Pharmacy Purchasing Specialist

SUMMARY:

Reports to the Manager, Pharmacy Supply Chain. Under the supervision of the Pharmacy Purchasing Senior Specialist coordinates workflow for medication and supplies procurement processes. Responsible for purchasing, inventory, distribution, and record keeping for medications for the Pharmacy Department, initiates purchase orders for medications and supplies to maintain adequate inventory levels. Receives and distributes medications and supplies, processes purchase invoices. Performs duties in compliance with the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA). Notifies Pharmacy Purchasing Senior Specialist relative to shortages, backorders, and recalls. Collaborates with hospital departments as necessary for medication ordering, inventory, distribution, and record keeping.

Brown University Health employees are expected to successfully role model the organization's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence as these values guide our everyday actions with patients, customers and one another.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Performs medication and pharmaceutical supply purchasing processes, including but not limited to, drug and pharmaceutical supply procurement operations, stock receiving operations, and inventory management to ensure critical drug availability, accurate inventory value assessment, optimized inventory turns, minimized drug expirations, and compliance to 340B program policies and procedures, Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA), United States Pharmacopoeia Chapter Hazardous Drugs - Handling in Healthcare Settings, and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommendations for hazardous drug handling.

• Prepares medications for distribution in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations in a manner that ensures the shipment is accurate, timely, maintains product integrity, stability, and temperature.

• Works with contracted wholesalers, vendors, freight companies, couriers, and others, to meet the drug procurement needs of various departments or groups within or associated with Brown University Health. Receives, processes, and files pharmacy supply documents including purchase records, invoices, receipts, department charges, wholesaler (e.g., Cencora) manifests, and Trackpad scanning, in accordance with Brown University Health policies and procedures.

• Utilizes DSCSA outlined steps to achieve interoperable, electronic tracing of products at the package level to identify and trace certain prescription drugs as they are distributed in the United States to help protect consumers from exposure to drugs that may be counterfeit, stolen, contaminated, or otherwise harmful.

• Assesses and manages inventory to ensure adequate replenishment of medications and pharmaceutical supplies.

• Prepares, secures authorized signatures, and processes purchase orders, as necessary. Utilizes computerized systems and technologies (e.g., RxStrategies, PharmNotes, PeopleSoft) to perform drug procurement and supply chain tasks. Collaborates with necessary teams to maintain pharmacy information systems, automated drug dispensing technology (e.g., Omnicell), and other computerized or automated hardware and software used in the procurement or distribution of medication and related supplies.

• Responds to backorders and assists with securing acceptable product alternatives when necessary. Reports known, expected, or suspected supply disruptions to the Pharmacy Purchasing Senior Specialist.

• Utilizes pharmacy supply chain related reports to minimize drug waste [(e.g., 340B/Wholesale Acquisition Cost (WAC) activity, price changes, Average Wholesale Price (AWP) updates, drug utilization to adjust stockroom par levels, pharmacy own use, breakage, and waste)].

• Generates reports relating to pharmacy supply chain as requested by departmental leadership.

• Adheres to purchasing contracts including market share requirements.

• Maintains purchase records, invoices, receipts, and inventory control records.

• Tracks credits, rebates, and drug replacements. Reconciles the borrowed and loaned system with other hospitals, maintains documentation.

• Documents the retrieval of recalled drugs in accordance with developed action plan. Reports problems or issues to Pharmacy Senior Purchasing Specialist.

• Participates in annual pharmacy medication inventory process for Brown University Health.

• Assists in managing State of Rhode Island vaccine supplies. Notifies Pharmacy Senior Purchasing Specialist if temperature is out of range or inventory is incorrect.

• Monitors inventory levels of emergency medications stocked in code kits. Assists with the orientation and training of newly hired staff. Strives to continually increase pharmacy operations efficiencies by implementing approved operational changes.

• Participates in improvement activities as assigned by Pharmacy Supply Chain leadership including, but not limited to, quality assessment and improvement, medication safety, and performance improvement initiatives.

• Completes monthly quality assurance inspections.

• Serves as a point of contact for drug and pharmaceutical supply procurement and for pharmacy supply chain related communications - in person, via phone, email, and/or facsimile.

• Provides effective and accurate verbal and/or written communication to management, support staff, and customers to facilitate the pharmacy supply chain flow of operations and continuous quality improvement in a timely manner.

• Maintains cleanliness and organization of all purchasing and supply chain areas.

• Participates in the orientation and training of new pharmacy staff relative to drug procurement and pharmacy supply chain practices. Performs all pharmacy technician duties relating to pharmacy supply chain as needed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

BASIC KNOWLEDGE:

• High school graduate or equivalent required.

• One to two years of college preferred.

• Maintains current unrestricted Rhode Island Pharmacy Technician II licensure.

• Holds and maintains current National Pharmacy Technician Certification (CPhT).

EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum 3 years' experience as a pharmacy technician, preferably with an emphasis on purchasing and supply chain, gained in a similarly diverse and operationally complex healthcare environment.

• Knowledge of MS Office applications, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook.

• Familiar with purchasing and inter-dependent software information systems and can navigate appropriately (e.g., RxStrategies, PharmNotes, PeopleSoft, ConsortiEX).

• Effective interpersonal and communication skills.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Extended periods of time spent standing and walking.

• Push and pull a loaded flatbed, bend, and lift 30 pounds.

• Requires the visual and manual dexterity to operate a computer.

INDEPENDENT ACTION:

• Highly self-motivated and independently accountable.

• Refers specific complex problems to Manager when clarification of departmental policies and procedures may be required.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

None.

Pay Range:

EEO Statement:

Brown University Health is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and maintaining a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment.

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