Pharmacy Technician Career Ladder Daniel Cruz, SSG(U.S. Army Ret), RPhT Brian Cohen, PharmD, MS, FASHP Technician Learning Objectives Be able to develop and implement a career ladder for pharmacy technicians How to meet the requirements of the career ladder and application process Review and update career ladder as department changes. Pharmacist Learning Objectives Develop and implement a career ladder for Pharmacists Develop and implement a Career Ladder for Pharmacy Technicians. Review and update Career Ladder as Department Changes. 1
UT Southwestern Demographics 2 University Hospitals Zale Lipshy 150 bed Neurology specialty hospital William P. Clements Jr 460 bed tertiary care disproportionate share hospital 4 Infusion Clinics Cancer Center 3 locations Internal medicine/neurology 4 Retail Pharmacies Cancer Center 2 locations Ambulatory ED/Inpatient Discharge 2 Research Pharmacies UTSW Department of Pharmacy Services Staff 70 Clinical Pharmacists 50% Board Certified 70+ Pharmacy Technicians 3 Pharmacy buyers 6 Retail Technicians 6 Ambulatory Infusion Technicians 58 Inpatient Technicians 1 Research pharmacy technician 1 Financial analyst 2 Technician in training/concierge Delivery Clerk Education Programs ASHP Accredited Residency Program 2 PGY1 Residents Pharmacy Schools 55 student rotations per year Technician Training Programs 2 technician rotations per year High School Students Health Career Programs 2
Why/Purpose of a career ladder? Exposure of pharmacy department within hospital/health system Increased involvement with department quality initiatives and research projects Encourage staff participation in community service Incentivize precepting students and residents Personal growth and advancement within the department Involvement with local, state and national pharmacy organizations Career Ladders Approval Process Originally designed based on department needs Proposed to pharmacy administration Approved based on department impact Compensation incentive approved by Human Resources How was it developed? Constructed by pharmacy administration team Feedback from Pharmacy Staff Council Staff from all pharmacy areas Items included for all staffing areas Reviewed annually Implemented in the first year for prior year s activities 3
Career Ladder Requirements Must be Part time (0.6 FTE) or greater for last 12 months Letter of intent by January 15 th Completed application by May 31 st Valid for only one year, requires annual reapplication Applications reviewed by Clinical Ladder Evaluation Committee Administrative team and pharmacy staff Letter of Intent Levels of the Ladder Technician Career Ladder Level 1 All technicians Level 2 Hourly differential $1.20 Level 3 Hourly differential $2.20 Level 4 Hourly differential $3.20 Level 5 (Technician Coordinators only) Hourly differential $3.20 4
Elements of the Ladder Annual Performance (AP) Technical Abilities (TA) Quality Improvement (QI) Education/Training/Professional Development (Edu/PD) Tech Ladder Level 2 AP Exceeded job requirements in Teamwork Exceeded job requirements in accuracy & signing out controlled substances according to policies and state/federal guidelines TA Competency in at least 1 special area & 2 years of pharmacy experience, 1 year is at UTSW Ability to staff special areas and different shifts such as evening, weekend and night. OR Ambulatory/retail technicians ability to provide crosscoverage to at least one other outpatient area. Tech Ladder Level 2, cont. QI 80% attendance Pharmacy quality council (e.g. P&T or subcommittee, CQT, OQT, MS) or on a hospital based committee/task force; involved in 3 activities. OR 5
Tech Ladder Level 2, cont. QI, cont. Identify quality improvement project (develop a solution; obtain approval through the appropriate quality team or supervisor; educate the staff; implement the plan and measure the outcome.) OR Write 1 policy or review at least 3 department policies focused in your area of practice and update the pharmacy staff on changes to the policy. Applicant routinely completes and documents daily, weekly and monthly assignments. Both consistency and quality will be evaluated. Tech Ladder Level 2, cont. Edu/PD Participation in a health fair, pharmacy week booth or educational seminar for patients or the community. OR Provides an educational in service and journal review relative to practice area. Active membership in the American Society of Health System Pharmacists or other professional pharmacy organization as approved by Pharmacy Administration. Tech Ladder Level 3 AP Same as Level 2 TA Competency in at least 2 special area & 3 years of pharmacy experience, 1 year is at UTSW Ability to staff special areas and different shifts such as evening, weekend and night. OR Ambulatory/retail technicians ability to provide crosscoverage to at least one other outpatient area. 6
