Summary

This is an outpatient Pharmacy Technician with VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS). The incumbent will regularly staff both the University Drive and H. John Heinz III campuses to provide appropriate and seamless outpatient coverage across all areas.

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
• (1) None required
• (2) For all grade levels and positions that accept both education and experience to qualify - equivalent combinations of qualifying education and experience that total at least 100% are qualifying
• The combined percentage is determined by adding total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level to the education as a percentage of the education required for the 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: (1) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
• Or National Health career Association (NHA) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• Foreign Education
• To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials
• Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service
• 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: 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: (a) PTCB as a CPhT OR (b) NHA as a 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 dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases
• Preferred Experience: Three years of outpatient pharmacy experience with evidence of progression into higher level duties preferred
• 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.

Duties

• VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The incumbent is responsible for all duties related to inventory management - controlled substances practices - order fulfillment and dispensing - responding to patient requests and concerns - non-sterile compounding - and any other function related to outpatient pharmacy services
• Duties include but are not limited to the following: Assists in coordinating the filling and dispensing functions of outpatient prescriptions including controlled substances for both window fills and mail out while maintaining perpetual inventory in Vista and in the ScriptPro Inventory Management System
• Conducts regularly scheduled inventories twice weekly and daily if needed according to regulations and policies
• Assists the Controlled Substance Compliance Inspectors to complete the monthly inspections
• Maintains - verifies - stocks - and replaces outdated CS medications from stock - including inpatient wards - inpatient/outpatient storage cabinets - vaults
• Maintains accurate electronic inventory through decrementing prescriptions - entering received inventory - transferring to automated dispensing cabinets - dispensing on green sheets - and transferring to other dispensing vaults
• .Assists - reviews - and makes recommendations in inventory control of controlled substances
• Maintains security of controlled substances by controlling access to storage areas - and by ensuring that controlled substances are always kept in the locked - supervised area - specifically designated for controlled substance storage
• Assists as deemed necessary by the pharmacy supervisors - in any patient care area (including inpatient and outpatient pharmacy) to maintain the consistency of overall pharmacy services
• Maintains working knowledge and care of automated dispensing equipment such as - but not limited to ScriptPro - Eyecon - and pill counters
• Provides training for pharmacists - interns - technicians - inspectors - students - and others in controlled substance accountability procedures
• Ability to interact with facility personnel and our Veteran customers in a professional manner that promotes proper rapport and insures the highest level of customer service and patient care
• Ability to recognize and solve problems - makes recommendations to avoid potential problems - and refers appropriate concerns to Procurement Technician or supervising Pharmacist
• Takes on assignments and higher complexity projects and tasks as directed by a pharmacy supervisor or manager
• Performs all the duties of lower graded technicians as required or directed by a supervisor
• Evaluates - analyzes and coordinates workflow independently in the assigned area
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday daylight with some holiday - evening - and weekend shifts Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 02755F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized