OutPatient Pharmacy Technician
What you'd do
This position is for a certified pharmacy technician above the full performance level at the Robley Rex VA Medical Center. Pharmacy technicians above the full performance level can mentor and train lower grade technicians in the practice setting. 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.
Major duties
1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNED DUTIES. This position is for a certified pharmacy technician above the full performance level. 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. Pharmacy technicians above the full performance level can mentor and train lower grade technicians in the practice setting. 2. FUNCTIONS. a. Medication Distribution System 1) Reads and interprets prescriptions from the electronic health record systems(EHRS) or in written format. 2) Reviews prescription orders for technical accuracy. 3) Prepares medications and ensures the orderable item matches the item being dispensed with regard to drug, strength, quantity, or appropriate supply item. 4) Dispenses medications following all regulations, policies, and procedures for safe medication distribution. 5) Uses Automated Dispensing Machines (ADM) to batch and label medications. Ensures ScriptTalk labels are batched if needed. 6) Maintains highly sophisticated pharmacy equipment. This includes cleaning procedures and maintenance of ADM's and other counting machines. 7) Assists with automated or manual inventory processes that include but are not limited to inventory counts, medication ordering, stocking, checking for outdates, pulling outdates, pulling recalled medications, inspections or any other activity related to the supply of VA medications. 8) updates patient information in the many pharmacy software packages such as ADM's and EHRM. 9) enters notes into the electronic health record using pharmacy templates or blank forms. 10)Ensures all refrigerated medications are stored properly according manufacturer's recommendations, USP<800>, and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) requirements. b. Pharmacy Contact Center 1) Effectively uses the current facility phone system. 2) Maintains appropriate phone etiquette and professionalism and Works independently. 3) Collects and clarifies patient information. 4) Synthesizes patient information to identify basic therapeutic, distributive, medication related problems. 5) Understands when to alert pharmacist for problems.6) Communicates information accurately in the electronic health record or other formats .c.Pharmacy Mail System 1) Fills medication "to be mailed" in accordance with description provided in the medication distribution section. 2) Ensures prescription label matches mailing label and maintains accuracy in other software or paper systems. 3) Transports mail containers to pick up destinations, restocks supplies, lifts mail bags or containers. 4) Assists with other medication distribution activities as directed by pharmacist, supervisor, or as delineated. d. Medication Management System 1) Assists the pharmacist with problem solving patient care or medication issues. 2) Assists in quality improvement projects to improve pharmacy service. 3) Assists to complete required pharmacy reporting obligations as directed. 4) Understands pharmacy SOPs and policy for general operations and inspections. 5) Understands waste streams for returned medications and medications to be destroyed. e. Controlled Substances (CS) 1) Fills controlled substance medications in accordance with description provided. 2) Maintains a rolling inventory in automation and performs inventory per VA guidelines. 3) Runs "Monthly CII Script Processing Detail Reports" or other reports. 4) Verifies inventory with VA Accountable Officer and accurately stocks ADM with new inventory. Work Schedule: Primarily Monday-Friday 0700-1900 rotating weekends and holidays. 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: No Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 40306-F
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. 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: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). OR (2) 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. 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) 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. (1) Experience. One year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the 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. (4) 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 full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 to GS-7. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.
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