The Pharmacy Technician manages the controlled substance inventory and fills controlled substance orders for wards, operating rooms and clinic stock. The incumbent is responsible for maintaining accurate physical and electronic inventories, receiving controlled substance orders, as well as accurately completing and filing dispensing documents, transfer reports, and other inventory management related documents as assigned. The incumbent reports directly to the Inpatient Pharmacy Supervisor.

Duties

The Pharmacy Technician manages the controlled substance inventory and fills controlled substance orders for wards, operating rooms and clinic stock. The incumbent is responsible for maintaining accurate physical and electronic inventories, receiving controlled substance orders, as well as accurately completing and filing dispensing documents, transfer reports, and other inventory management related documents as assigned. The incumbent reports directly to the Inpatient Pharmacy Supervisor. Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to: CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE INVENTORY MANAGEMENT Activities: Conducts twice weekly routine inventory of all controlled substances (including those held for destruction), as well as annual wall-to-wall and biannual inventories; works with area supervisor to resolve an inventory discrepancies; prepares documents for the supervisor to complete balance adjustments; prepares unusable controlled substances for reverse distribution; and assists Controlled Substance Inspector during audits, inspections, receiving of controlled substance inventory, or destruction of controlled substances. COORDINATION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE PROCUREMENT Activities: Submits requests for Controlled Substance orders to the Palo Alto Procurement Team; ensures excess drugs and inaccurately ordered items are returned for credit; monitors and adjusts par levels; ensures all invoices are signed/dated by the pharmacist and Accountable Officer receiving the inventory and maintains invoice files; and takes immediate action for any controlled substance recalled medications. CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE MEDICATION ORDER/PRESCRIPTION PREPARATION Activities: Prepares/fills controlled substances orders for check by a pharmacist before dispensing to the ward/clinic; decrements in the VistA Controlled Substance Package to maintain an accurate, perpetual inventory, releasing under the appropriate checking pharmacist; repackages medications into unit dose packages; delivers to automated dispensing cabinets (Omnicell and Anesthesia Work Stations) in the presence of a licensed nurse or authorized NAOU manager; optimizes automated dispensing cabinets (e.g., medications are restocked or removed as warranted, par levels are adjusted, etc.); and ensures all controlled substances delivered to nursing units/clinics have signed documentation of the chain of custody. VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 6:00am - 2:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Telework: Not Eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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. 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. Grandfathering Provision. The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all Title 38 hybrid qualification standards. Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/ registration requirements that apply to this occupation. All persons employed in VHA in this occupation 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 required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation. Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Such 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 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. If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. ? 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English 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). Preferred Experience: Expertise and proficiency in inpatient controlled substance pharmacy workflow and duties, excellent verbal and written communication skills, demonstrated exceptional attention to detail in work, and a true desire to lead and improve controlled substance processes are highly desired. Grade Determinations:GS-7 Experience. One year experience at the next lower level and must fully meet the KSAs at the next lower level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities* 1. Ability to evaluate, analyze workflow, and coordinate work activities. 2. Ability to independently gather, evaluate, and analyze data to generate reports and/or for other projects/statistical purposes. 3. Knowledge of pharmacy policies and procedures sufficient to train and orient new employees and other staff 4. Comprehensive knowledge of the operation and care of specialized pharmaceutical equipment. 5. Comprehensive knowledge of the procurement and formulary process. 6. Comprehensive knowledge of investigational drug policies and procedures. 7. Comprehensive knowledge of controlled substance policies and procedures, and the ability to identify and investigate discrepancies in these policies and procedures. 8. Comprehensive knowledge of, and ability to, analyze data in VA information systems. Assignments. 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. Pharmacy technicians at this grade level may be assigned as a supervisor; lead technician in a particular area of the pharmacy; a controlled substance technician; an investigational drug technician; a procurement/inventory management technician; a clinical pharmacy technician; or similar assignment with this level of complexity. The GS-7 level is for select, complex pharmacy technician positions, as established by each health care facility. To be advanced, employees must meet all of the following standards, provided the standard is part of their assignment. Determinations concerning placement of positions at this grade level shall take into consideration the skill mix and the availability of supervision in the work unit. Although these positions are under the supervision of a pharmacist, employees in such settings successfully and consistently demonstrate the exercise of independent technical judgment (without the need for readily available supervision) as well as comprehensive and thorough working knowledge of the most complex or difficult practices and procedures. Such individuals may also serve as leaders or co-leaders in a Pharmacy Service or for a specific unit or section. References: VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G28, Pharmacy Technician Qualification, GS-661,dated March 17, 2006. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (3 hours); Standing (4 hours); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Hearing (aid permitted).

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 Palo Alto VA Medical Center 3801 Miranda Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94304 US
• Name: Lizbeth Torres
• Phone: (415) 221-4810 X24760
• Email: [email protected]