Technician Corner

TECHNICIAN SPOTLIGHT

I started my career eighteen- years ago as a pharmacy technician working in the retail setting and quickly realized that was not my calling to work in retail pharmacy. I transitioned too the hospital setting and enjoyed working for Kenner Regional Hospital, now known as Ochsner Medical Center -Kenner. I worked in the capacity of various roles, and this where I began to see myself as “servant leader in pharmacy world”. I was able to assist and learn more about the role of pharmacy technician and expanded my knowledge to reach beyond just a thought of being an “assistance”. I later moved on to work at East Jefferson Hospital and quickly became involved in various CareFusion BD Pyxis projects, Pharmacy Technician Auditor (Ambulatory and Hospital), and Narcotic Technician. After much consideration I decided to follow my teacher over to Ochsner Medical Center-Baptist to become part of the inpatient pharmacy team and this where my career has blossomed over the past eleven-years. During that timeframe at Ochsner I have held various roles as Pyxis Administrator, Purchasing Coordinator, Technician Supervisor, Interim Operational Coordinator, and Pharmacy Supply Chain Coordinator. My current position serves as Contract Manager and Utilization overseeing Lafayette region hospitals in addition to Lafayette region, I oversee the non-provider based ambulatory team and system centralized purchasing team.

Over the course of my eleven years at Ochsner I have been recognized for numerous awards and accomplishments from various organizations and within Ochsner health system. Power-of-One Non-clinical Employee of the Month Award, Employee of the Month, Ovations Awards, Mentor of the Quarter, and National Buyer of the Year from the National Pharmacy Purchasing Association, LSHP Poster Abstract Winner (Career Ladder for the Growth of a Pharmacy Technician), Community Leader of the Year from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority , Award for Webinar Waste Not Want: Using LEAN Principles to Reduce IV Waste 2012, and LSHP Pharmacy Technician of the Year (2017 and 2023)

I’m active member of the following organizations, Louisiana Society of Health-System Pharmacists (LSHP), American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), National Pharmacy Purchasing Association, The Association of Black Health-System Pharmacists (ABHP), Served as Committee Leader for LSHP Technician Representative, City of Kenner District One Community Advisor Board, 2023 Membership Co-Chair of Ochsner African American Building Leaders for Equality, Ochsner Certified Board Ambassador, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

I have had the privilege to participate with several vendors such as BD Ochsner case study: Pyxis™ ES platform and RPharmy: Streamlining Pharmacy Contracts and Purchasing with Formweb: Ochsner Health’s Approach to provide insight and expertise on how I have used their platforms to ensure savings and patient’s safety.

I’m from Kenner, La which about 14 miles from New Orleans, La. I graduated from DCC in 2003 receiving a dual degree (High School Diploma and Pharmacy Technician Technical Degree). I earned an Bachelor of Science B.S. in Public Health Xavier University and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Minor in Social Work, Master Degree in Health Care and Business Administration. I currently working on my doctorate in Health Law and Healthcare Administration from Texas Southern A & M college.

I have known to be a performance driven and strategic-mind leader. My drive is to focus on strategies that influence decision makers and drive success. I considered myself skilled in administration leadership, and business administration. My goal is to leave behind a legacy and positive impressions among her colleagues and allied healthcare workers. I live by three mottos, If I can help somebody along the way my living is not in vein, "It’s not a RACE it’s a MARATHON, and “Behind me is infinite power, before me is endless possibility, around me is boundless opportunity."

Andria “Yvette” Robson-James is an established pharmacy technician supervisor with over 20 years of experience in retail and inpatient hospital practice. She is well regarded at Ochsner Medical Center-Northshore, having been recognized for numerous accomplishments and accolades as being a high performer, solution-driven, and outstanding pharmacy leader. In her current role as Pharmacy Technician Supervisor, she has been nominated for the Power-of-One Non-clinical Employee of the Month Award and has received numerous Values on the Spot Award for exhibiting compassion along with an Ovation Award for Patient Safety.

Yvette is an active member of Louisiana Society of Health-System Pharmacists (LSHP), American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). She has acquired numerous certifications such as USP 797/800, sterile iv compounding and aseptic technique, and the national pharmacy technician certification to name a few. She has extensive experience in pyxis administration management, numerous healthcare electronic medical records software/platforms, and several medication procurement and formulary management systems. She also holds an active pharmacy technician license in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

Yvette is originally from Mississippi where she attended The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg and pursued a degree in BioChemistry. She is now actively working towards completing a degree in Healthcare Administration. Yvette consistently leaves positive impressions among her colleagues and allied healthcare workers. Many have submitted accolades quoting her as a “value-added asset”, “high-level contributor”, and a “mover and shaker” within the health system. She is known for her integrity, accountability, productivity, ambition, and teamwork centric beliefs. She understands that true leadership ultimately means to be a server and with those qualities she continues to be an integral player in the growth and expansion of any pharmacy department she works.

Apply for PTCB examination application online by visiting the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board or contact the LSHP office.

See what CPhTs are talking about…

Social media has become an increasingly important way for PTCB to engage with Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhTs) and other advocates of patient safety. We encourage you to explore PTCB’s latest Tweets and Facebook posts, and browse stories being shared by over 18,000 pharmacy technicians online.

Looking for a job?

The PTCB LinkedIn Group is a great resource for pharmacy technicians looking to network within the pharmacy profession and find employment.

Join the conversation. Follow PTCB and become a fan today!

Need Continuing Education Credit?

www.cecity.com

Want to connect with pharmacists around the country?

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
www.ashp.org

Louisiana Pharmacy Schools

Xavier University, College of Pharmacy
www.xula.edu

University of Louisiana Monroe, College of Pharmacy
www.ulm.edu/pharmacy