Summary

The Pharmacy Technician is expected to accomplish all duties related to stocking - delivering - inventory - inspections - assembling ward orders - prescription assembly - controlled substances distribution - sterile compounding - unit-dose drug packaging - dispensing - distribution - and any other function related to pharmaceutical practices. Pharmacy technician performs all duties under the supervision and is expected to acquire and maintain a high degree of accurate productivity and performance.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States
• Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a)
• 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) Education or Experience: None required
• 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: 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
• 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: Pharmacy Technician - GS-07
• 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
• 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 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/
• The grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements: Light to moderate lifting - up to 44 pounds - Light to moderate carrying up to 44 pounds - reaching above shoulders - use of fingers - both hands required - standing - ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously and near vision correctable at 13" to16" to Jaeger 1 to 4
• Environmental Factors include working in dry atmospheric conditions - constant noise - working closely with others and working alone.

Duties

• Medication Distribution System: Reads and interprets prescriptions
• Accurately fills and prepares prescriptions with appropriate medications and or medical supplies for pharmacist verification
• Accurately interprets EHR patient medication profiles
• Able to confirm prescription information in the Pharmacy computer packages
• Able to execute refills or other technician duties within the pharmacy software
• Accurately enters notes and completes consults in EHR
• Assures drugs and supplies are appropriately stored and secured
• Receives - checks - rotates - and places in stock all items received from pharmacy procurement section and identifies and reconciles any discrepancies
• Utilizes automation dispensing equipment
• Troubleshoots and reports automation malfunctions timely to the supervisor
• Records expiration dates
• Perform monthly inspections to assigned areas
• Compounds or reconstitutes oral or external medications
• This includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the amount of drug or solution to be used for final pharmacist verification
• Manufactures products requiring compounding
• Correctly interprets physician orders - selects - and measures appropriate ingredients - mixes ingredients in a safe and effective manner - inspects the final product for accuracy - labels the product - maintains records of the manufacturing process - and attains a final check by a pharmacist
• Uses standard protocols to determine an accurate expiration date for each batch prepared
• Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution
• Assists in training and orientation of new staff technicians - interns - and students
• Assumes an active role in the overall pharmacy-training program consisting of students - externs - interns - residents - and professional and non­ professional staff members
• Maintains work areas in a clean and orderly condition
• Demonstrates the ability to work under a variety of circumstances to maximize group productivity and quality
• Performs duties of all lower grade technicians as needed
• Assists in quality improvement activities
• Completes all National - VISN - local - and Pharmacy mandatory trainings
• Maintains national certification with PTCB or ExCPT Complies with all VHA - Medical Center - and Pharmacy regulations - directives - policies - and procedures
• May be assigned to work in other areas of pharmacy service
• Controlled Substances Activities: These functions will be supported in the absence of the controlled substance technician
• Accurately interpret - fills - and readies prescriptions with appropriate medications for pharmacist verification Appropriately prepares controlled substances items for automated secured cabinets throughout medical center - as assigned
• Documents all controlled substance related transactions
• Assures that inventory counts are correct at the time of restocking
• Ensures that proper handoff occurs when receiving or delivering controlled substances - assuring that at all times these medications are never left unsecured
• Reports unresolvable discrepancies to immediate area supervisor for resolution
• Assist in investigating - witnessing - and resolving discrepancies
• Complies with all laws - regulations - directives - policies - and procedures applying to the dispensing - storage - transfer - inventory - and accountability of controlled substances
• Assists inspectors with the inventory and accountability inspections
• Work Schedule: Monday Thru Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be 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: AD-HOC Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #:000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized