Pharmacy Technician

Summary

The Pharmacy Technician (Inpatient/Outpatient) Tomah VA Medical Center expected to accomplish all duties related to stocking - delivering - inventory - inspections - assembling ward orders - prescription assembly - controlled substances distribution - sterile compounding (including hazardous drugs) - unit-dose drug packaging - dispensing - distribution - and any other function related to pharmaceutical practices

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 by38 U.S.C.
• 7403(f)
• Certification: 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
• A COPY OF YOUR CERTIFICATION MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH YOUR APPLICATION
• 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
• 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)
• In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements listed above - you must meet the following: GS-7 Pharmacy Technician Grade Determinations: Experience
• Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6)
• One year of experience as a Certified Pharmacy Technician
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSA): In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1
• Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles - practices - concepts and theories providing for sound independent work
• 2
• Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent
• 3
• Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team - Veterans and external customers
• 4
• Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students
• 5
• Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations - policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution
• 6
• Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion - involving standing for prolonged periods of time - lifting or carrying of heavy pharmaceutical supplies or mail bags weighing up to 80 pounds - bending - and stopping.
  
  

Duties

• The incumbent is expected to accomplish all duties related to stocking - delivering - inventory - inspections - assembling ward orders - prescription assembly - controlled substances distribution - sterile compounding (including hazardous drugs) - unit-dose drug packaging - dispensing - distribution - and any other function related to pharmaceutical practices
• The incumbent performs all duties under the supervision and is expected to acquire and maintain a high degree of accurate productivity and performance
• Inpatient Pharmacy Correctly interprets physician orders - selects - and measures appropriate ingredients - mixes ingredients in a safe and effective manner - inspects the final product for accuracy - suitability - and elegance - labels the product - maintains records of the manufacturing process - and supplies the product for pharmacist verification and delivery
• Uses standard protocols to determine an accurate expiration date for each batch prepared
• Unit Dose Medication Management Performs review of medications prepared by another pharmacy employee to be dispensed to hospital areas.Inventories and replenishes emergency trays
• Follows established policies and procedures - schedules - inventory levels - and usage rate reports to determine appropriate stock levels for specific areas of use
• Accurately fills prescription items for wards using Automatic Replenishment report
• Outpatient Pharmacy Assembles prescriptions properly with the correct drug - strength - quantity - auxiliary labels - and prescription labels for window dispensing and mail delivery
• Verifies that the patient receives the correct prescriptions by using VA software (i.e. - VISTA and barcode scanning)Utilizes and comprehends the mail shipping programs used by the facility (i.e. - USPS - FedEx - UPS - etc.) for overnight delivery of noncontrolled and controlled prescriptions .Performs other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday- Friday - 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Suitable Relocation/Recruitment Expenses: Not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws