data.
• Performs or assumes other related duties as required or requested by pharmacist or manager.

• Medication Distribution
• Distributes medication that has been checked and approved by the pharmacist to the correctly identified patient for self-administration in the proper way and at the proper time. Records receipt of the medication by the patient by clearly initialing and recording the number of days’ supply given on the MDR and by computer entry. (As described in the Medication Distribution Policy.)
• Refers to the pharmacist or clinic any patient who requires further information concerning their medication, is non-compliant, or is having difficulty tolerating their medication.
• Contacts the clinic captain, control room or tour commander in the event of DOC related delays in distributing medications. Contacts on-island administrator in the event of a delay or any other occurrences or problems which adversely affects the above procedures. Once a problem has been reported, keeps the on-island administrator informed about either the progress or lack thereof in distributing medication. (As described in the Disruption of Services Policy.)
• Maintains patient confidentiality of all pharmacy and clinical information. Disposal of unneeded reports and labels is done in the shredding containers only.

• Packaging
• Sets up and operates liquid and solid unit dose repackaging machines. Responsible for the proper maintenance and cleanliness of the machine at the end of each run.
• Packages oral solids into plastic zip-lock bags for the carry system.
• Maintains proper record keeping and control procedures as outlined in the Packaging policy.

• Interpersonal Skills
• Assists other associates both within and outside the department when needed.
• Is responsible and cooperative with pharmacy managers, fellow associates, patients, visitors, Correctional Health Services staff and Department of Correction personnel.
• Maintains friendly working atmosphere.
• Maintains professional attitude.
• Maintains professional appearance and adheres to dress guidelines.
• Utilizes established channels of communication. Uses email on a daily basis.
• Recognizes, accepts, and respects people as individuals.
  

Contact (Patient And Public)

Routine contact with inmates, other Health and Hospital and PAGNY employees, the Department of Correction, outside agency personnel including auditors and regulatory inspectors (DEA, NYC DOHMH, etc.).

Working Conditions

Pharmacy and clinic/infirmary areas located in a jail setting. Frequent walking (sometimes long distances), standing, sitting, reaching and bending. Travel between all facilities on Rikers Island, and all current or future borough sites is required. Temperature control and ventilation is highly variable throughout the jail campus.