Ambulatory And Specialty Pharmacy Buyer

Summary

This position is responsible for the community and specialty purchasing functions within UMH Pharmacy Services, including ordering of medications from wholesaler and manufacturers, processing procurement requests from colleagues, discussing and resolving patient-specific requests, and assisting with mitigation of medication shortages. In addition, this position acts as a pharmacy purchasing liaison and is responsible for collaborating with other departments in the institution on initiatives involving procurement strategies.

Mission Statement

Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally and internationally. Our mission is guided by our Strategic Principles and has three critical components; patient care, education and research that together enhance our contribution to society.

Why Join Michigan Medicine?

Michigan Medicine is one of the largest health care complexes in the world and has been the site of many groundbreaking medical and technological advancements since the opening of the U-M Medical School in 1850. Michigan Medicine is comprised of over 30,000 employees and our vision is to attract, inspire, and develop outstanding people in medicine, sciences, and healthcare to become one of the world's most distinguished academic health systems. In some way, great or small, every person here helps to advance this world-class institution. Work at Michigan Medicine and become a victor for the greater good.

What Benefits can you Look Forward to?

• Excellent medical, dental and vision coverage effective on your very first day
• 2:1 Match on retirement savings

Responsibilities*

• Participate in the following community and specialty purchasing and inventory management activities:

• Monitor inventory levels and locations to ensure accuracy and efficiency.

• Analyze trends in drug supply chain stability and medication usage to further optimize procurement strategies.

• Maintain purchasing/inventory database, including making required changes for new drugs, price changes, substitutions, par level changes, etc.

• Complete inventory management tasks necessary to ensure product is available and ready to be selected for fulfillment of orders throughout daily operations.

• Procure inventory at the best price using established procurement pathways in accordance with UMH policy, procedure, and practice.

• Contribute to patient safety by ensuring product is in date, of validated pedigree, and stocked in accordance with high alert, look-alike, sound-alike, and hazardous substance handling procedures and/or practices.

• Process all inventory returns in accordance with federal, state, and health system rules and regulations.

• Collaborate with various disciplines to ensure adequate stocking and distribution of medications.

• Assist Drug Shortage team with medication shortages; work effectively and collaboratively to manage product shortages via data entry, procurement and inventory interventions.

• Identify potential for cost containment and cost savings.

• Participate in the preparation of periodic financial, regulatory, activity & quality assurance reports.

• Coordinates the procurement and storage of medications with complex regulatory/ordering processes (e.g., patient-specific medications, medications with a REMS program, contract pharmacy, etc.).

• Investigate new programs and technologies to further optimize procurement strategies (e.g., Vizient, Sure Supply).

• Advise clinical and operational colleagues on best procurement strategies for hospital-wide initiatives.

• Maximize work efficiency using computers and other technologies as evidenced by proficient skill in accessing and entering accurate information necessary to perform job functions. Maintain & contribute to accurate, updated, and comprehensive inventory software files.

• Create and maintain standard operating procedures or workflows to ensure congruency between team members.

• Review standard operating procedures and workflows to identify areas for improvement (e.g., creating a tiered system for shortage severities).

• Maintain confidentiality of patient and proprietary information by observing legal and ethical guidelines for safeguarding the confidentiality of patient and proprietary information.

• Collaborate and communicate with team members effectively.

• Participate in the department?s commitment to continuous improvement activities and principles through positive and respectful contribution in all problem-solving and change processes within the Department of Pharmacy Services.

• Actively participate in department committees representing the pharmacy supply chain team.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Possible Duties and Responsibilities:

• Complete all product receiving functions and financial reconciliation for inventory procured in an accurate and timely manner.

• Act as a procurement project lead for department- and hospital-wide initiatives (e.g., influenza vaccines).

• Creation of guidance documents or SBARs.

• Perform cost analyses to identify cost avoidance potentials.

• Active communication with varying disciplines to maximize inventory effectiveness

Required Qualifications*

• High School Diploma or General Education Diploma (GED)

• 3 - 5 years of pharmacy experience

• Current valid license as a pharmacy technician by the State of Michigan Board of Pharmacy, or eligibility to become licensed (refer to License and Certification section below).

• Good decision-making skills

Desired Qualifications*

• Pharmacy purchasing and/or inventory management experience

• Certified Pharmacy Technician

• Experience in the health care field and/or equivalent experience as a pharmacy technician or medical assistant

• Computer / keyboard data entry skills and experience

• Knowledge of medical terminology

• Ability to multitask

• Excellent customer service skills

• Ability to work closely as a team with other pharmacy employees

Licensure & Certification

The State of Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) requires all Pharmacy Technicians to be licensed. Newly hired pharmacy technicians must obtain a valid Michigan Pharmacy Technician License on or before their hire date. This can include a Full Michigan Pharmacy Technician License or a Temporary Michigan Pharmacy Technician License. If a technician obtains a Temporary Michigan Pharmacy Technician License, they must obtain a Full Michigan Pharmacy Technician License within 1 year of hire date or before the Temporary Michigan Pharmacy Technician License expires, whichever is sooner, in order to maintain employment. The Michigan Medicine Department of Pharmacy Services can provide coaching and additional information to support Technicians to become certified and licensed. Please visit the Michigan LARA website for more information about Pharmacy Technician licensing: http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-72600_72603_27529_27548-340669--,00.html