Pharm Buyer

Do you want to join an organization that invests in you as a(an) Pharm Buyer? At HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake, you come first. HCA Healthcare has committed up to $300 million in programs to support our incredible team members over the course of three years.

The Pharmacy Buyer is responsible for managing the pharmaceutical inventory in the assigned hospital including purchasing of pharmaceuticals and related products, oversight of receipt and placing these items in stock, optimization of pharmacy inventory both in the facility pharmacy and automated cabinets. This position ensures that all pharmaceutical products are appropriately labeled with barcodes including repackaging of products for patient administration.

The buyer works with the director and clinical team to ensure formulary compliance and maintains contract compliance. The Buyer assist the automation coordinator or individual in similar role with respect to Automated Dispensing Cabinet (ADU) inventory management including the maintenance of controlled substance inventory and handling the request for an addition of new items to the pharmacy inventory. The Pharmacy Buyer also assists in training personnel on inventory handling and overseeing workflow in the pharmacy when the tech supervisor or pharmacy manager is unavailable.

• Under the supervision of Director of Pharmacy, participates in all activities of the pharmacy department that involve the inventory management of drugs, medication storage areas and department related supplies.
• Functions in accordance with standard written policy & procedures, guidelines, and state and federal regulations
• Establishes AND maintains appropriate inventory levels of drugs/supplies
• Makes decisions in purchasing while complying with budget limitations, and achieving a maximum inventory turnover rate
• Communicates in real time shortages of medications or changes in medication stock availability
• Assists Pharmacy Director and Clinical Manager on all product substitutions when back orders occur during the normal procurement process
• Oversees receiving, storage, and return of medications to the Pharmacy wholesaler or Consolidated Distribution Center (CDC) if applicable
• Maintains invoicing for all drug and supply accounts
• Processes wholesaler invoices for payment by accounts payable according to Policy and Procedures
• Provides training, technical support and/or in-service education to pharmacy staff regarding pharmacy inventory management products/systems
• Coordinates and documents disposal of all expired medications
• Monitors trends in utilization of reverse distributors to minimize wastage
• Assists with maintenance of database and/or paperwork on medication recalls
• Prepares Pharmacy Department for annual inventory by updating shelf labels, inventory supply forms, and databases as needed
• Provides leadership and performs physical inventory counts during inventory and cycle counts
• Interprets and communicates purchasing procedures to departments; assists departments in initiating requisitions and orders, and solves problems with orders
• Examines and analyzes departmental purchase requisitions for completeness and accuracy of information; contacts department or initiator to clarify or complete information; determines method to process requisition based on dollar amount, timeliness required, existing open contracts, and/or to comply with other corporate standards
• Assists DOP or designee in establishing and maintaining appropriate stock levels in automatic dispensing cabinets including but not limited to maintenance of expiration dating of medications in cabinets
• Establishes, maintains, and monitors of the ADC medication expiration process
• Supervises and facilitates facility process to optimize inventory management in the automated dispensing cabinets quarterly
• Assists with design, testing, implementation, maintenance and optimization of automated pharmacy systems at facilities
• Participates in new employee training regarding purchasing and automation systems including conducting initial and ongoing training as well as validation of staff competency with pharmacy automation systems
• Collects system and/or related process or facility performance metrics and generates periodic management reports
• Uses existing tools to analyze and improve ADC cabinet efficiency with respect to utilization and availability of stocked medications
• Is responsible for the new drug addition, change, deletion process and monitors compliance with process
• Evaluates contract compliance and implements changes in all pharmacy purchasing areas of the hospital when appropriate
• Manages the transfer of drugs between areas of the pharmacy, the hospital and non-hospital accounts
• Is responsible for the new drug addition, change, deletion process and monitors compliance with process
• Demonstrates working knowledge with the general duties of a Pharmacy technician including knowledge, and maintenance of competency and understanding of the…