This position is located within the VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), Hampton VA Medical Center, Pharmacy Service. The clinical pharmacy technician will be assigned to the Hampton VA Medical Center and provide support for the CPP teams located in the main hospital and as back up for the associated Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) and anticoagulation program.
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. 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). National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT) 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. One year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the lower grade level (GS-07). 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. 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: (a) 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.) Note: See Specialized Area.in the Definitions Section. (b) Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures. (c) Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy. Assignments: For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Pharmacy technicians at this level have a higher level of responsibility for specialized areas of pharmacy and are expected to independently carry out assigned tasks of considerable difficulty. Pharmacy technicians at this grade level may be appointed to one of the following assignments: Pharmacy technicians in this assignment specialize in areas such as sterile compounding, oncology, controlled substances, medication history review, clinical specialist (anticoagulation, pain, infectious diseases), clinical informatics, automation, immunizations and any other specialized area in the advancement of the profession. The pharmacy technician will serve as a subject matter expert and key resource in the day-to-day technician duties of the specialized area. The technician will be performing assignments such as compounding sterile products, filling controlled substance prescriptions while maintaining compliance with Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) regulations, taking medication histories and counseling patients, managing automation, managing workflow and training and orienting staff in the specialized area. Preferred Experience: Certification by the national Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is required at grades GS-7 and above. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work are generally minor. The work is primarily sedentary in nature and usually occurs within climate-controlled clinical and administrative settings. Manual dexterity may be required to operate computers. Occasionally, there may be a need to lift or carry light items (15 pounds or less) to transfer boxed materials, arrange equipment and rooms, and conduct physical inspections of the facilities.
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The clinical pharmacy technician shall provide and support clinical operations of the clinics and its CPPs. All assigned clinical activities and function shall be completed in accordance with approved clinical pharmacy protocols or procedures: Duties of the position include, but are not limited to: Medication History: Access data via the electronic health record (EHR) on all new patients who are new to the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) and input data into excel sheets to complete medication history. Interview patients, families, and caregivers as appropriate to develop an accurate list of medications, including strength, dosage, and route, as well as any over-the-counter medications and/or herbal products the patient has been taking. Review Joint Legacy Viewer (JLV) to identify if a patient has been receiving medications from another VA or outside provider. Document adverse reactions and allergies reported by patient. Review for any patient compliance issues based on patient interview and refill history. Document medication-related information into a medication history note in the EHR and add the assigned CPP as an additional cosigner to appropriately relay information. Clinical Activities: Perform routine review of laboratory reports for selected patient groups and identify patients with lab values beyond normal limits or within certain parameters as specified by the CPP. Perform routine review of medication profiles for prescription duplication, therapeutic duplication, prescription noncompliance, and allergies/adverse drug reactions. Perform routine review of the EHR and medication profile to evaluate for polypharmacy-related problems. Report findings obtained through routine review of EHR, laboratory reports, and medication profile to assigned CPP for evaluation. Perform routine telephone communication with pharmacy clinic patients in conjunction with Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) and medication profile review to obtain information requested by the CPP. Administrative Activities: Perform routine review of scheduling/appointment reports and medical records to ensure appropriate consult management and patient follow-up. Coordinate administrative/clerical support for pharmacy clinics with Medical Support Assistants (MSAs) and other departments as assigned. Participate in quality assurance, internal audits, and performance improvement processes and programs as assigned in a timely manner. Assist in data collection for drug utilization reviews as assigned in a timely manner. Program Management: Serves on medical center and/or Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) committees as requested. Adheres to all medical center and department policies and regulations. Performs all the duties of a pharmacy technician at the lower grades as assigned. Other pharmacy related duties as needed to help fulfill our mission and abide by our organization's values. Work Schedule: Must be available for variable tours: days, afternoons, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays as needed. Subject to change based on the needs of the service. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. 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: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized