Formula Technician-Nutrition at Nemours in Wilmington, Delaware

Job Description:

NEMOURS IS HIRING FOR A FORMULA/ PHARMACY TECHNICIAN- PART-TIME (every other weekend)
This position is accountable for the organization, preparation, and maintenance of human milk and formula to neonatal patients and pediatric patients less than 28 days of life. The infant nutrition technician works in collaboration with the Dietitian and has responsibility for the calculation, preparation, delivery, and monitoring of specialized neonatal and pediatric formulas, human milk, and medical nutrition. Preparation techniques will adhere to all sanitary regulations and standards established by health care facility. The Formula room technician supports the daily operations of the Formula room to ensure the safety for all patients receiving products prepared in the Formula room

This Technician is also responsible for providing Pharmacy Services within the Inpatient and Outpatient Pharmacy Department of the Nemours Alfred I DuPont Hospital for Children (AIDHC). The position is responsible for assisting in the preparation (including technical aspects of preparation) and delivery of all medications to patients and the position is responsible for providing customer service to internal and external customers. This position works under the operational supervision of the pharmacist. The majority of tasks and responsibilities are related to preparing, dispensing and distributing medications.

III. Essential Functions - These responsibilities are of utmost importance and the department can't function without them. No more than 8 to 10.

Formula Technician

• Assist medical team, with issues related to formula orders, substitutions, discharge, and special needs to ensure patients feeding provided in a timely manner.
• Maintain sterile technique during formula and breast milk preparation
• Able to read, write and perform necessary mathematical skills to correctly prepare infant formula and breast milk orders
• Prepares and delivers all infant formulas and breast milk as ordered
• Inventories and maintains sufficient infant feeding room stock
• Meeting the requirement and compliance with federal, state, and local health and sanitation
• Knowledgeable in HIPAA and OSHA/ Safety Regulations
• Adheres to the Nemours Standard of Behavior.
• Completes necessary paperwork for accurate quantities of expressed human milk and fortifiers to be used for preparation, inventory, billing and tracking.
• Maintain daily inventory of expressed human milk and needed supplies. Place inventory orders to maintain adequate PAR levels of donor milk, fortifiers and supplies. Puts away orders when received, rotates inventory and disposes of expired inventory. (FIFO)
• Clean and sanitize work area and equipment using approved technique and clean agent.
• May cross train for coverage between Pharmacy and Nutrition Department
• Transcribe feeding order information to prepared feeding labels
• Follow processes, as established, for quality assurance monitors

Pharmacy Technician

• Complete daily PO Production process in the designated start time and sequence of patient care units.
• Discontinued medications are removed from patient bins and refrigerator bins during delivery process.
• Patient medication bins are maintained 100% accurate during medication bin fill process utilizing patch label, DC drug label, and DC patient labels.
• Refrigerated medications are properly segregated from non-refrigerated medications.
• Discontinued medications are removed from production bin, patient bins and refrigerator bins during batch delivery process.
• Places all prepared and checked medications in the correct nursing unit bins 100%.
• Follow USP 797 and USP 800 Guidelines and Compliance
• Operate compliance packaging/ Auto-Dispensing Machines

Inventory Control

• Kanban Inventory system is adhered to 100% of time.
• Maintains and organizes inventory supply in a manner, which minimizes inventory storage cost, wastage, and stock-outs. Ensures inventory is rotated properly, stored in appropriate conditions and location with 100% accuracy.
• Complete monthly medication expiration dating assignments in a timely manner. Identify and reorder expired medications inventory and ensures that stock is stored in accordance with manufacturer requirements.
• Assures the proper replacement of prescription drug and formula to stock upon requisitions from various departments of the hospital either manually or through the Pyxis System.
• Remove damaged, unpack, and outdate formula
• Supply patient care area pantry and formula room daily and rotates supplies using FIFO (first in, first out).
• Ensures the secure storage of narcotics and other controlled substances

III. Non-Essential Functions - List all other functions that are required to perform the job. These are not the same as essential functions of the job. No more than 5-7.

Participates in interview and employee selection process

Participates in the training and/or orientation of new associates.

Maintains compliance with Nemours AIDHC policies and procedures.

Maintains a clean assignment work area.

Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Understands Downtime procedures for Computer system and Automated Dispensing Cabinet.

Performs other related duties as assigned by authorized personnel to provide department flexibility to patient care needs including those for emergency situations

• Provides help or coverage to others when needed

Participates in hospital and department Continuous Improvement (CI) activities

• Utilizes the Lean Principals to analyze and resolve problems in a systematic manner.

