The Pharmacy Technicians at this level will be required to demonstrate independent technical judgement successfully and consistently (without the need for ready supervision) as well as comprehensive and thorough working knowledge of the most complex and difficult practices and procedures for pharmacy technicians. This will require an expanded scope with significant complexity, difficulty, and range in the area's narcotic accountability, automation, compounding, and procurement.
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. Education or Experience. None required. 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: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). OR National Health career 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: GS-08: Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level and demonstrate the KSAs below. 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: 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. Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures. Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy. Preferred Experience: Minimum 1 year of inpatient pharmacy experience Minimum 1 year of USP 797 and or USP 800 sterile compounding experience Minimum of 6 months of outpatient pharmacy dispensing experience Minimum 1 year of pharmacy automation experience to include automation dispensing cabinets, automated tablet packager and outpatient dispensing automation (i.e.., Parata, ScriptPro, Omnicell). Minimum 1 year-controlled substance management technician experience. 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-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-08. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds Light; Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; Straight pulling ( 3 hours); Pushing (3 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking ( 8 hours); Standing ( 8 hours); Kneeling ( 1 hours); Repeated bending (1 hours); Both legs required; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Specific visual requirement (specify): DVA Correctable to 20/40; Both eyes required; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Hearing (aid may be permitted) Continuation of Major Duties Section: 13. Work directly with automation companies' technical and clinical support to troubleshoot and resolve automation issues and maximize utilization of the automation equipment. 14. Serve as a technical advisor and trainer to other pharmacy staff in the operation, calibration, and maintenance of automated pharmacy equipment. 15. Minor troubleshooting and entering work orders/IT ticket for any other pieces of equipment necessary for the efficiency of the pharmacy. Controlled Substances Possess a thorough knowledge of principles relating to controlled substances, and the requirements of medical center policy and federal and state regulations that apply to these drugs. Monitor and maintain appropriate controlled substance stock par levels to balance patient care needs with inventory management best practices. Accurately conduct prime vendor ordering of controlled substances. Remove outdated/expired and unusable controlled substances from medication distribution and process for destruction with appropriate documentation. Prepare DEA and VA Forms for the proper destruction of non-usable controlled substances. Receive new and returned controlled substance stock into inventory and ensure the accuracy of electronic and hardcopy records as required by VHA, DEA, and STVHCS policy. Maintain appropriate security and storage of controlled substances according to manufacturer recommendations. Participate in 72-hour vault inventory and monthly unannounced inventories utilizing appropriate inventory and accountability software. Maintain an ongoing perpetual inventory of all controlled substances, utilizing automation and software systems as appropriate, to include maintenance of controlled substance records and forms for a period dictated by federal regulation. Interact with the Controlled Substance Coordinator in monthly inspections and reconciling/resolving discrepancies. Monitor controlled substance accountability records, pre-defined surveillance reports, written controlled substance records, and individual patient records to identify questionable circumstances or unusual trends. Maintain a working knowledge of the VISTA Controlled Substance Package and all automation and accountability software. Inform supervisors immediately of any suspected loss of controlled substances. Assure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, directives, policies, and procedures applying to the dispensing, storage, transfer, inventory, and accountability of controlled substances. Utilize vault automation and software systems to maintain electronic perpetual inventory recordkeeping. Conduct all vault transactions utilizing appropriate software and automation to maintain closed-loop accountability of controlled substances throughout facility automated dispensing cabinets. Conduct daily and routine review of automated reports to ensure the security of controlled substances and identify any areas of misuse or potential discrepancies. Non-Hazardous and Hazardous Compounding Ensures compliance with all policies and procedures relating to IV preparation, including USP 797/800, VA Handbooks, all station memorandums/service level SOPs, and Joint Commission Standards. Knowledge and ability to perform compounding with aseptic technique for routine sterile products. Maintains competencies with chemotherapy preparation ensuring all policies and procedures are followed including, aseptic technique, safe handling, and appropriate chemotherapy documentation with each admixture. Assists in the training of staff for IV product preparation, including documentation of training. Assists in data collection for quality improvement projects. Analyzes workload and presentation of data to pharmacy management relating to IV preparation, including presentations to promote efficiencies in IV preparation. Monitors inventory of parenteral drugs, compounding drugs and chemicals, and supplies necessary for preparation of compounded products. Fills IV orders with accuracy and in a timely manner. Major Duties continue in Education Section:
VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major Duties: Filling Demonstrate ability to accurately navigate and utilize basic pharmacy functions in VistA, CPRS, and automation packages. Able to communicate medication errors, adverse events, allergies, non-formulary/restricted status, and any other medication order related problems for clarification to the pharmacist and/or supervisor. Possess an advanced technical knowledge of drug and medication brand names, generic names/chemical names, general and special storage requirements, expiration date requirements, manufacturer/distributor sources, dosage forms, applicable systems of weights and measures and medical terminology to interpret providers' orders and verify correct drug, dosage form, strength, and dose, is prepared and/or distributed. Possess working knowledge of drug use and dosage forms available to be able to screen drug orders for propriety and assist the pharmacist in solving potential drug related problems. Reads and interprets medication orders and VISTA/CPRS medication distribution reports, 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 record. Prepares patient specific products for final review by a pharmacist. May serve second check for ward/clinic stocked products prepared by another technician. Accurately fills medication orders efficiently for cart fill, pre-exchange doses, and automated dispensing machines. Follow appropriate methods for completing orders utilizing requisite automation and software systems. Dispensing Possess a working knowledge of VISTA, CPRS, and automation applications to accurately identify patients and dispense medications appropriately. Adds medications and supplies to pharmacy inventory and ward stock areas by rotating stock and stocking items in appropriate locations within a reasonable time after receipt. Automation Perform or schedule basic/routine daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly maintenance per all equipment labeling and operating manual instructions to ensure equipment is in a clean and operable state. Set up, adjust, and maintain medications, accessories and supplies for the automation. This includes making decisions to alter the mix of medications stocked in the automation machine based on current medication order patterns and perform the necessary settings to these devices based on the individual characteristics of dispensed medication. Restock medications in the automated equipment. Recalibrate automation cassettes/canisters as necessary. Appropriately returns medications into the automation inventory and removes expired/outdated medications from the automation. Fill canisters/cells with medications and input appropriate information necessary to allow an audit trail of the medications placed into the automation. Maintain automated equipment user files. Run, review, and maintain automation reports. Coordinate the collection and reporting of data analysis and summarizes reports for review by pharmacy management. Resolve problems and complaints regarding pharmacy automation. Troubleshoot system issues and performs preventative maintenance to ensure optimum efficiency for prescription dispensing. Troubleshoot problems with the automation when production is compromised and alerts appropriate personnel. Major Duties continue in Qualifications and Education Sections: Work Schedule: 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM, Rotating weekends and holidays with the possibility of nights (3:30PM-Midnight and Midnight-8:00AM)Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized 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) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized