Summary

The Inpatient Pharmacy technician utilizes different abilities and knowledge to staff in various areas of both inpatient and outpatient pharmacy. Under the supervision of the appropriate technician supervisor or pharmacist (in the absence of supervisor) - the Inpatient Pharmacy Technician provides a variety of pharmacy support services based off daily assignments.

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
• Education or Experience
• A high school diploma or equivalent
• or at least 3 months experience
• Certification
• Certification by the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is required at grades GS-6 and above
• Loss of Credential
• An employee in this occupation who fails to obtain licensure/certification/ registration within the required time frame - or who fails to maintain the required licensure/certification/ registration must be removed from the occupation - which may also result in termination of employment
• For occupations which require an active credential (licensure/certification/registration) at all grade levels - at the discretion of the appointing official - an employee may be reassigned to another occupation for which he/she qualifies if a placement opportunity exists
• For occupations which require an active credential (licensure/certification/registration) in assignments above the full-performance level only - at the discretion of the appointing official - an employee may remain at an appropriate lower grade level in the occupation when both of the following apply: the credential is not a requirement and a placement opportunity exists." GS-7 Grade Determinations: Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• Certification: For positions above the full performance level - the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: PTCB as a CPhT
• OR NHA as a ExCPT
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles - practices - concepts and theories providing for sound independent work
• (b) Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent
• (c) Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team - Veterans and external customers
• (d) Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students
• (e) Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations - policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution
• (f) Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases
• Assignments
• 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
• They assist advanced/ specialized pharmacy technicians and participate in performance improvement initiatives
• At this level - pharmacy technicians use independent judgement to perform the full range of duties in the pharmacy
• They also function as staff pharmacy technicians in various locations of the pharmacy - including pharmacy contact centers and other non-traditional pharmacy locations - with minimal oversight
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion - involving standing/sitting for prolonged periods of time - considerable walking - frequent twisting/turning - and bending/stooping
• Principle duties require repetitive use of hands and fingers when compounding or manipulating medications
• The incumbent must be able to perform lifting/carrying - pushing - or pulling different types of equipment such as cabinets - carts or supplies weighing at minimum 50 pounds through various terrains
• Must be physically capable of operating various types of equipment used on the job in the areas as assigned.

Duties

• VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws The functions of this position may include but is not limited to: -Ordering - preparing - compounding and dispensing of hazardous/non-hazardous controls and non-control medications in both inpatient and outpatient pharmacy
• Requiring knowledge of pharmaceuticals - intravenous solutions and pharmacy practices
• -Assist the procurement technician in all aspects of pharmaceutical and supply order initiations - receiving shipments of goods - ensuring compliance with storage requirements and inventory control through perpetual analysis
• -Responsible for all ongoing inventories of drug products and supplies and cost effective turn over must be consistently identified and maintained
• -Provide on the job developmental training to co-worker technicians - volunteers and students in accordance with established plans and practices.-Delivery of medications (control - non-control - hazardous - non-hazardous) to inpatient - outpatient - ambulatory care clinics - and community based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) as assigned
• -Must be able to handle emergency deliveries and pick up new orders and replenish needed supplies on his/her own initiative or as directed by lead/ supervisor technician or the pharmacist
• -Provides exceptional customer service to all stakeholders involved -Ability to perform record keeping functions associated with the unit dose/IV distribution system - prepacking - compounding - dispensing - floor stock and automatic replenishment
• -Independently works in all activities of this centralized intravenous admixture where he/she receives and reviews physicians order forms and is responsible for the preparation of all of the products prepared in the IV room
• -Ability to perform basic mathematical skills in order to calculate dosages - prepare complex solutions and make appropriate adjustments in the ingredients of the compound preparations based on quantity needed
• -Monitors refrigerator temperature on a daily basis in the pharmacy and remotely via temperature monitoring software
• -Carefully and accurately receives new stock and processes returns
• -Performs ward inspections and assist with resolution of identified issues
• -Troubleshoot system problems and provide detailed analysis to Pharmacy Management with regards to pharmacy automation
• -Performs other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Primarily 6:00am-2:30pm rotating weekend and holidays - with off-tour hours as needed for patient care
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Location: 578 VA Hospital Hines IL Preferred experience: Previous Inpatient pharmacy and/or IV room experience
• Driving Required- Driving medications to CBOCs may be required.