• All improvement must be made in accordance with the scientific method
• Participation to departmental Rapid Process Improvement (RPI) activities
• Work OT to allow coworkers to participate in department RPI
• Achieve patient safety and satisfaction through the use of lean principles:

• 5S
• Elimination of Waste
• Just In Time (JIT)
• Standard Work
• Quality
• Promote and comply with Standardized Procedures.
• Promote and comply with Standard Work.
• Identify "waste" in ownership process and recommends solutions for implementation.
• Correct abnormal conditions.

Carries out rules and regulations pertaining to the professional policies of the pharmacy and nutrition department and ensures compliance with State and federal regulations

Able to maintain punctual attendance consistent with Nemours policies, regulatory, federal, state, and local standards

Strong communication skills are required. Prepared to interact with both internal and external healthcare provider and respond appropriately

Depending on the department needs, changes will occur such as shifts, holidays, hours, etc., to better support patient care. Upper management will decide workflow changes, and coordinate with employee.

IV. Performance Skills - List the skills that are required to perform the essential functions of the job. No more than 5-7.

Uses appropriate pharmaceutical medical terms, abbreviations, weights, measurements and symbols when executing responsibilities in the hospital.

Operates automatic technology, (computers, repacking, equipment, etc.) in accordance to policy, procedures, and manufacturing instructions. Demonstrates an understanding of the various computers in operation in the department.

Knows medication names by generic and brand names.

Nemours AIDHC Children's Hospital Team Player ( Live Nemours' Standards of Behavior Daily )

Continuously assessing and improving the department's performance and assists with error prevention methods.

Self-motivates, stays on task, and works independently, to complete all required Computer Base Learning (Nemours University) each calendar year.

Ability to make decisions, think pro-actively and accept changes and challenges

Excellent record keeping and written communication skills

Basic algebra is required to perform calculation, such as proportions, percentages, area, circumference and volume.

V. Knowledge, Formal Education, and Training

Indicate the minimum amount of formal education, training, and acquired knowledge that is required for the job. Include training and/or education provided through colleges, universities, trade or vocational schools, military service, or formal on-the-job training programs. Be sure to consider the educational/training/knowledge level required by the job - not the level that the incumbent may have.

• Basic (0 to 3 months beyond high school)
• Limited (3 months to 1 year beyond high school)
• Specialized (1 year of training beyond high school)
• Associate (2 years of training beyond high school; e.g., Associate's degree)
• Baccalaureate (up to 3-4 years of formal training/education beyond high school; e.g. Bachelor's Degree) Advanced (5 to 6 years of formal training/education beyond high school; e.g., Master's Degree)
• Post Graduate (6+ years of formal training/education beyond high school; e.g., Ph.D., M.D., J.D.)

Please list any specifics here: Certified Pharmacy Technician required, Associate's degree in Applied Sciences; or Associate's degree in Nutrition & dietetics preferred

Please list any specifics here: Hospital Pharmacy Experience preferred, Children's Hospital Pharmacy Experience preferred

VII. Complexity

Describe the complexity of the job tasks. Consider the nature of the job tasks & outcomes, existence of policy or protocol, analytical ability required, opportunity for independent judgment, diversification of tasks, extent of multi- tasking, requirement to prioritize, etc.

• Routine - Work consists of a few repetitive tasks. Little to no independent judgment is required.
• Multi-tasked - Requires selection and application of several clearly prescribed policies/procedures. Limited opportunity for independent judgment.
• Substantial - Substantially complex and diversified. May require data interpretation as well as application of most effective options. May require analytical skills. The management of multiple priorities is frequently required.
• Multi-faceted - Work is broad in scope, non-standardized, requiring independent judgment and action as a routine. Multiple priorities are the norm. Responsible for addressing complex problems/challenges. Policy, procedure, and precedent frequently created at this level.
• Highly Analytic or Specialized - Work is broad and far-reaching in its effects. Policy, procedure, and precedent are routinely created and approved at this level. Independent judgment is the routine nature of this job.

Requires highly specialized skills and/or knowledge. Sets direction and priorities.

VIII. External Contacts

Check the extent to which the normal duties of the job require dealing with individuals outside of the organization, including the public, patient families, insurance companies, vendors, consultants, etc. Regular external contact is defined as contact that is required by the job and occurs on a regular basis

• Patient contact only - infrequent or incidental other external contacts.
• Regular external contacts for the purposes of providing and/or receiving routine information.
• Regular external contact to research and resolve moderately complex complaints, questions, or problems. Regular external contact to research and resolve complex service or quality issues.
• Regular external contact to influence others, obtain approval, and/or cultivate relationships.
• Regular external contact to influence others, obtain approval, or cultivate relationships with individuals or groups of major importance to the organization. Individual has primary responsibility for relationship.

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