The Pharmacy Technician will perform a variety of complex technical skills and functions, which requires comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceuticals and pharmacy practices, legal requirements, current equipment/systems, and software programs utilized to provide customer service.
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 VA policy.) English Language Proficiency. Pharmacy technicians appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a of VA Handbook 5005. Experience and/or Education. None required. 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 PharmacyTechnician (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: In addition to meeting the basic requirements stated above, the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates. Pharmacy Technician, GS-7 Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. (Examples of experience include filling orders, dispense/deliver medications using automated systems or provide technical customer service to Veterans related to prescription needs. Duties will include delivery of medications to floors/patients, filling medications for the pharmacist to review, checking for expired medications, answering phones with appropriate disposition, preparing sterile products (when applicable) and assisting with basic inventory management such as putting up stock and identifying when medications need to be ordered). 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 PharmacyTechnician (CPhT), or National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician(ExCPT). Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) GS-7. 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 he 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: Experience working in Outpatient and Inpatient IV settings. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the duties of this position. The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time, typing, walking distances within the medical center, lifting/carrying (up to 50 pounds) of supplies, bending/stooping, pushing/pulling/stretching, and driving government vehicles.
Duties and responsibilities of the Pharmacy Technician include but are not limited to the following: Accurately interpret, fills, and prepares prescriptions with appropriate medications and or medical supplies for pharmacist verification. Assures drugs and supplies are appropriately stored and secured according to USP and VA guidelines, including the storage of high-risk, look a-like sound a-like, hazardous, controlled substances, corrosive chemical, flammable liquids, and refrigerated items. Receives, checks, rotates, and places in stock all items received from pharmacy procurement section and identifies and reconciles any discrepancies to assure correct items have been received. Utilizes automation dispensing equipment available to the pharmacy staff following all safety and QA procedures. Reports automation malfunctions timely the supervisor as appropriate. Perform monthly inspections to assigned areas to ensure proper storage of medications and soon to expired drugs are removed. Completes inspection reports in compliance with regulatory requirements. Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile). This includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the amount of drug or solution to be used for final pharmacist verification. Correctly interprets physician orders, selects, and measures appropriate ingredients, mixes ingredients in a safe and effective manner, inspects the final product for accuracy, labels the product, maintains records of the manufacturing process, and attains a final check by a pharmacist. Proficiently operates equipment including but not limited to balances and mixing machines in the routing of manufacturing pharmaceutical products. 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. Performs duties of all lower grade technicians as needed. Assists in quality improvement activities by participating in assessment and action teams that will improve service as assigned. Follow USP 797/800 Guidelines for the compounding of all sterile preparations, including ophthalmic, cardioplegic, TPN, hazardous, large & small volume IV solutions, PCAs, etc. Consistently displays competence with good manufacturing practices and sterile technique through demonstration and/or actual work performance. Follows proper aseptic preparation techniques when compounding sterile products. Performs review of medications prepared by another pharmacy employee to be dispensed to hospital areas. Operates and maintains automated dispensing unit dose systems. Inspects packaged items for accuracy and suitability before submitting for final check, prior to distribution to hospital areas. Maintains repackaging records that assures all regulatory and review standards are met. Trouble-shoots minor mechanical problems of all automated systems as they occur and coordinates resolution of more involved mechanical or software problems with Supervisor, vendor help desk, ADPAC, etc. as appropriate. Follows established policies and procedures, schedules, inventory levels, and usage rate reports to determine appropriate stock levels for specific areas of use. Verifies the patient's identification following the Medical Center's policies (i.e., double patient identifiers). Utilizes and comprehends the mail shipping programs used by the facility (i.e., USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.) for overnight delivery of non-controlled and controlled prescriptions. Appropriately restocks controlled substances items in automated secured cabinets (i.e., Pyxis) throughout medical center, as assigned. Maintains the ability to drive a government vehicle for transportation of medications, supplies, and other pharmacy-related materials, as deemed necessary. Work Schedule: Various Tours of Duty including weekdays, weekends, and holidays per the needs of the Pharmacy Service Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 71157F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not available Financial Disclosure Report: Not required