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Holly Gustavsson
Delburne,AB
Work Preference
Summary
Registered Pharmacy Technician, licensed in British Columbia and Alberta with 25 years of diverse experience, demonstrating a strong commitment to patient centered care and a passion for the pharmaceutical field. Proven adaptability in various pharmacy technician roles, exhibiting diligence and positivity while checking blister packs and mentoring assistants. Exceptional social and communication skills with allied healthcare professionals and fosters meaningful interactions with customers. Known for a congenial and approachable demeanor, effectively diffusing conflicts and providing culturally sensitive care that allows for individual needs to be met.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
REGISTERED PHARMACY TECHNICIAN
Juniper Pharmacy
Kelowna, BC
10.2022 - 08.2023
- Accurately typed and billed prescriptions using Kroll software to provincial and third-party insurance plans.
- Delivered and witnessed ingestion of daily dispensed OAT medications to patients in shelters and on the streets.
- Stocked and utilized a Pac Med machine to strip pouch medications for weekly batches.
- Conducted final checks on strip pouches and blister packs.
- Supervised pharmacy assistants, constructed blister packs, performed fentanyl patch changes for patients, transferred prescriptions, faxed refill requests, reversed missed OAT doses, operated the cash register, responded to phone inquiries, and collaborating closely with pharmacists to coordinate fill times and ensure timely delivery.
- Company Overview: A facility specializing in Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT)
REGISTERED PHARMACY TECHNICIAN
Bella Coola General Hospital
Bella Coola, BC
11.2021 - 04.2022
- In this fast-paced environment, I effectively prioritized tasks to ensure smooth operations.
- Assisted pharmacy staff in transitioning from Rx Assist to Kroll software, entered stock transfers into Kroll, prepared and labeled medications, and accurately logged narcotics.
- Processed outpatient billings and checked blister packs prepared by assistants.
- Meticulously inspected and counted hospital and retail inventory, outdated stock was removed, records were updated, and comprehensive reports were generated for the Fraser Health Authority.
- Company Overview: A dual-function hospital and community pharmacy
- Recruited for this temporary relief position
REGISTERED PHARMACY TECHNICIAN WITH EXPANDED SCOPE
Hepatitis C Outreach
Kelowna, BC
02.2020 - 11.2021
- Visited shelters and walked downtown Kelowna to locate individuals who use drugs and may be at risk for hepatitis C exposure.
- Set up Point-of-Care test sites and performed tests. The Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre provided test kits, supplies and nursing support via Microsoft teams.
- Collaborated closely with the staff at homeless shelters and the team at the VIDC.
- Assisted clients with rides to the lab and follow-up appointments to enhance care and compliance while on the 8 to 12 weeks treatment plans.
- Used excel spread sheets to track drugs prescribed and patient compliance. Success rates were monitored and reported to the affiliated drug companies.
- Company Overview: Community Outreach for Hepatitis C Point-of-Care testing.
REGISTERED PHARMACY TECHNICIAN
SRx Pharmacy and Specialty Health Clinic
Kelowna, BC
09.2018 - 02.2020
- Navigated third party insurance providers and co pays to accurately bill monthly dispensed anti-retroviral tablets.
- Ensured shipments to patients arrived precisely on time. Tracked distribution using excel spread sheets formatted by me and the Canada Post web site.
- Assisted on the clinic side, checking patients in and assisting patients with paperwork and urine drug screening.
- Visited patient shelters and provided rides to clients to make their appointment times.
- My role at the clinic expanded as I participated in Hepatitis C Point-of-Care testing fairs, assisting the clinic nurse at homeless shelters, and street testing fairs.
REGISTERED PHARMACY TECHNICIAN
Northmart Pharmacy
Inuvik, NWT
03.2018 - 07.2018
- The main function of this pharmacy was to ensure accurate billing and to anticipate refill needs for the Inuit living in remote locations.
- The role involved processing and checking a significant volume of blister-packaged medications, Kroll software was utilized to generate summaries of the blister packs, and the batches were organized by community before being dispatched using various delivery methods tailored to the prevailing environmental conditions.
- Company Overview: Pharmacy serving the Inuit community in remote locations.
- Recruited for relief work
REGISTERED PHARMACY TECHNICIAN
MediSystem Pharmacy
Kelowna, BC
06.2016 - 09.2017
- Utilized Pac Med and Pac Vision to prepare medications for distribution.
- Responsibilities included conducting final checks on daily and weekly packaged refill medications, which were organized in strips and blister packs.
- Collected and logged narcotics for various batches, submitted fax requests for refills and INR results, and inactivated patient files for those who relocated or passed away.
