Summary

This position is for a certified pharmacy technician above the full performance level GS-7 at the VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System. Finger Lakes Pharmacy Service has three pharmacy locations at Bath - Canandaigua - and Rochester - New York. The pharmacy technician will perform duties as assigned primarily at a single location and will rotate through both inpatient and outpatient areas (if applicable). They may be asked to work at alternate locations in unique circumstances.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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
• English Language Proficiency: Pharmacy Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Grade Determinations: GS07 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: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
• or National Health career Association (NHA) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of 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 medication orders or electronic equivalent
• Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members 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 Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07
• Physical Requirements: Work is primarily physical - and demands standing - walking - bending/stooping/stretching - twisting - and lifting/carrying items up to 40 lbs (and at times may be more).

Duties

• VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Pharmacy technicians at this grade level are nationally certified by PTCB or ExCPT and can work autonomously - using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties
• Pharmacy technicians above the full performance level can mentor and train lower grade technicians in the practice setting
• The employee will assist the pharmacist in providing optimal care and timely service in accordance with the mission - vision - and goals of the Pharmacy and Healthcare System.The incumbent is expected to accomplish all duties related to stocking - delivering - inventory - inspections - assembling ward orders - prescription assembly - controlled substances distribution - unit-dose drug packaging - dispensing - distribution - sterile compounding (if applicable to site) and any other function related to pharmaceutical practices
• The incumbent performs all duties under the supervision of a pharmacist and is expected to acquire and maintain a high degree of accurate productivity and performance
• Accurately interpret - fills - and prepares prescriptions with appropriate medications and or medical supplies for pharmacist verification
• Maintains work areas in a clean and orderly condition by assuring that all stock and equipment are in assigned places and all shelves and counters are free of dust and debris in order to create optimal work areas
• Assures drugs and supplies are appropriately stored and secured according to USP and VA guidelines - including the storage of high-risk - look a-like sound a-like - hazardous - controlled substances - and refrigerated items
• Receives - checks - rotates - and places in stock all items received in order
• Identifies and reconciles any discrepancies to assure correct items have been received
• Operates and maintains complicated pharmacy equipment including robotic dispensing - automated counting - and barcode re-labeling equipment
• Trouble-shoots minor mechanical problems of all automated systems as they occur and coordinates resolution of more involved mechanical or software problems with supervisor - vendor help desk - etc
• as appropriate
• Performs monthly inspections to assigned areas to ensure proper storage of medications and soon to expired drugs are removed
• Completes inspection reports in compliance with regulatory requirements
• Monitors temperature of Pharmacy refrigerators/freezers and maintains temperature logs as necessary
• Assists narcotic inspectors with the inventory and accountability inspections
• Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution
• 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
• Assumes an active role in the overall pharmacy-training program consisting of students - externs - interns - residents - and professional and non-professional staff members
• Demonstrates the ability to work under a variety of circumstances to maximize group productivity and quality
• Participate in performance improvement initiatives for pharmacy
• Completes all National - VISN - local - and Pharmacy mandatory trainings in a timely manner
• Maintains national certification with PTCB or ExCPT Complies with all VHA - Medical Center - and Pharmacy regulations - directives - policies - and procedures
• Outpatient responsibilities include prescription filling - pharmacy phone triage - window prescription dispensing - narcotic vault assignments - preparing medications for mailing - or other areas that may develop from patient pharmacy needs
• Inpatient responsibility include aseptic admixture preparation - accurate 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 unit of use medications
• Work Schedule: Rotating Schedule - Monday-Saturday (8am-430pm and/or 11am-730pm) Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 49661-F