Tech Ladder Level 3, cont. QI Same as level 2 AND The applicant demonstrates excellent problem solving skills by demonstrating 1of the following: Identify 2 cost saving initiatives for the department of pharmacy or within your work area. For each initiative, provide a brief narrative with description of the current practice, an explanation of your proposed initiative, and the estimated cost savings. OR Write a strategy to prevent the reoccurrence of an error identified in your work area. Submit this strategy to pharmacy administration for consideration. OR Design your own teambuilding exercise and present it at your staff meeting, with pharmacy administration approval. Tech Ladder Level 3, cont. Edu/PD Same as Level 2 AND Super user or advanced trainer for a new program or initiative and provides training to staff for implementation. OR Best practice journal review in related area and presentation to pharmacy administration or Quality team, followed by implementation of items learned. Tech Ladder Level 4 AP Same as Level 3 TA Same as Level 3 AND Applicant initiates and supports management resource initiatives in area of expertise. Competency in at least 3 special area & 5 years of pharmacy experience, 1 year is at UTSW In hospitals, applicant demonstrates the ability to perform the Tech Check Tech process within the guidelines of department training and competency. Applicant assists technician leaders in coordinating monthly / quarterly meetings, projects or initiatives for the respective team and effectively communicates with the management team. OR Assists in preparing the technician work schedule. 7
Tech Ladder Level 4, cont. QI Same as level 3 AND The applicant demonstrates excellent problem solving skills by demonstrating 2 of the following: Identify 2 cost saving initiatives for the department of pharmacy or within your work area. For each initiative, provide a brief narrative with description of the current practice, an explanation of your proposed initiative, and the estimated cost savings. OR Write a strategy to prevent the reoccurrence of an error identified in your work area. Submit this strategy to pharmacy administration for consideration. OR Design your own teambuilding exercise and present it at your staff meeting, with pharmacy administration approval. Tech Ladder Level 4, cont. Edu/PD Same as Level 3 AND Primary trainer for all pharmacy staff (special areas e.g. Narcotics, OR, IV Room Purchasing OR Preceptor for pharmacy technician students. Tech Coordinator Ladder Level 5 AP Same as Level 4 TA Applicant initiates and supports management resource initiatives in area of expertise. Applicant demonstrates expertise in an area of specialization and is recognized as an information resource by peers. QI Write 2 policies or review at least 5 department policies focused in your area of practice and update the pharmacy staff on changes to the policy. Applicant's ability to support the System wide operations (example: SP, ZL, SCC, Campus, Infusion Center Pharmacy, etc). Identify 2 cost saving initiatives for the department of pharmacy or within your work area. For each initiative, provide a brief narrative with description of the current practice, an explanation of your proposed initiative, and the estimated cost savings. Write a strategy to prevent the reoccurrence of an error identified in your work area. Submit this strategy to pharmacy administration for consideration. Design your own teambuilding exercise and present it at your staff meeting, with pharmacy administration approval. 8
Tech Coordinator Ladder Level 5, cont Coordination/PD Applicant conducts audits in the assigned area and coordinates the daily workflow in the respected area. Applicant coordinates monthly / quarterly meetings for their respective team and effectively communicates with the management team. Responsible for development and/or maintenance and quality assurance of a new or existing program(s). OR In services staff in an area(s) of specialization and certifies staff in Departmental core areas (i.e. IV room certification, Tech check tech, etc). OR Documentation of at least one major presentation and/or publication in a journal per year. Presentations must be given to an outside professional organization (e.g. local, state, or national meetings or seminars). Publications must be printed in peer reviewed, professional literature. Letters to the editor do not qualify. OR Preceptor for pharmacy technician students/pharmacy students. Pharmacists Career Ladder Pharmacist Career Ladder Level 2 Hourly differential $2.00 Level 3 Hourly differential $3.00 Level 4 Hourly differential $4.00 Similar Elements for Requirement Annual Performance (AP) Clinical Practice/Patient Care Quality Improvement (QI) Education/Training/Professional Development (Edu/PD) Acceptance Letter 9
Rejection Letter What has been the impact? Pharmacist Ladder 16 applicants 12 achieved 70 % achieved multiple years Technician Ladder 11 applicants 2 achieved 50 % achieved multiple years 2014 2015 Letters of Intent Deadline was January 31, 2015 Received 28 Pharmacists 19 Technicians 9 Application deadline May 31, 2015 2015 2016 Career Ladder begins June 1, 2015 Incentive begins September 1, 2015 10
Future Plans Review ladder qualifications annually Improve collaboration between pharmacists and technicians by providing mentors Provide an avenue for technicians to become more clinically knowledgeable Specialized technician roles Tech check tech program Questions 11