This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties

The primary duties of this position include filling medication orders, dispensing medications to the patient, packaging and preparing medications to be mailed, returning phone calls to patients regarding pharmacy related concerns or questions, and screening and processing orders from community care providers. The incumbent is efficient, motivated and customer-friendly. Expected to maintain a high degree of accuracy, productivity, and attentiveness to their contribution to patient satisfaction (such as window waiting times, mail turn-around time). Expected to accomplish all duties normally performed by both general and specialized pharmacy technicians as required and assigned. May also be assigned as a controlled substances technician, but this assignment will constitute less than 25% of their time. When serving as controlled substance technician, the incumbent has the responsibility for filling, inventorying, and dispensing controlled substances in the Controlled Substances vault both manually and with automation. The technician has responsibility for ensuring accurate and complete record keeping for controlled substances. Must have knowledge of policies and procedures for inventory management and controlled substance security and accountability including DEA and VHA laws and regulations. Duties include, but not limited to: Interprets technician consults in the EHR. Answers patient inquiries related to process questions including, but not limited to, tracking information, order status, renewal process, internet and telephone refill systems, community care processes. Returns calls to patients regarding messages received through EHR consults and refers to pharmacist if clinical judgment is necessary. Consistently provides patients with accurate information. Assesses unopened mail returned as undeliverable, and contacts patients at home to verify correct address, changes package address and resends packages as appropriate. Opens documents mailed in by patients and scans refill slips to initiate the refilling process. Assures these are scanned the day they are received by Pharmacy. Processes telephone and internet refills for timely transmittal to CMOP. Participates in medication recalls including telephone notification of class 1 recalls as necessary. Guides patients on how to return medicine to the pharmacy if needed and how to obtain replacement medications. Treats all patients with respect and diligence. Seeks to solve patients' problems including referring to other VA resources when needed. Resolves all patient issues in a timely and caring manner. Assists pharmacy program managers and supervisors with compilation of data for performance and workload reporting and to detect problems with the automation and internet refill systems. Assists with other administrative tasks or reports as assigned. Prepares and fills controlled substance outpatient orders from the central pharmacy vault utilizing the VistA controlled substances software and automated dispensing equipment. Independently conducts 72-hour and biennial inventories if assigned. Demonstrates knowledge of the laws, regulations and policies pertaining to controlled substances and follows all local, VACO and DEA requirements, and other pertinent state and federal regulations. Compounds oral non-sterile medications; calculates and converts to proper weights and measures to assure accurate manufacture of final product; performs record keeping for compounding activities. Operates and maintains automated dispensing equipment. Follows standard operating procedures for maintaining complete, accurate, and readily retrievable controlled drug accountability records. Assists in the success and quality management of the pharmacy by participating in process action teams, reporting medication errors, and continually seeking ways to improve the service provided to patients and other customers. Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 9:00AM - 5:30PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance at [email protected]. or [email protected] Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. Education or Experience: A high school diploma or equivalent; or at least 3 months experience. Certification: Certification by the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is required at grades GS-6 and above. Loss of Credential: An employee who fails to maintain the required licensure/certification/ registration must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment. For occupations which require an active credential (licensure/certification/registration) in assignments above the full-performance level only, at the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may remain at an appropriate lower grade level in the occupation when both of the following apply: the credential is not a requirement and a placement opportunity exists. Language Proficiency: Pharmacy technicians appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. 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: GS-6. Experience: One year experience at the next lower level and must fully meet the KSAs at the next lower level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs Ability to solve problems and make recommendations, e.g., troubleshoot operational problems and refer for appropriate action. Knowledge of the operation and care of automated equipment. Knowledge of, and ability to follow, written instructions for compounding with aseptic technique for hazardous materials such as oncology agents. Knowledge, and ability to perform, compounding with aseptic technique for routine sterile products. Knowledge of policies and procedures for inventory management in specialized areas such as emergency carts. Knowledge of the computerized prescription process demonstrated by the ability to input prescriptions and medication orders. Certification: PTCB certification is required at this grade level and above. Assignments: Pharmacy technicians may be assigned to any area of the pharmacy including expanded distributive function assignments; for example assignment as team leaders for specific process improvement teams involving technical areas or performing more highly complex duties including preparation of oncology agents for clinical pharmacy specialists. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Preferred Experience: One year of outpatient pharmacy experience. References: VA Handbook 5005/15 Part II Appendix G28 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. Physical Requirements: This work requires heavy to moderate lifting (15-45lbs), moderate carrying, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, standing, repeated bending, near and far vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4 & 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other eye, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors, shades and colors, and mental and emotional stability. Environmental factors of the position are working in constant noise, dust, unusual fatigue factors (extensive keyboard/mouse), working closely with others, and working alone and protracted or irregular hours of work.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address VA Puget Sound Health Care System 1660 South Columbian Way Seattle, WA 98108 US
• Name: Jovita Murphy
• Phone: 253-583-3850
• Email: [email protected]