Summary

This position is for a Certified Pharmacy Technician above the full performance level and functions primarily in both the inpatient and outpatient care of Pharmacy Service within the VA Medical Center. The incumbent must be nationally certified by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) - as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT); or by the National Health career Association (NHA) - as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).

Qualifications

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: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) 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)
• 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-0661-07 Experience Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements - you must possess at least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-06)
• AND Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to meeting the experience for the GS-07 level - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment - if indicated: - 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: Retail pharmacy experience preferred but not required
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Work involves extended periods of time standing - sitting - or doing computer work
• Lifting/carrying of pharmaceutical supplies weighing up to 40 pounds - lifting to stock shelves - bending stooping and walking.

Duties

• VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws 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 includes but are not limited to: Outpatient Functions The outpatient pharmacy technician has knowledge of pharmacy technician principles - practices - concepts - and theories providing for sound independent work
• Reads and interprets prescriptions - obtains proper medication or material in the proper strength and dosage form
• determines proper amount and counts - pours - or measures the medications
• affixes proper label
• and records required data on Pharmacy's copy of prescription/order
• After a final check by a pharmacist - dispenses medication in ambulatory care or discharge situations
• Assists with inventory management and ordering of medications and supplies
• Collects drug use evaluation data for quality improvement purposes as required
• The pharmacy technician operates - maintains - and can troubleshoot complicated automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/ databases
• Possesses knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent
• Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution
• Identifies basic therapeutic problems such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class and alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention
• Assists in total quality improvement activities by participating in medical center and service process assessment and action teams and continually seeks to improve services
• Exhibits the ability to resolve pharmacy/ medication issues with other members of the healthcare team - Veterans - and external customers
• Monitors inventory needs in patient care areas - relays this information to the appropriate Pharmacy personnel
• This also includes placing stock in proper storage areas - rotating stock on shelves - and removing/replacing outdated items
• Displays the ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations - policies - and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution
• Maintains a training/education manual for the focus area assigned
• Assists in training to new or existing pharmacy technicians and students so that these competencies are maintained
• Performs all the duties of lower graded technicians and clerks in the Pharmacy - as required
• Provides patient education on pharmacy topics such as the requesting refill process - drug information sheets - and relaying judgmental questions to the pharmacist
• As assigned by a rotating schedule - assists in other patient care areas (including inpatient and clinical pharmacy services) to maintain the consistency of overall pharmacy services
• Outpatient services may include such areas as outpatient prescription filling - answering the pharmacy phone - window prescription dispensing - narcotic vault assignments - mail processing - inspections or other areas that may develop from patient/pharmacy needs
• Work Schedule: M-F 9:30a-6:00p
• some Saturdays 8:30am-12:30pm 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) 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: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: PD91483A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized