Pharmacy Technician IV - Drug Diversion Prevention

University of Arkansas System•Little Rock, AR

About The Position

The Pharmacy Technician IV for Drug Diversion Prevention assists with oversight of highly sensitive, health system-wide (inpatient and outpatient) controlled substance monitoring and opioid stewardship initiatives. The employee applies knowledge of pharmacy practice, hospital policies/procedures, and regulatory standards involving controlled substances (e.g., Drug Enforcement Agency, Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy, The Joint Commission, etc.) to ensure compliance with state and federal laws. Judgment and skill are used to complete analytical functions of the controlled substances monitoring system, including automated dispensing machines, electronic health record, and controlled substance monitoring software. This role involves extensive communication with healthcare professionals inside and outside the department of pharmacy, including resolution of controlled substance discrepancies, and training and education related to controlled substance handling and opioid stewardship. The employee will also function as the key component of the UAMS drug diversion program by compiling and reviewing reports, performing facility risk rounding, and following up on compliance gaps. The employee is expected to maintain a high degree of accurate productivity and performance while being extremely sensitive to the specific contribution to total patient care.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED PLUS 4 years of work experience as a pharmacy technician
Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy- Pharmacy Technician License
1 year to obtain ASHP/ACPE-accredited technician training or certificate program
National Technician Certification (PTCB)

Nice To Haves

Associate or Bachelor’s degree
National certification in Drug Diversion Prevention
Experience in controlled substance handling

Responsibilities

Responsible for assisting with the drug diversion program.
Conduct surveillance by preparing, monitoring, and analyzing usage reports of controlled substances (e.g., discrepancies, overrides, standard deviations, etc.) and maintaining all related documentation.
Conduct pharmacy review audits of controlled substance discrepancies utilizing controlled substance monitoring software.
Communicate with healthcare professionals, keeping them informed of policies/requirements regarding controlled substance storage and distribution, and facilitating resolution of discrepancies.
Perform data analysis to assess health system-wide compliance with controlled substance handling and identify areas for improvement.
Develop and present reports on controlled substance handling and initiatives to pharmacy leadership.
Participate in quality improvement projects related to controlled substance handling and opioid stewardship.
Perform user analytics to identify employees at high risk of controlled substance diversion and participate in investigations.
Review and investigate discrepancies at automated dispensing cabinets.
Perform facility risk rounding to monitor for controlled substance compliance.
Responsible for ensuring compliance with regulatory bodies and preparedness for inspections.
Manage surveyor inquiries related to controlled substances investigations (e.g., providing documentation of diversion monitoring and investigations, retrieving specific data requests, etc.)
Exhibit effective problem-solving skills to identify controlled substance needs that require investigation and/or intervention.
Educate and train pharmacy and nursing staff regarding controlled substances handling and diversion prevention.
Other duties as assigned.