This position is located at the CW Young Bay Pines Healthcare System at Bay Pines, FL within the Pharmacy Service. Pharmacy technicians at this grade level are nationally certified by PTCB or NHA as Certified Pharmacy Technicians and can work autonomously. Technician is responsible for the operation, maintenance, restocking, and troubleshooting of automated dispensing equipment.
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). 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). Grandfathering Provision. Pharmacy technicians employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/ registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/ certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. GRADE DETERMINATIONS Pharmacy Technician, GS-07 Experience. Candidates must possess one full year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-6) level which are: Knowledge of federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice. Knowledge of preparation, storage and distribution of medication products including those requiring special handling and documentation. Ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate pharmacy dispensing equipment. Knowledge of basic inventory procedures. Ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel. Preferred Experience. Certified Pharmacy Technician with inpatient pharmacy and/or outpatient pharmacy IPP/OPP experience to include: pharmacy automation such as Pyxis, ScriptPro, etc.; controlled substance laws and regulations; and knowledge of USP_797 and USP_800. Certification. This position is above the full performance level and the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: (1) The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). OR, (2) The National Healthcareer Association (NHA), as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (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. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 pounds and over), Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds), Light lifting (under 15 pounds), Heavy carrying (45 pounds and over), Moderate carrying (15-44 pounds), Light carrying (under 15 pounds), Straight pulling (2 hours), Pushing, Reaching above shoulder, Use of fingers, Both hands required, Walking (up to 4 hours), Standing (prolonged), Repeated bending, Climbing, use of legs and arms (infrequent), Operation of motor vehicle, Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, Specific visual requirement (Ability to read fine print on labels), Depth perception, Ability to distinguish basic colors, Hearing (aid permitted), Clear Speech, Emotional Stability, Good Dexterity. For additional information, see VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected is GS-07. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
The duties of the Certified Pharmacy Technician include, but are not limited to the following: Outpatient Pharmacy Assembles prescriptions properly with the correct drug, strength, quantity, auxiliary labels, and prescription labels. for window dispensing and mail delivery. Assures that the correct medication is filled by using bar code scanning on stock bottles. Supports automation by manually completing prescriptions not processed through the automation dispensing machine. Verifies the patient's identification following the Medical Center's policies (i.e., double patient identifiers). Utilizes VA software programs to check narratives and problem solve deliveries for patients with no physical address. Assists the Hometown Pharmacist with the CMOP reject reports. Reprints or re-submits labels to CMOP once stock availability has been confirmed. Monitors MEDS ON ADMISSION and DISCHARGE MEDICATIONS. If the patient is still in the hospital or released, incumbent will arrange for medications to be mailed or destroyed based on CPRS notes and guidance from a pharmacist. Inpatient Pharmacy Sterile Product Compounding. Follow USP 797/800 Guidelines for the compounding of all sterile preparations, including ophthalmic, cardioplegic, TPN, hazardous, large & small volume IV solutions, PCAs, etc. Manufactures uncomplicated and/or complicated parenteral admixtures to be delivered in the form of large volume, small volume, infusion syringe or other as required. 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. Consistently displays competence with good manufacturing practices and sterile technique through demonstration and/or actual work performance. Follows proper aseptic preparation techniques when compounding sterile products. Appropriately maintains all quality assurance records in accordance with regulatory requirements. Performs review of medications prepared by another pharmacy employee to be dispensed to hospital areas. Inventories and replenishes emergency trays. Operates and maintains automated dispensing unit dose systems. Inspects packaged items for accuracy and suitability before submitting for final check, prior to distribution to hospital areas. Assures repackaged dosage forms are labeled according to USP and VA standards and attains a final review by a pharmacist. Trouble-shoots minor mechanical problems of all automated systems as they occur and coordinates resolution of more involved mechanical or software problems with Supervisor, vendor help desk, ADPAC, etc. as appropriate. Communicates with the procurement and with the Pharmacy Benefits Management (PBM) sections of pharmacy concerning inventory needed and possible medication shortages. Accurately interpret, fills, and readies prescriptions with appropriate medications for pharmacist verification. Material Management/Inventory Communicates with the procurement and with the Pharmacy Benefits Management (PBM) sections of pharmacy concerning inventory needed and possible medication shortages. Rotates stock, checks for, and removes outdated medication. Returns stock medication and supplies to their appropriate areas by the end of each tour of duty, maintaining a clean, orderly workplace. Telephone Triage Answers patient telephone calls in a courteous, friendly, and helpful manner. Correctly triages patient telephone calls to the appropriate health care provider, clinical pharmacist, or appropriate department. Listens to patients' concerns and either assist patients directly or transfers patients to the appropriate employee. Screens all calls to the pharmacy. Calls requiring professional judgment are referred to a clinical pharmacist. Documents patient encounters via a progress note in patient record (i.e., sends prescription renewal request) when appropriate. Enter notes in CPRS using templates and adds additional cosigners when needed. Processes refill requests, updates patient addresses and tracks medications shipped via the United States Postal Service (USPS) or other contracted courier. Work Schedule: Variable - Will be required to work variable tours of duty including evenings, weekends and holidays. Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: This is a not a telework position Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 21399F Financial Disclosure Report: Not required