- The primary programs were Kroll and Catalyst.
- Company Overview: Long-term care dispensary.
PHARMACY TECHNICIAN
Loblaw Pharmacy
West Kelowna, BC
07.2011 - 07.2016
- The three rotating job stations were:
- 1. Pick Up - Using the cash register and assisting customers, ordering behind the counter medications and various pharmacy supplies, checking off orders and filing the hard copy prescriptions.
- 2. Labelling and Packaging - Accurately counting, reconstituting, and compounding medications and making blister packs.
- 3. Drop Off - Typing prescriptions, entering drug plans, and checking patient profiles using the Kroll program. Faxed prescription transfers to other pharmacies and refill requests to medical offices. Called doctors’ offices for prescription clarifications and INR lab results.
- Company Overview: High volume retail pharmacy with rotating job stations.
PHARMACY TECHNICIAN
Overwaitea Food Group
Kelowna, BC
06.1992 - 07.1997
- Managed the merchandising of the over the counter (OTC) front store area of the pharmacy.
- Collaborated with OTC drug representatives to establish optimal inventory levels for sales.
- Placed and received orders twice a week, while also working within the pharmacy to bill prescriptions to provincial and third-party insurance plans and dispense the prescriptions, assist customers and operate the cash register.
- Company Overview: Retail Pharmacy within a busy grocery store.
Education
REGISTERED PHARMACY TECHNICIAN BRIDGING PROGRAM -
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC01-2015
PHARMACY TECHNICIAN - undefined
Red Deer College
Red Deer, Alberta01-1986
Skills
- Type 55 wpm
- Kroll, Kroll paperless
- Blister Packs
- Naloxone Certified
- Medical Terminology
- Front Store Merchandising
- Script Pro and Pac Med experience
Accomplishments
I have been very fortunate to have applied my pharmacy technician skills, and cultural awareness in various ways. I have been a retail pharmacy technician mainly, then ventured to focus on helping unhoused persons and persons with substance use disorders and mental illnesses, delivering opioid agonist therapy and antipsychotic medications to shelters. I chose to be self employed for a period and stayed connected with the people I had been delivering OAT medications to and developed a relationship with the Vancouver Infectious Diseases Team which supported me with a work strategy to locate and test high risk individuals for the hepatitis C virus, and if diagnosed, assist them with a treatment plan.
I like working, where I can make an impact and did this while working at the busy Coastal Health, Bella Coola General hospital pharmacy, where I assisted in a software change over and counted and corrected stalk counts that had not been done for 2 years due to Covid 19 . Contacted by a recruiter, I accepted a pharmacy assistant position and flew the furthest north I've ever been, to Inuvik to do relief work for the NorthWest Company, at a retail pharmacy hub that serviced surrounding Inuit hamlets.
In Inuvik I realized I can do more work outside the typical retail world of pharmacy, challenging myself and helping in areas of greater need.
Languages
English
Full Professional
Certification
- COLLEGE OF PHARMACISTS OF BC Fully Registered until Mar 31, 2027
- ALBERTA COLLEGE OF PHARMACISTS Provisional July 2025 -2027
- CPhT - Certified Pharmacy Technician
Timeline
REGISTERED PHARMACY TECHNICIAN
Juniper Pharmacy
10.2022 - 08.2023
REGISTERED PHARMACY TECHNICIAN
Bella Coola General Hospital
11.2021 - 04.2022
REGISTERED PHARMACY TECHNICIAN WITH EXPANDED SCOPE
Hepatitis C Outreach
02.2020 - 11.2021
REGISTERED PHARMACY TECHNICIAN
SRx Pharmacy and Specialty Health Clinic
09.2018 - 02.2020
REGISTERED PHARMACY TECHNICIAN
Northmart Pharmacy
03.2018 - 07.2018
REGISTERED PHARMACY TECHNICIAN
MediSystem Pharmacy
06.2016 - 09.2017
PHARMACY TECHNICIAN
Loblaw Pharmacy
07.2011 - 07.2016
PHARMACY TECHNICIAN
Overwaitea Food Group
06.1992 - 07.1997
PHARMACY TECHNICIAN - undefined
Red Deer College
REGISTERED PHARMACY TECHNICIAN BRIDGING PROGRAM -
University of British Columbia
Professional Development Courses
- Provincial Opioid Addiction Treatment Support Program (UBC Faculty of Medicine)
- Cultivating Relationships and Creating Safer Spaces in Pharmacy for First Nation Clients. (UBC Pharmacists Clinic)