Pharmacy Technicians have become a vital component of medication distribution in the VA, and the need for fully functional and reliable personnel is critical to our mission. Pharmacy technicians at this level have a major impact on the operational aspects of the Pharmacy Service for providing timely, efficient, and accurate prescription filling and dispensing with minimal need of supervision.

Duties

To perform in this position the incumbent must possess an advanced technical knowledge of medication brand names, generic names/chemical names, general and special storage requirements, expiration date requirements, manufacturer/distributor sources, dosage forms, basic pharmaceutical calculations, applicable systems of weights and measures and medical terminology to interpret providers' orders and verify correct drug, dosage form, strength and dose, is prepared and/or distributed. Medication Entry: 1. Demonstrate ability to accurately navigate and utilize VistA, CPRS, and any other patient databases necessary to perform the job. 2. Establish patient eligibility status. 3. Establish provider prescriber authority and appropriately enter new providers into the system. 4. Knowledge of medical terminology and common abbreviates to accurately interpret/transcribe prescriptions. 5. Interpret prescriptions and other orders to determine proper disposition in accordance with established procedures. 6. Ability to perform a full administrative and technical review of the patient's medication and computer profile, being sure that the most current prescriptions are being processed, all older prescriptions for the same mediation(s), checking for remaining authorized refills, checking for frequency of refills. 7. Enter correct medication, strength, dosage form, and quantity into patient's profile. 8. Process refills and appropriately suspend for mail or window pick-up.9. Pull a medication from suspense and fill for local mail or window pick-up. Filling: 1. Possess an advanced technical knowledge of drug and medication brand names, generic names/chemical names, general and special storage requirements, expiration date requirements, manufacturer/distributor sources, dosage forms, basic pharmaceutical calculations, applicable systems of weights and measures and medical terminology to interpret providers' orders and verify correct drug, dosage form, strength and dose, is prepared and/or distributed. 2. Possess working knowledge of drug use and dosage forms available to be able to screen drug orders and assist the pharmacist in solving potential drug related problems. 3. Participate in the preparation of a prescription order by verifying the correct patient, appropriateness of the label, selecting the proper medication, selecting the correct strength, counting/pouring the intended quantity, packing the medication appropriately, and completing all necessary filling documentation. 4. Ability to perform extemporaneous compounding of approved pharmaceuticals according to standard operating procedures. 5. Ability to processes Out of Stock medications. 6. Communicate medication errors, adverse advents, allergies, non-formulary, restricted status and any other medication order related problems for clarification to the pharmacist and/or supervisor. Automation: 1. Understands and navigates basic automation package functions. 2. Performs basic cleaning and maintenance of automation equipment. 3. Ability to troubleshoot automation system problems. 4. Fill canisters/cells with medications and input appropriate information necessary to allow an audit trail of the medications placed into the automation. 5. Appropriately returns medications into the automation inventory, and removes expired/outdated medications from the automation. Controlled Substances: 1. Possess a thorough knowledge of principles relating to controlled substances, and the requirements of medical center policy and federal and state regulations that apply to these medications. 2. Assure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, directives, policies and procedures applying to the dispensing, storage, transfer, inventory and accountability of controlled substances. 3. Ability to prepare and fill outpatient pharmacy orders for controlled substances. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday / 0730-1600; 0800 - 1630; 0900-1730 or as needed by the service Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Pharmacy Technician GS-0661-06 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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. 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 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. 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-06 Experience. One year experience at the next lower level, and must fully meet the KSAs at the next lower level. Certification. PTCB certification is required at this grade level and above. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities- In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): 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. 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: Must have national technician certification Outpatient or retail pharmacy experience Federal pharmacy experience Veteran preference Experience with ScriptPro or Omnicell automation Experience with perpetual inventory management References: VA Handbook 5005/15 Part II Appendix G28 Pharmacy Technician Qualification Standard GS-661, March 17, 2006.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-06. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting and carrying (15-44lbs),moderate carrying (15-44 lbs), straight pulling (3 hrs), pushing (3 hrs), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands, long periods of walking, standing, kneeling, pushing, and pulling maybe required. The incumbent must have the ability to distinguish basic colors, have near vision and DVA correctable vision. S/he could work around machinery with moving parts, work closely with others, and may work irregular hours or shifts.

Education

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

If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

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 Audie L Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital 7400 Merton Minter Boulevard San Antonio, TX 78229 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]