Pharmacy Technician
What you'd do
The Pharmacy VA Health Connect Technician will provide and support administrative and clinical activities as assigned using independent judgement to perform a full range of pharmacy technician duties within the pharmacy contact center.
Major duties
Duties: Works collaboratively with VISN programs, services, and interdisciplinary coordinated care team members to provide access to care and meet the needs of Veterans, their family members and/or legal representatives via various available contact modalities to include but not limited to telephone calls, secure messaging, chat, text messaging and video regarding a broad range of topics, including medication refills/renewals, basic billing inquiries, and procedural pharmacy activities. Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent. Processes and submits patient requests for new prescription orders and renewals (including controlled substances) into the computer accurately, thoroughly and in a timely manner. Uses approved Pharmacy Service protocols when appropriate to satisfy patient medication requests. Consistently documents patient contact and call resolution in VISN VA Health Connect software (and the electronic healthcare record as applicable) to include but is not limited to what was requested, what action was taken and any other information which may be pertinent during future research. Assists in the documentation of medication variances. Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers Actively and diligently treats all Veterans with respect and utmost dignity. Seeks to solve Veteran's concerns at first contact. When required, refers to other VA resources to assist in the resolution process. Always resolves all Veteran issues in a timely and caring manner with emphasis on providing first contact resolution Maintains National Pharmacy Technician Certification through PTCB as a CPhT or NHA as a ExCPT Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students. If assigned to complete timekeeping for the program, will maintain training and competency to complete required timekeeping duties accurately and timely. Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing sound independent work. 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. Work Schedule: 7 am - 7 pm Rotating 8 hour shifts Telework: Not Available Remote: Yes - This position is eligible for Remote/Virtual work. This position is remote work eligible and is exempted from return to office requirements. However, this does not mean that remote work status will be permanent. The eligibility of the position and employee for remote work will be reviewed (at least) annually. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 24008F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
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. 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). 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). 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). Grandfathering Provision. Pharmacy technicians employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/ registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/ certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels. (3) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (4) Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation. (5) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. Grade Determinations: Pharmacy Technician, GS -07 Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level AND 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. AND 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/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is above the full performance level GS-7. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily performed while sitting, though some work may require periods of standing. The regular and recurring work of this position involves sitting at a desk, conferences, meetings, etc, and frequent visits to community and nationwide sites. Frequent use of automobile and public conveyances may be required. Occasional lifting of boxes holding recruitment materials to be distributed at conferences, health fairs, etc, is also required
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