This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), Durham, NC Veterans Affairs Medical Center under the Pharmacy Service Line. This position can be assigned to work in any section of the pharmacy service and must be available to work rotating shifts.
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. 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). OR National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT). 4. Grandfathering Provision. 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). 5. 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. 6. 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). Grade Determinations. In addition to the basic requirements for appointment, VA HR staff must use the following criteria to determine the appropriate grade assignment of candidates. Pharmacy Technician, GS-08. Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07) and demonstrate the KSAs below. 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. OR NHA as a ExCPT. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs for all GS-08 assignments and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment, if indicated: 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.) 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.This position is performed above the full performance level. 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 40 pounds) of pharmaceutical supplies, and bending/stooping/stretching. The position requires walking, standing, and sitting for long periods of time. Maintains safe and orderly work areas. Reports any incident of self/patient. Fills out appropriate form. Uses equipment and supplies appropriately. Follows Life Safety management (fire protection) Procedures. Reports safety hazards, accidents, and injuries. Reviews hazardous material/ Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)/ waste management. Follows Emergency Preparedness plan. Follows security policies/ procedures. Complies with federal, state, and local environmental and other requirements preventing pollution, minimizing waste, and conserving cultural and natural resources. The work environment receiving involves everyday risks of discomforts which require normal safety precautions. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. Demonstrates infection control practices for disease preventions (i.e. hand washing, universal precautions/ isolation procedures, including TB requirement/ precautions.
The Pharmacy Technician works within the pharmacy and performs the full range of pharmacy technician functions in support of Pharmacy Service operations. These functions include processing medication orders, controlled substance processing, inventory management, sterile product compounding, and unit dose processing. The pharmacy provides services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so the incumbent may work evenings, nights, weekends, holidays, etc. Some of the major duties of this position include, and are not limited to: Receive faxed, mailed, electronically prescribed, or delivered prescriptions written by Non-VA providers. Review CPRS and Third-Party Administrator portals to determine authorization of Community Care. Communicates with patients concerning prescriptions received from unauthorized provider visits and handles prescriptions appropriately. Uses the VA Local and National Formulary to review authorized prescriptions. Performs a comprehensive review of CPRS and Joint Legacy Viewer to determine if medication was previously provided by VA or DOD. Initiates and enters PADR into CPRS. Ensures Anticoagulant Medication (DOAC) PADRs contain all necessary documentation. Assists with transplant patient medication reconciliation prior to discharge and coordinates pick up/delivery. Inputs prescriptions and validates prescribed medications in VISTA. Contacts patients with updates on prescriptions and documents in CPRS. Scans documents required for PADR evaluation into CPRS and scans/files all prescriptions for easy retrieval. Assists in tracking and shipping of prescriptions mailed from Durham VA Pharmacy or Charleston Consolidated Mail-Out Pharmacy. Reconciles prescriptions received via CBOC courier with their faxed copy. Communicate with Procurement Pharmacist or Technician when medications need to be ordered. Initiates request for medications from specialty pharmacies and files appropriately. Demonstrates the exercise of independent technical judgement, without the need for supervision. Demonstrates comprehensive and thorough working knowledge of the most complex or difficult pharmacy Community Care practices and procedures. Receives and interprets outpatient orders, obtains proper medication or material in the proper strength and dosage form; determines proper amount and counts, pours, or measures the medications; affixes proper label to be checked by a pharmacist before dispensing. Work Schedule: Rotating Shift (8am-4:30pm; 9am-5:30pm) including outpatient staffing on weekends Telework: Position not eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position Financial Disclosure Report: Not required