Residence Requirements:

THERE ARE NO RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION IN THIS EXAMINATION. There are four anticipated vacancies at the Erie County Medical Center Corporation.

Examples of Duties:

A Pharmacy Aide performs routine semi-skilled tasks within the Pharmacy Department at the Erie County Medical Center Corporation; 

Fills unit dose medication for Pharmacist approval for designated patient areas, including emergency drug supplies (Code Boxes), floor stock medications, intravenous solutions, individual patient medication and intravenous medication orders;

Manufactures intravenous products, chemotherapeutic products and completes sterile and non-sterile manufactured products for Pharmacist approval for designated patient areas and maintains all required documentation;

Returns medications and intravenous medications to stock and credits patient accounts;

Fills controlled substance orders and maintains the Pharmacy controlled substance inventory;

Returns to stock controlled substance orders;

Orders, receives and places medications, intravenous solutions and supplies into stock and maintains all required documentation;

Monitors medications and intravenous solutions for expiration dates and removes expired medications from all stock areas;

Completes nursing unit inspections and assembles drug kits for Pharmacist approval;

Reviews computer printout for accuracy of pharmacy charges, makes corrections as required and maintains all required documentation;

Answers inquires regarding billing discrepancies;

Repackages medications into dispensing units;

Delivers medications and intravenous solutions;

Collects patient specific data to assist the Pharmacist;

Answers the telephone in a courteous fashion, accurately receives and relays messages as required, uses discretion in all matters of patient confidentiality;

Maintains a clean, neat and organized work environment.

Qualifications:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  Candidates must meet one of the following requirements on or before the date of the written test:

Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma and six (6) months of pharmacy experience.

Notes:

1.  Completion of a recognized Pharmacy Technician Certificate program or successful completion of one semester in an accredited School of Pharmacy may be substituted for the six (6) months of required pharmacy experience.

2. Verifiable part-time and/or volunteer experience will be pro-rated toward meeting full-time experience requirements.

The New York State Department of Civil Service has not prepared a test guide for this examination. However,candidates may find information in the publication "How to take a written test" helpful in preparing for this test. This publication is available on line at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm

Subjects of Examination:

SUBJECTS OF EXAMINATION: A written test designed to evaluate knowledge, skills and /or abilities in the following areas:

1. Name and number checking

These questions test for the ability to distinguish between sets of words, letters, and/or numbers that are almost exactly alike. Material is usually presented in two or three columns, and you will have to determine how the entry in the first column compares with the entry in the second column and possibly the third. You will be instructed to mark your answers according to a designated code provided in the directions.

2. Office record keeping

These questions test your ability to perform common office record keeping tasks. The test consists of two or more "sets" of questions, each set concerning a different problem. Typical record keeping problems might involve the organization or collation of data from several sources; scheduling; maintaining a record system using running balances; or completion of a table summarizing data using totals, subtotals, averages and percents. You should bring with you a hand-held battery- or solar-powered calculator for use on this test. You will not be permitted to use the calculator function of your cell phone.

3. Operations with Letters and Numbers

These questions test for skills and abilities in operations involving alphabetizing, comparing, checking and counting. The questions require you to follow the specific directions given for each question which may involve alphabetizing, comparing, checking and counting given groups of letters and/or numbers.   

NOTICE TO CANDIDATES:  Unless otherwise noted, candidates are permitted to use quiet, hand held, solar or battery powered calculators.  Devices with typewriter keyboards, "Spell Checkers", “Personal Digital Assistants", "Address Books", "Language Translators", "Dictionaries", or any similar devices are prohibited.  You may not bring books or other reference materials.

**IMPORTANT APPLICATION FEE - READ CAREFULLY**

A $20.00 filing fee is required for this exam. The required fee must accompany your application. Send or bring check or money order made payable to Erie County Personnel Department and write the examination number(s) on your check or money order. Do not send or bring cash, as the County cannot be responsible for cash payment. As no refund will be made, you are urged to compare your qualifications carefully with the requirements for admission and file only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified.