Career Center

Summary

The incumbent is responsible for providing support to all outpatient pharmacy operations including filling and packaging prescriptions - dispensing and managing inventory for controlled substances - basic use and maintenance of automation - assisting patients on the phone or in person - procurement activities - clinic inventory management - and other responsibilities designated by the supervisor.

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:

• 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).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).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: 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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 full year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-6) level which are: Knowledge of federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice
• Knowledge of preparation - storage and distribution of medication products including those requiring special handling and documentation
• Ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate pharmacy dispensing equipment
• Knowledge of basic inventory procedures
• Ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel
• Preferred Experience
• Certified Pharmacy Technician with inpatient pharmacy and/or outpatient pharmacy IPP/OPP experience to include: pharmacy automation such as Pyxis - ScriptPro - etc.
• controlled substance laws and regulations
• and knowledge of USP_797 and USP_800
• Certification
• This position is above the full performance level and the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: (1) The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) - as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
• OR - (2) The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) - as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following 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
• Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 pounds and over) - Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds) - Light lifting (under 15 pounds) - Heavy carrying (45 pounds and over) - Moderate carrying (15-44 pounds) - Light carrying (under 15 pounds) - Straight pulling (2 hours) - Pushing - Reaching above shoulder - Use of fingers - Both hands required - Walking (up to 4 hours) - Standing (prolonged) - Repeated bending - Climbing - use of legs and arms (infrequent) - Operation of motor vehicle - Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4 - Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other - Specific visual requirement (Ability to read fine print on labels) - Depth perception - Ability to distinguish basic colors - Hearing (aid permitted) - Clear Speech - Emotional Stability - Good Dexterity
• For additional information - see VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected is GS-07
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Duties

• VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Dispensing a) Processing and filling outpatient prescriptions for scheduled and non-scheduled federal legend drugs and medical devices - over-the-counter products - and supply items in compliance with regulations and policies and procedures b) Assists in the packaging and dispensing of Outpatient medication to patients for window - mail and clinic administration
• Also ensures two patient identifiers are utilized when dispensing medications to patients and signatures for medication pick up are obtained
• c) Accurately reads and interprets prescriptions and medication profile from the Veterans integrated software technology Architecture (VistA) - automated dispensing equipment - computerized patient record keeping system (CPRS) or in written format
• d) Reviews prescription orders for technical accuracy
• e) Prepares medications and ensures the orderable item matches the item being dispensed regarding drug - strength - quantity - or appropriate supply item
• f) Dispenses medications using automation or manual dispensing
• g) Able to operate - maintain - and perform basic troubleshooting of pharmacy AutomationClinic Inventory Management a) Monitors inventory of medications stored in clinics for clinic administration ensuring medications are approved and quantities are within the approved stock levels
• b) Accurately fills prescription items for wards using VistA Automatic Replenishment reports and Pyxis reports
• c) Ensure medication is properly stored according to the manufacturer's specifications regarding temperature - light - and moisture
• d) Medications are secured in accordance with all VA policies and procedures
• e) Ensure medications are all within expiration date
• f) Notify nurse manager or charge nurse with any issues identified related to medication storage
• g) Performs and documents monthly inspections of assigned hospital/clinic areas for medication storage
• Removes all expired and deteriorated drugs from the automated dispensing stations - stock shelves - and other clinic areas Pharmacy Phone System a) Able to use the Cisco phone system b) Maintains appropriate phone etiquette and professionalism
• c) Able to work independently in phone center locations
• d) Accurately collects and clarifies patient information from patient or medical center staff e) Capable of synthesizing patient information to identify basic therapeutic - distributive or medication related problems
• f) Accurately enters notes as appropriate into CPRS using pharmacy templates or blank forms
• g) Understands when to alert pharmacists for problems
• Pharmacy Mail System: a) Follows appropriate policy and procedures for packaging and preparing prescriptions for mailing
• b) Ensures prescription label matches mailing label and maintains accuracy in other software or paper systems
• c) Appropriately selects type of mailing to route packages
• d) Able to transport mail containers to pick up destinations - restock supplies - lift mail bags or containers
• e) Assists with other medication distribution activities as directed by pharmacist - supervisor - or as delineated as part of the shift responsibility
• Other Duties: a) Assists the pharmacist with problem solving - patient care - or medication issues
• b) Processes refills (Autophone - internet - and mail) daily
• Communicate with other VA and non-VA pharmacies and clinics as needed
• c) Accurately enters or updates patient information in pharmacy automation - CPRS or VistA
• d) Prioritizes workload to complete assignments on time
• e) Maintains work areas in a clean and orderly condition by assuring that all stock and equipment are in assigned places and all shelves and counters are free of dust and debris to create optimal work areas
• f) Maintains adaptability and flexibility for various emerging roles and responsibilities in the medication distribution system
• This is especially important with regards to new equipment - assignments - and changes in pharmacy workflow
• g) Assists in training and orientation of new staff technicians - interns - and students
• Assumes an active role in the overall pharmacy-training program consisting of students - externs - interns - residents - and professional and non-professional staff members
• Work Schedule: Mon - Fri 8am - 4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized