Pharmacy Technician - Compounding and Drug Distribution
What you'd do
The Pharmacy Compounding and Drug Distribution Specialist is a certified, highly specialized Technician, and is responsible for the first line management of all controlled substances handled by the Pharmacy for the St. Cloud VA. The incumbent is also responsible for the preparation of non-sterile and sterile products handled by Pharmacy. This position requires thorough knowledge and understanding of federal, VA and facility regulations regarding controlled substances and compounding functions.
Major duties
Major duties include, but are not limited to the following: Controlled Substances Accurately interprets, fills and readies-controlled substance prescriptions with appropriate medications for Pharmacist verification. Effectively coordinates, manages, completes and documents the purchasing of prescription drug products by maintaining a comprehensive knowledge of the procurement and formulary process. Maintains, verifies, stocks and replaces outdated controlled medications from stock, including inpatient wards, storage cabinets and the Pharmacy vault. Maintains accurate electronic inventory through decrementing prescriptions, entering received inventory and transferring to automated dispensing cabinets. Follows policies and procedures for handling the destruction and return of controlled medications. Assists, reviews and makes recommendations in inventory control of controlled substances. Monitors and analyzes orders and usage/distribution patterns for questionable circumstances or unusual trends and communicates potential problems to supervisor. Provides training for Pharmacists, interns, Technicians, inspectors, students and others in controlled substance accountability procedures. Prepares, operates, restocks, and maintain complex automated dispensing cabinets and all necessary equipment supporting pharmaceutical patient care functions. Maintains file of hard copy CII-V prescriptions. Resolves inventory discrepancies immediately when discovered by reviewing reports and contacting appropriate people when needed. Reports discrepancies to supervisor, when appropriate. Ensures all controlled substance procedures abide by all local requirements, VISN, OIG and VHA handbook expectations and requirements, The Joint Commission (TJC) standards, VA Central Office directives, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) requirements, appropriate inventory management practices and other state and local requirements that apply. Maintains security of controlled substances by controlling access to storage areas and ensuring that controlled substances are kept in a locked, supervised area specifically designated for controlled substance storage Compounding Is knowledgeable in United States Pharmacopeia (USP) <795>, <797> and <800> standards, Pharmacy law, VHA directives and DEA regulations as they relate to practice within the VA Health Care System. Uses aseptic technique to compound sterile products within the IV suite. Prepares sterile ophthalmic preparations and other complex sterile pharmaceutics as appropriate. Correctly interpret orders, selects, and measures appropriate ingredients, mixes ingredients in an aseptic manner, inspects the final product for accuracy, suitability and elegance, labels the product, maintains records of the manufacturing process and supplies the product for delivery. Understands specific handling considerations for storage, distribution, and disposal of medications. Displays competence with good aseptic technique and manufacturing practices through demonstration and work performance. Maintains technical knowledge of equipment and supplies used in compounding sterile products, including but not limited to admixing pumps, needles, syringes, and other compounding supplies. Operates and maintains complicated Pharmacy equipment, including but not limited to laminar flow hoods and compounding software. Ensures that the IV cleanrooms are cleaned daily and appropriate logs are completed for daily, weekly and monthly cleaning. Performs accurate product selection, dosage calculations and compounding of agents utilizing package literature, written procedural guidelines and application of specialized knowledge. Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm, 8:00am-4:30pm, or 9:30am-6:00pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. 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). 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 Eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
What you need to qualify
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 Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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 Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT). 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. 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-08: Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7) and demonstrate the KSAs below. GS-7 level experience requires the below 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. 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 the following KSAs for all GS-08 assignments and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment, if indicated: Comprehensive knowledge of concepts, principles, methodology and policies in a specialized area or section of pharmacy (such as sterile compounding, controlled substances, automation, clinical pharmacy, contact center, etc.) Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures. Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy. 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-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-8. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.
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