This position is under the Spinal Cord injury Unit/Community Living Center. While under supervision of a pharmacist, pharmacy technicians perform routine pharmacy functions including filling, preparation and dispensing of prescriptions, sterile compounding preparation, management of automated dispensing equipment (ADE), inventory management and multiple types of customer contact services.
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 Requirement: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may 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). National Health career Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT) 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 whoa re int his occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: Pharmacy Technician, GS-07Experience. Candidates must possess one 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: PTCB as a CPhT NHA as a 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. References: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit: https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7 Physical Demands: 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 40 pounds) of pharmaceutical supplies, and bending/stooping/stretching
Functions of the Position: Assigned duties and functions include but are not limited to: A. Spinal Cord Injury Unit/Community Living Center duties: Medication to Beds i. Deliver patient's discharge medications to patients in the SCI/CLC units and ensure that the correct patient is receiving the medication by performing a check with two patient identifiers. Communicate with SCI/CLC pharmacists to discharge patients in a timely manner and to avoid delay in patient care. Communicate and relay to SCI/CLC pharmacists any concerns or questions patient has regarding their discharge medication if situation arise B. Inpatient Pharmacy/Sterile compounding The technician will demonstrate understanding of general workflow of the inpatient pharmacy section and the duties and responsibilities pertaining to each inpatient pharmacy area. The technician will be able to consistently show competence in correct compounding procedure and sterile technique through demonstration and actual work performance. The technician is responsible for properly compounding, labeling, and delivering in a timely manner all IV piggybacks and admixtures used in this Medical Center, including TPNs/PPNs, cardiac and electrolyte batches and replacement fluids. The technician will comply with all documentation processes required for product preparation as well as quality assessment measures to ensure strict adherence to sterile compounding guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Depending on the complexity and nature of the preparation, the actual compounding process will be completed without direct supervision. A supervising pharmacist will initial the compounded product verifying its accuracy prior to dispensing and delivery to the appropriate patient ward. The technician is responsible for delivery of pharmacy supply items for use in the inpatient pharmacy satellites and IV rooms or as identified by their direct supervisor. C. Pharmacy Supply The technician will demonstrate ability in accurately completing fills for all automated medication dispensing units and will participate in conducting quality assurance audits as requested by their direct supervisor. The process will include pulling medications from the pharmacy supply area, completing, and filing reports, loading medications into individual dispensing units in patient areas and troubleshooting any problems. The technician will have knowledge of the operation and care of automated pharmacy equipment. The pharmacy technician will have knowledge how to operate machines such as Carousel, Omnicell, prepackaging machine and will keep up to date with new operations as instructed by Inpatient Technician Supervisor and automation technician. The technician will determine medications to be prepackaged and unit dosed by looking at monthly usage and PAR levels. Technicians should be familiar how to file papers in supply pharmacy for unit dosed item. The technician will be responsible for conducting routine ward inspections and maintaining general upkeep of designated work areas, including pharmacy satellites and IV rooms. The technician is responsible for maintaining appropriate inventory and par levels of all medications and supplies kept in the inpatient pharmacy areas as well as designated emergency crash carts located in inpatient areas throughout the Medical Center. Work Schedule: Shift between 6am-9pm M-F, weekends, overnights and holidays as needed. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required