Summary

For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Pharmacy technicians at this level are nationally certified and can work autonomously using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties. These pharmacy technicians mentor and train lower graded pharmacy technicians in the practice setting.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency
• Pharmacy technicians appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English Certification
• Certification by the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is required at grades GS-6 and above
• Grade Determination (GS-7):Experience
• One year experience at the next lower level (GS-6) - and must fully meet the knowledge - skills - and abilities (KSAs) at the next lower level - which are: Knowledge of Federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice
• Knowledge of preparation - storage and distribution of medication products including those requiring special handling and documentation
• Ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate pharmacy dispensing equipment
• Knowledge of basic inventory procedures
• Ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel
• NOTE: Your description of your work experience in your resume/CV must adequately demonstrate all required knowledge - skills - and abilities in order for you to be found qualified and referred for consideration
• References: VA Handbook 5005/15 - Part II - Appendix G28 - Pharmacy Technician Qualification Standard
• Physical Requirements: The position requires frequent walking and standing
• repeated bending
• moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds)
• the ability to read handwritten or typed characters with or without glasses
• ability to hear conversation voice with or without aid
• and emotional and mental stability.

Duties

• This position functions primarily in the inpatient care areas and the Pharmacy Service within the Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center (JMCAVAMC)
• The incumbent practices as a Pharmacy Technician in the Inpatient Pharmacy of JMCAVAMC
• This area serves adult and elderly Veterans needing care within the JMCAVAMC system 24 hours a day 7 days a week - nights - weekends - and holidays
• Providing support for the hospital staff by reading and interpreting orders - obtaining the proper medication or material in the proper dose and strength
• Working alongside the Pharmacist to ensure the correct medication is compounded - packaged - and delivered to the correct patient - provider - or automated dispensing system
• Uses independent judgement performing the duties assigned
• Must maintain a PTCB certificate or an Except certificate
• Follows all guidelines of USP 797 - 795 - 800 - VA Handbook 5005 - DEA regulations and all National Pharmacy and Facility Policies
• FUNCTIONS: Pharmacy Technicians assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles - practices - concepts - and theories providing for sound independent work Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medications orders or electronic equivalent
• Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other member of the healthcare team - Veterans - and external customers
• Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students
• Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations - policies - and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution
• Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases
• MEDICATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: 1
• Reads and interprets orders - obtains proper medication or material in the proper strength and dosage form - determines proper amount - and counts - pours - or measures the medications
• affixes proper label
• and records requires data on Pharmacy's copy of inpatient order
• After a final check by a pharmacist - dispenses medication in hospital settings
• 2
• For unit-dose medications - prepares medications to be dispensed to inpatient areas (med-carts - ward stock) - and/or fills unit-dose carts and has work reviewed by a pharmacist
• 3
• Inventories and prepares emergency carts with appropriate medications and supplies
• 4
• Collects drug use evaluation data for quality improvement purposes as required
• 5
• Operates and maintains complicated pharmacy equipment such as unit dose prepackaging machines - automatic dispensing machines - IV compounding machines and other pharmacy devices
• Able to troubleshoot the equipment and the technology platforms/databases
• 6
• Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile)
• This includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the amount of drug or solution to be used
• 7
• After prescription/order(s) are reviewed by a pharmacist for therapeutic propriety - reviews orders for technical accuracy and converts the order - if necessary - so that the item dispensed corresponds to the drug and dose ordered
• 8
• Identifies basic therapeutic problems such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class and alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention
• 9
• Maintains - verifies - stocks - and replaces outdates in patient care areas and the areas' automated dispensing machines
• 10
• Ensures all look alike - sound alike - high alert - refrigerated medications are stored properly according to manufactures recommendations and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) requirement
• 11
• Monitors inventory needs in-patient care areas - relays this information to the appropriate Pharmacy personal
• This also includes placing stock in proper storage areas - rotating stock on shelves and removing/replacing outdated items
• 12
• Assists with inventory management and ordering of medicines and supplies
• 13
• Performs all the duties of lower graded technicians - if required
• GENERAL DUTIES: As deemed necessary by the pharmacy supervisor - assists in other patient care areas (including outpatient pharmacy services) to maintain the consistency of overall pharmacy services
• However - primary assignments of work schedule and tours would involve inpatient pharmacy services
• Inpatient services may include such areas as aseptic admixture preparation including cytotoxic agents - automatic and on-demand ward stock replenishment - maintenance and operation of automated prepackaging storage and dispensing equipment - assembly and documentation of controlled substance requests and properly packaging with documentation of single unit of use medications
• Ensures all inventory automation equipment in the pharmacy service is properly refilled and utilized to maintain inventory controls
• Participates in ensuring the Operating Room is properly stocked for injectable - non-injectable and controlled substance medications.