The Pharmacy Technician is a nationally certified pharmacy technician with advanced skills who functions utilizing independent technical judgment (without the need for readily available supervision) with a comprehensive and thorough working knowledge of complex pharmacy principles and practices. The pharmacy technician provides administrative, clerical, and basic clinical support to the Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner (CPP) managed clinics.
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: 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). 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. 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: Pharmacy Technician, GS-08: Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7) and demonstrate the KSAs below. GS-7 level experience requires the below 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. 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/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-8. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.
Major duties include, but are not limited to the following: Pharmacy Dispensing/Distribution Services: The pharmacy technician will be involved in assuring appropriate, safe, and accurate medications are dispensed to veterans in an efficient manner. The pharmacy technician will provide a range of medication management and administrative services. These activities include: Maintains workflow patterns that assure timely delivery of pharmacy services and ensures accurate documentation and dispensing of pharmaceuticals. Effectively organizes workload, solves problems, and achieves established goals. Provides patient care utilizing an in-depth knowledge of specialized areas of pharmacy practice. Maintains and understands the operation of pharmacy equipment and automation such as ScriptPro, Parata ATP, and Pyxis. Assists staff and patients, either by phone or in person, concerning drug distribution, refill requests, mail, and general triaging of requests for pharmacists. Documents patient requests as necessary in CPRS and alerts appropriate provide Assists in assuring that pharmacy programs are compliant with all regulatory and accrediting body requirements (i.e., Joint Commission, FDA, ASHP, DEA, OIG, etc.). Distributive: Interprets pharmacy orders; obtains medication in the correct strength and dosage form; determines proper amount and prepares product; affixes proper label; and documents proper information. Effectively utilizes the Veterans Integrated Systems Technology Architecture (VISTA), Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS), and Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA) computer systems and other automated pharmacy equipment and computer software systems. Pharmaceutical Care: The clinical pharmacy technician shall provide and support clinical and pharmacoeconomic activities as assigned. All assigned clinical activities and functions shall be completed in accordance with approved clinical pharmacy protocols. Assigned activities include: Routinely reviews the computer medication profile for prescription duplication, therapeutic duplication, prescription non-compliance, and allergies/adverse drug reactions. Reports identified problem patients to the assigned clinical pharmacy specialist for evaluation. Routinely reviews laboratory monitoring reports for selected disease states and identifies patient with values outside of normal limits. Reports identified patients to the assigned clinical pharmacy specialist for evaluation. Routinely performs patient medical chart and medication profile reviews to identify poly-pharmacy problems. Reports identified problems to the assigned clinical pharmacist for evaluation. Completes clinical pharmacy medication utilization evaluations. Provides supplemental reinforcement education for patients concerning operational issues or the need for compliance with therapy. Conducts patient interviews, including medication history, anticoagulation history, effectiveness of anticoagulation, need for medication refills, and investigates the causes of therapeutic irregularities Patient Care Services: The pharmacy technician will promote a patient-focused, team-based multidisciplinary model of patient care. Activities include: Supporting formulary management principles and effective drug use criteria. Monitor and assign PADR consults. Plays a role in budget execution by working with and educating providers to ensure adherence to the formulary process so that patients receive the most cost-effective drug therapy. Using databases, dashboards, and spreadsheets to assist pharmacists and other health care professionals to monitor and track patient information. Document adverse reactions and allergies reported by patient. Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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) 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 eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized