Pharmacy Technician-Advanced
What you'd do
The incumbent performs advanced technical duties under the direction of the Associate Chief, Pharmacy Service, or designee providing daily maintenance and oversight of all pharmacy automated dispensing equipment/systems within VAMHCS campus location(s) as assigned; controlled substance distribution at Loch Raven Medical center; filling inpatient/outpatient medication orders; and back-up procurement activities.
Major duties
The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. Major Duties of GS8 Advanced Pharmacy Technician include but are not limited to: Using computer systems and software to review/analyze/maintain reports and produce records Setting up, adjusting, and maintaining the operation of all pharmacy automated dispensing equipment/systems that support the treatment of patients within VAMHCS campus location(s) as assigned. Performing or scheduling routine preventative maintenance of machines per manufacture's recommended maintenance schedules. Assisting procurement staff with drug recalls and ensures that identified drugs are removed from automated systems and prepared for disposition. Assuring secure, accurate and accountable distribution of DEA Schedule II through V controlled substances to a variety of patient care nursing areas throughout designated VAMHCS campus location(s) as assigned. Delivers and loads the controlled substances into their respective ADCs. Returns controlled substances from the ADCs and prepares and maintains related documentation. Filling inpatient/outpatient medication orders Serving as back-up for procurement activities. Maintaining appropriate stock levels of medications in pharmacy areas and institution automated medication dispensing cabinets as an advanced user. Maintaining proper records of medications and supplies issued to provide data for reports as needed (i.e. changing use patterns). Filling, replenishing, packaging, and/or exchanging medications in unit dose carts, medication storage areas, and automated dispensing cabinets. Checking medication expiration dates in unit dose carts, medication storage areas, and automated dispensing cabinets and document as indicated. Maintaining accountability of daily purchases and coordinating receipt, controlling budget ledger, assuring consistent delivery schedules are employed and handled in a manner mutually beneficial to Supply Chain and Pharmacy Service, and appropriately disperses stock into designated storage areas. Accepting pharmaceutical deliveries validating quantities ordered on invoice versus quantities received along with other information notifying procurement technician or appropriate supervisor of any discrepancies. Notifying Supervisor or other designated person of actual or anticipated shortages of medications and supplies. Answering telephone calls responding to inquiries and triaging as appropriate. Assisting in maintaining the orderliness and cleanliness of the Pharmacy. Performing all technical functions associated with the unit-dose medication distribution system including, but not limited to: reviewing orders, filling the order with the medication, and delivery of the medication; filling pre-exchange and missing dose requests with the medication and delivery of the medication; filling of unit-dose carts as scheduled from the pick list and updated pick list reports; including the operation of the unit-dose packaging equipment, exchange of unit-dose carts as scheduled, the adjustment of unit-dose drawers to reflect patient admissions, discharges, and transfers; clarifying patient locations, status, etc. with nursing and medical administration staff; and other tasks as required. Utilizing autogenerated reports to replenish the inpatient/outpatient automated dispensing cabinets with enough medication and supplies. Utilizing the unit dose packaging equipment to prepare "unit doses" for dispensing through the Inpatient Pharmacy section. Assisting with Drug Recalls. Performing other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Multiple, All shifts are determined or approved by management and based on service needs. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 25385-F VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional
What you need to qualify
For Pharmacy Technicians (GS6 through GS10) Pharmacy Technicians are essential employees and follow VA Maryland Health Care System guidances, rules, policies, directives, and/or other notifications for essential employees during emergency and/or inclement weather. Basic Requirements: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). 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) 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. 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. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. 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). GRADE DETERMINATIONS. Pharmacy Technician, GS-08. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level and demonstrate the KSAs below. Experience: One year of experience at GS-7 level that includes: 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. 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. 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: (a) 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.) Note: See Specialized Area.in the Definitions Section. (b) Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures. (c) Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy. Assignment: Pharmacy Technician. Pharmacy technicians in this assignment specialize in areas such as sterile compounding, oncology, controlled substances, medication history review, clinical specialist (anticoagulation, pain, infectious diseases), clinical informatics, automation, immunizations and any other specialized area in the advancement of the profession. The pharmacy technician will serve as a subject matter expert and key resource in the day-to-day technician duties of the specialized area. The technician will be performing assignments such as compounding sterile products, filling controlled substance prescriptions while maintaining compliance with Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) regulations, taking medication histories and counseling patients, managing automation, managing workflow and training and orienting staff in the specialized area. Preferred Experience: 2 or more years of experience with the following: Hospital (inpatient) Pharmacy AND Automated Dispensing Cabinets (Omnicell) AND Preparing Controlled Substances for Automated Dispensing Cabinet restock AND Pharmacy Inventory Management and Medication/Supply Procurement Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is 8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-8 . Physical Requirements: Physical demands of the position require regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing for prolonged periods of time, lifting/carrying of pharmaceutical supplies weighing up to 40 pounds, pushing and pulling of large carts. The job may include significant time at a computer terminal.
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