Summary

The Primary Purpose of the Position is: To accomplish all duties related to processing, preparing, and packaging medications and medical supplies for pick-up and mail, stocking, delivering, inventory, inspections, assembling clinic orders, prescription assembly, controlled substances distribution. The Organizational Location of the Position is: Outpatient Pharmacy Section under the Office of the Associate Chief, Pharmacy Operations (Outpatient)

Qualifications

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 (GS-07 and above): 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)
• 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)
• 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: GS-07 In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-07 you must possess at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-06)
• 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)
• National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs: Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work
• Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent
• Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers
• Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students
• 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 Preferred Experience: Minimum of 1-year previous outpatient pharmacy experience Experience with pharmacy automation (ScriptPro, Omnicell, ScriptCenter) Knowledge and experience with pharmacy information/operating system 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-07
• Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting: (15-44 pounds)
• Moderate Carrying (15-44 pounds)
• Straight Pulling (less than 30 minutes)
• Pushing (less than 30 minutes)
• Reaching above shoulder
• Use of fingers
• Both hands required
• Walking (up to 6 hours)
• Standing (up to 6 hours)
• Repeated bending (up to 1 hour)
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Near vision correctable at 13"
• to 16"
• Hearing (aid permitted).

Duties

• Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Pharmacy Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf Duties include but not limited to: Pharmaceutical Care: 1
• Accurately interprets, fills, and prepares prescriptions with appropriate medications and/or medical supplies for pharmacist verification of outpatient prescription orders, inpatient orders, and clinic orders as required per policy
• 2
• Dispense medications to patients and/or other healthcare professionals post final verification by a pharmacist as required per policy
• 3
• Respond to questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel about drug distribution
• 4
• Provide patient education on topics like the refill process and relay questions outside of technician scope to the pharmacist
• 5
• Ensure adherence to appropriate storage guidelines including high-risk, look-alike sound-alike, and refrigerated items as per USP and VA guidelines
• Prescription Fulfillment: 1
• Assembles prescriptions properly with the correct drug, strength, quantity, auxiliary labels, and prescription labels for window dispensing and mail delivery post pharmacist verification
• 2
• Follows procedures for filling medications and assures that the correct medication is filled by using bar code scanning on stock bottles
• 3
• Supports automation by manually filling prescriptions not processed through the automation dispensing machine
• 4
• Assures the timely completion of all prescriptions
• Ward and Clinic Stock Management: 1
• Correctly inventories, assesses, and determines the need for ward and clinic stock replenishment at main facility and outlying clinical sites
• 2
• Utilizes usage rate reports and inventory levels (such as automatic replenishment reports) to determine appropriate stock levels for specific areas of use
• 3
• Accurately fills medications for wards and clinics following established policies and procedures
• 4
• Performs and documents inspection of assigned hospital areas for medication storage
• Removes all expired and deteriorated drugs from the automated dispensing stations
• Administrative and Education/Training: 1
• Maintain a clean and organized work environment, ensuring that all items are stored in their designated places
• 2
• Assists in training and orientation of new staff technicians, interns, and students
• Assumes an active role in the overall pharmacy-training program
• 3
• Exhibit adaptability in varied circumstances to enhance group productivity
• 4
• Perform duties of various technician levels, assisting as needed
• 5
• Use Veterans Health Information and Technology Architecture (VistA), EHR, and other aligned systems for various administrative tasks
• Work Schedule: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, 8:30 am -5:00 pm or 10:00 am - 6:30 pm
• Rotating weekends/holidays (Dallas location only)
• Tour may be further adjusted or extended to meet patient care needs
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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) 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: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 51415 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized