Pharmacy Technician
What you'd do
The Pharmacy Technician position functions in the Inpatient Pharmacy of the Pharmacy division. 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. The employee will assist the pharmacist in providing optimal care and timely service in accordance with the mission, vision, and goals of the Pharmacy division.
Major duties
FUNCTIONS OR SCOPES OF PRACTICE: A. OPERATIONS- MEDICATION STOCK AND STORAGE 1. Adequate stock of pharmaceuticals and supplies for the areas assigned is maintained by communicating with the procurement personnel for items that are below par levels or out of stock. 2. Usage of medications is monitored, and par levels are adjusted accordingly. In addition, out of stock medications are communicated to the pharmacy staff and procurement team at the time of discovery so that arrangements can be made to prevent delays in patient care. 3. All pharmacy areas are maintained according to facility and service level policies (e.g., separate areas for high alert medications, proper disposal of corrugated cardboard, etc.). 4. Assigned monthly ward inspections are thoroughly and consistently performed within established timeframe, including inspection of investigational drug areas, if assigned. 5. Recalled drugs are properly returned to pharmacy service, segregated, and secured to prevent re-dispensing. 6. Outdated, deteriorated, and damaged medications are disposed of in the appropriate pharmaceutical waste containers or placed inside the return bin for credit processing according to policy and procedures for reverse distribution. 7. Stock is rotated as necessary to utilize the shortest expiration date items first. 8. Pharmacy medication shelves are scanned daily to assist the procurement team in ordering medications and supplies. 9. Packaging supplies are monitored and restocked by alerting procurement staff in a timely manner. 10. Medication and supply orders are checked in for accuracy from the prime vendor, logistics, and other contracted vendors. 11. Medications and supplies requiring a purchase card are listed and requested by the procurement staff. 12. Refrigerators/freezers are monitored daily for adequate temperature control according to facility policies and procedures. Appropriate action is initiated and documented for out-of-range temperature, and problems are resolved in a timely manner to ensure no drug is wasted due to improper storage. 13. Equipment problems are identified and concerns are brought to the immediate attention of the supervisor and/or Informatics/Automation personnel. 14. Maintains a safe, clean, uncluttered work area in the storage and dispensing areas. 15. Prepares items necessary for storage according to policy and requirements. DISTRIBUTION-MEDICATION ORDER/PRESCRIPTION PREPARATION 1. Medications, supplies, vaccines, etc. are filled accurately in accordance with current state and federal laws/regulations and are checked and verified by a pharmacist before dispensing to the patient. This includes selecting the correct medication or supply item and dosage form, accurately counting or measuring the quantity to be dispensed, reconstituting, labeling the medication with a barcode, affixing the appropriate auxiliary labels, and completing all necessary documentation per policies and procedures, including making appropriate entries on the pharmacy record and decrementing in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) for proper inventory. Potential problems are brought to the attention of a pharmacist and reported to by the supervisor for review in an accurate and timely manner. 2. Workload is prioritized; orders/prescriptions are processed, filled and delivered in a timely manner; and assignments are completed within specified time frames. 4. Sterile and non-sterile compounded medications are prepared and dispensed according to policies and procedures both hazardous and non-hazardous products. 5. Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile). This includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the amount of drug or solution to be used for final pharmacist verification. 6. Manufactures products requiring compounding including chemotherapy and NIOSH medications, whether made in large batches for more than one patient or in small batches to fill a single prescription or drug order. 7. 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 8. Preparing and dispensing unit dose medications which includes but are not limited to accurately filling patient cassettes, returning unused medications to stock, maintaining adequate unit-dose stocks, handles routine telephone inquiries, replenishing emergency Work Schedule: 0800-1630 Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Available Functional Statement #: 0000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Available
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. 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 (2) National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).. Grade Determinations: Pharmacy Technician, GS-07 (1) Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. (2) 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. (3) 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination. Exceptions: A pre-placement examination is required for any occupation or assignment that requires the operation of a government-owned or -leased motor vehicle in order to properly carry out assigned duties. Examinations may also be required for any occupation or assignment that requires a pre-placement examination by virtue of another policy, regulation, or statute
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