Medication Technician Job Opening

Nature and scope:
Provide resident medication administration, treatments and resident oversight in accordance with doctor’s order’s, state regulations and company policy including but not limited to: taking accurate orders, processing orders, ordering and securing medication, pouring, preparing, administering, providing ordered treatments and assuring accurate documentation.

Minimum eligibility requirements:

• Ability to read, write and speak English.
• High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Must be 21 years of age or older.
• Minimum of one-year previous experience as a personal care aide for the elderly in an assisted living or long-term care setting.
• Successfully complete DHSR Adult Care Medication Aide training requirements including Medication Aide Clinical Skills check off (return demonstration/ medication pass) and successful passing of the State Medication Aide test within 60 days of skills check off.
• Successfully completed State Infectious Disease Course.
• Must possess all required licenses and/or certifications if required by State licensing authority and maintain continuing education requirements.
• Must have the ability to remain calm under stressful situations.
• Ability to communicate effectively with residents, families, staff, vendors and general public.
• Must have compassion for and desire to work with the elderly. Must respect that the work environment is the Resident’s home.
• Must have basic computer skills or willing to learn computer skills needed for e-MAR system.
• Must demonstrate the ability to work responsibly as a team member as well as an individual.
• Must be honest, fair, ethical, dependable, respect confidentiality and the rights and privacy of others and local, state and federal laws.
• Must practice and promote Affinity Policies and Procedures, Mission Statement, Values and Goals.
• Exceptional organizational skills.
• Must meet all health requirements.
• Must pass criminal background check.
• Must be able to perform duties and responsibilities (essential job functions), with or without reasonable accommodation.

Essential functions:

• Provide medication administration and treatments for residents in accordance with doctor’s order’s, state regulations and company policy including: taking accurate orders, processing orders, ordering and securing medication, pouring, preparing, administering, documentation and documentation of results.
• Assure resident privacy and uphold Resident Rights in the administration of medication and treatments.
• Medication Aide must have basic understanding of diabetes, diabetic care, diabetic medications, glucometer management, finger stick blood sugar testing, insulin administration and be able to recognize and act upon symptoms of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia as indicated per State regulations.
• Medication aide is responsible for proper management of narcotic medications to include ordering, procuring, maintaining chain of command, storage, reconciliation and documentation.
• Observe residents for changes in physical, emotional, mental or behavioral condition, unusual symptoms, medication side effects, accidents, injuries or unusual occurrence and reports immediately to Supervisor in Charge or Resident Care/Memory Care Manager.
• Responsible to assure referral and follow-up relevant to health care issues is completed.
• Ensure sound infection control practices in the management and delivery of resident care, medications and/or treatments.
• Perform medication cart audits and assist in maintaining the medication cart and medication room in a neat and orderly manner.
• Accept responsibility for security of the medication cart and medication storage room for assigned shifts.
• May be called upon to assist residents with meeting resident needs to include but not limited to activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, eating, transferring, and mobility as needed when not performing medication administration duties.
• Engage residents in meaningful conversation, socialization, and activity while providing medication administration and treatments.
• Respond to all resident needs and/or requests for care promptly and provide or obtain assistance as necessary.
• Complete all required documentation such as but not limited to medication administration records, incident reports, change of condition reports, medication refusal reports and behavioral documentation as requested and required in a timely manner.

Joint decisions and duties between Medication Technician and Licensed Nurses/Resident Care Manager:

• Seek guidance as needed from the Resident Care/Memory Care Manager, Administrator, Pharmacy or Care Services Consultant.
• Assist with cost control by utilizing resources efficiently and in a waste free manner.

Customer service:

• Responsible for ensuring that all employees are providing excellent customer service to internal and external customers.
• Perform job duties for residents and with team members in a courteous and professional manner.
• Take initiative to ensure resident safety and satisfaction is a priority.
• Meet and greet visitors in a friendly, helpful manner (Visitors include anyone who visits the community; specifically, current residents’ families and friends, prospective residents and their families, referral sources, vendors and regulators).
• Answer phones appropriately, according to company and community standards.
• Communicate professionally and cooperate with supervisor and all community personnel.

Residents’ rights:

• Ensure compliance and understanding of all regulations regarding residents’ rights.

Training:

• Attend training sessions as directed by supervisor and assure completion of required continuing education requirements.

Other:

• Follow and communicate company policies and procedures.
• The job description provides a framework for the job; other duties may be assigned as necessary.

Working conditions (travel, hours, environment):

• Scheduled hours; possible overtime. May work in other positions temporarily when necessary.
• Is subject to frequent interruptions.
• Is involved with resident, personnel, State and County monitors, visitors under all conditions and circumstances.
• Communicates with the other staff, consultant personnel and other department supervisors.
• Is subject to callback during emergency conditions (e.g., severe weather, evacuation, post-disaster, etc.).
• Is subject to injury from falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc., through the workday, as well as to reactions from dust, disinfectants, tobacco smoke, and other air contaminants.
• Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including TB and the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses.
• May be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals.

Physical/sensory requirement:

• Medium work: ability to exert 20-50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10-25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
• Must function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with residents and staff.
• Must be able to relate to and work with the ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset and, at times, hostile people within the Community.

OSHA category classification:
II: Potential for exposure to blood borne pathogen.

Note: All duties and responsibilities listed are considered to be essential job functions and requirements, and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Marginal functions of the position (those that are incidental to the performance of fundamental job duties) have not been included. However, the omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or logical assignment to the position.

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee, and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the business and requirement of the job change.