Pharmacy Technician

Summary

The Outpatient Automation Pharmacy Technicians perform the technical functions required in the operation of an outpatient dispensing pharmacy. This includes providing first line support - maintenance - and basic repair of all Pharmacy Service automation. The employee works under the direct supervision of the Pharmacy Technician Supervisor and observes the chain of command at all times as outlined in the Pharmacy Service organizational chart.

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)
• Education or Experience
• (1) None required
• (2) 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: (1) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
• OR (2) National Healthcareer Association (NHA) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• Foreign Education
• To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials
• 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 who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Grade Determinations: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower 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: (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 all of the following KSAs:(a) Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles - practices - concepts and theories providing for sound independent work.(b) Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent.(c) Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team - Veterans and external customers.(d) Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students.(e) Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations - policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution.(f) Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases
• Assignments
• Pharmacy technicians at this level are nationally certified and can work autonomously using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties
• These pharmacy technicians mentor and train lower graded pharmacy technicians in the practice setting
• They assist advanced/ specialized pharmacy technicians and participate in performance improvement initiatives
• At this level - pharmacy technicians use independent judgement to perform the full range of duties in the pharmacy
• They also function as staff pharmacy technicians in various locations of the pharmacy - including pharmacy contact centers and other non-traditional pharmacy locations - with minimal oversight
• Preferred Experience: 3 years of Pharmacy 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-07
• Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion - involving walking and standing for prolonged periods of time - lifting/carrying of pharmaceutical supplies weighing at least 50 lbs. - and frequent bending and stooping.
  
  

Duties

• VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Duties include - but are not limited to: Ensures proper storage of supply items
• Maintains items on shelves in an organized - logical manner so that needed items can be retrieved quickly
• Visually examines items for damage - deterioration - or imperfections prior to dispensing or mailing
• Specifies items damaged - outdated - or imperfect to be returned for credit
• Responsible for putting prosthetics stock away in its proper storage areas
• Communicates stock shortages to the prosthetic technician or supervisory employees to help prevent shortages and minimize patient inconvenience
• Responsible for receiving - storing - and ordering prosthetics items
• Assess usage - establishes reorder points - and order quantifies of general pharmacy supply items and coordinates with procurement technician to order
• Provide outpatients and/or caregivers with medication and supplies - as ordered by the provider - Assists patients and/or caregivers - other medical center personnel and outpatient pharmacists as necessary
• Knowledge of the electronic medical record computer system and applicable pharmacy packages - especially those outpatient packages used to control and document the prescription filling process
• Performs technical support work in the pharmacy under supervision of a registered
• Fills prescriptions utilizing the robotics - Packages - compounds - or assembles drugs and supplies that are not stocked in the automated robotics
• Maintains and repairs the automation robotics allowing each technician maximum filling capabilities Delivers finished prescriptions to correct patient and/or caregiver using proper patient identifiers - Responsible for daily metering of mail out packages
• Provides individual training and guidance to lower level technicians/students in Outpatient Pharmacy section
• Responsible for handling returned mail packages
• Answers phone calls from patients and doctors
• Assists in the discharge process in collaboration with registered pharmacists
• Responsible for putting stock away in its proper storage areas
• Communicates stock shortages to the procurement technician or supervisory employees to help prevent shortages and minimize patient inconvenience
• Responsible for receiving - storing - and ordering pharmaceuticals
• Removes unusable products from active stock - coordinates disposition of unusable stock with Pharmacy Supply Coordinator and documents all actions
• Requests and obtains stock from inpatient when needed
• Enters all required quality control information on outpatient filling documents
• Conducts and properly documents all assigned inspections and inventories
• Enters notes in electronic medical record
• Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm or 9:30am-6:00pm - Monday-Friday with rotating weekends and holidays
• Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized
• Telework: Not Authorized
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 95279A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.