Pharmacy Technician
What you'd do
GS-7 Pharmacy Technicians function in various areas of the outpatient pharmacy (East and West campuses). Pharmacy Technicians are under the supervision of the outpatient pharmacy supervisor or a pharmacy technician supervisor. Pharmacy technicians provide various technical support services within the pharmacy department. This position involves providing services related to ambulatory patients.
Major duties
VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional FUNCTIONS OR SCOPES OF PRACTICE: The incumbent is responsible for the filling, dispensing, procurement, storage, preparation, review, distribution, and control of medications/other pharmaceutical products to patients, and outpatient treatment units, and research investigators. The work product directly affects the health of outpatients. A. Outpatient: Incumbent will perform entry, processing and filling of outpatient prescriptions for scheduled and non-scheduled federal legend drugs and medicaldevices, over-the-counter products and supply items; patient and customer relations; and preparation and maintenance of various logs, records and reports. The incumbent must possess an advanced technical knowledge of drug and medication brand names, generic names/chemical names, general and special storage requirements, expiration date and beyond use date requirements, manufacturer/ distributor sources, dosage forms, applicable systems of weights and measures and medical terminology to interpret providers' orders and verify correct drug, dosage form, strength and dose is prepared and/or distributed; working knowledge of drug use and dosage forms available to be able to screen drug orders for propriety and assist thepharmacist in solving potential drug related problems; controlled substance discrepancies, working knowledge of hospital computer system(s), specifically the applicable VISTA/CHCS, CPRS, and Class-III software applications and processing options (e.g., ScriptPro, Pyxis and Pyxis CII safe, outpatient prescription processing, etc.) and a thorough knowledge of the operation and basic daily maintenance and minor repair of automated dispensing equipment. Incumbent will provide adequate medication counseling to patient as it relates to medication and other pharmacyservices. B. Controlled Substance: Fills and dispenses prescriptions for controlled substances for Outpatient beneficiaries. Incumbent performs controlled substances inventories as required. The incumbent is required to possess advanced knowledge of principles relating to controlled substances and the requirements of FHCC and Network policy and state and Federal regulations, which apply to these drugs. Knowledge of trending and analysis is necessary to ensure that problems associated with discrepancies in waste, fraud, diversion or abuse are identified quickly and reported to appropriate supervisor(s). C. Procurement and Stock Maintenance: Performs duties associated with stocking of medications and supplies, to include rotation of stock, checking for and pulling of outdated/expired medications and supply items, cleaning and maintenance of stock shelves and areas. Notifies and coordinates with supervisor, pharmacist-incharge,and/or supply technicians of medications and supply items needed. GS-7 Pharmacy Technicians require advanced technical knowledge of all aspects of drug characteristics and nomenclature including generic/chemical and brand names, dosage forms, various systems of weights and measures, drug product codes, drug interchangeability and therapeutic equivalence; characteristics and proper documentation of drug packaging; various uses for drugs; FHCC, VA, and DoD regulatory agency requirements for drug storage; special requirements for procurement, storage, distribution and handling of various classes of drugs. An advanced technical working knowledge of usage rates, stock levels, inventory maintenance concepts including just-in-time inventory and inventory turns, equipment utilized for procurement, contract adherence sources is also required. Work Schedule: Rotating days, weekends and holidays Compressed/Flexible: N/A 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: N/A Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 09236F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): N/A
What you need to qualify
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. English Language Proficiency: Pharmacy Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Certification: 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. A COPY OF YOUR CERTIFICATION MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH YOUR APPLICATION. Assignments: 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. 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). In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements listed above, you must meet the following: GS-7 Pharmacy Technician Grade Determinations: Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6). One year of experience as a Certified Pharmacy Technician. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA): GS-6 1. Knowledge of Federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice. 2. Knowledge of preparation, storage and distribution of medication products including those requiring special handling and documentation. 3. Ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate pharmacy dispensing equipment. 4. Knowledge of basic inventory procedures. 5. Ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work. 2. Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent. 3. Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers. 4. Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students. 5. Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution. 6. 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: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing for prolonged periods of time, lifting or carrying of heavy pharmaceutical supplies or mail bags weighing up to 80 pounds, bending, and stopping. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-7.
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