What are the responsibilities and job description for the Pharmacy Technician (Automation) position at Central Virginia VA Health Care System?
The Pharmacy Technician (Automation) position functions as the automation specialist in all the patient care areas of pharmacy service. Pharmacy technician is assigned to the automation specialized area as the subject matter expert. The incumbent will consistently demonstrate independent technical judgement and comprehensive and thorough working knowledge of associated VA policies and procedures. The incumbent works under the supervision of the Pharmacy Supervisor and Chief, Pharmacy Service.
Basic Requirements:
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: To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with professional pharmacy practice.
Preferred Experience: Omnicells and Automation 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 8.
Physical Requirements: 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 pharmaceutical supplies, and ending/stooping/stretching.
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional
Duties to include but not limited to:
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am - 4:30pm
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
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 #: 000000
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
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: Pharmacy Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
- Certification: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).
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: To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with professional pharmacy practice.
- 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: Omnicells and Automation 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 8.
Physical Requirements: 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 pharmaceutical supplies, and ending/stooping/stretching.
Responsibilities:
VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEwsTotal Rewards of a Allied Health Professional
Duties to include but not limited to:
- Coordinates the technical aspects of pharmacy drug distribution activities to ensure standard operating procedures are in alignment with automation capabilities so that efficiencies are maximized. Incumbent is instrumental in recommending changes for the improvement of the workflow, work methods, and priorities involved within the drug distribution system
- Evaluates and analyzes workflow and coordinates all work activities involved with Pharmacy automation. This will involve troubleshooting, regularly gathering data, analyzing, and interpreting VA data and formulating action plans.
- Ensures that automated dispensing data is archived within established guidelines for each type of equipment.
- Ability to participate in process action teams to improve automation quality and safety, continually seeking ways to improve the service provided to patients and other customers.
- Resolves problems and complaints regarding all pharmacy and automated dispensing automation, troubleshooting problems with all automated dispensing equipment when production is compromised and alerts appropriate personnel.
- Has oversight responsibility of the user files of all automated dispensing systems.
- Has oversight responsibility for the addition of new items and deletion of obsolete items from all automated dispensing systems.
- Ensures that equipment is cleaned and maintained to minimize downtime.
- Trains and orients pharmacy staff, and other medical center staff involved in operating the automation.
- Provides data for workload reports and process improvement projects to appropriate supervisors.
- Thoroughly understands VA Pharmacy procurement and formulary and uses this knowledge to appropriately manage Pharmacy automation equipment.
- Thoroughly understands investigational drug policies and procedures, if applicable, as they relate to Pharmacy automation equipment
- Thoroughly understands controlled substance policies and procedures, including controlled substance inspection process, discrepancies and resolution.
- Attends regulatory meetings regarding all Automation and provides learned knowledge to the pharmacy staff.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am - 4:30pm
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
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 #: 000000
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Salary : $417