This position functions primarily inpatient care areas and Pharmacy Service within the health care organization.

Duties

Duties a. Reads and interprets prescriptions, obtains proper medication or material in the proper strength and dosage form; determines proper amount and counts, pours, or measures the medications; affixes proper label; and records required data on Pharmacy's copy of prescription/order. After a final check by a pharmacist, dispenses medication in ambulatory care or discharge situations. b. For unit dose medications, independently fills without routine secondary review first dose medications, missing doses, and unit dose carts for inpatient areas. Performs final review of unit dose medications that are repackaged or dispensed by lower graded technicians. Repackages medications in unit-of-use packaging, obtains proper medication or material in the proper strength and dosage form; determines proper amount and counts, pours, or measures the medications; affixes proper label including barcodes; and records required data on Pharmacy's replenishment/repackaging logs. All repackaged unit dose medications will be checked by a pharmacist or another advance practice technician before dispensing. Documents the items dispensed in the unit dose computer package. c. Prepares all IV admixtures, including cytotoxic agents, investigational drugs, and other hazardous medications, in accordance with established policy and procedures. Adheres to appropriate aseptic technique and sterile procedures in preparing and handling of sterile products. Selects and measures appropriate ingredients, prepares the admixture, inspects the final product for accuracy and clarity, and affixes proper label including barcode. After final check by a pharmacist, delivers the sterile products to the appropriate areas. d. Maintains pre-determined levels of automatic replenishment/ward stock medications for patient care areas. Independently restocks without routine secondary review the patient care areas to established inventory levels. Obtains the correct medications or items for restocking, affixes proper label including barcodes, and delivers the medication to the appropriate patient care area. Monitors inventory needs in patient care areas. Places stock in proper storage areas, rotates stock, and removes/replaces outdated items. Documents the items dispensed in the automatic replenishment/ward stock computer package. e. Assists with inventory management by ensuring that adequate, in date stocks of medications and supplies for dispensing are maintained in the pharmacy. Orders inventory needs during the absence of the Inventory Management Technician. Maintains work areas in a clean and orderly condition. f. Compounds and/or reconstitutes simple oral or external medications (non-sterile). This includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the drug or solution to be used. Performs final review of simple, non-sterile compounds prepared by lower graded technicians. g. Receives new stock of controlled substances in accordance with VHA regulations. Records all transactions in the VistA Controlled Substances Software package. Ensures the receipt is witnessed by an accountable officer, or designee. h. Operates and performs preventive maintenance on complicated pharmacy equipment. Provides technical assistance to biomedical and manufacturer service technicians when equipment requires repair or replacement. i. Coordinates the completion of all monthly ward inspections. Performs ward inspections as assigned on a monthly basis. Removes/replaces outdated items and excessive quantities of medications and documents findings using appropriate forms in accordance with established policy and procedures. j. Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution. Identifies basic therapeutic problems such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class and alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention. k. Monitors refrigerator temperatures and documents temperatures on a log if appropriate on a daily basis in pharmacy. l. Assists collecting drug use evaluation data for quality improvement purposes. Participates in quality management and performance improvement activities by participating in service and medical center action teams. Work Schedule: Day Tour, Monday - Friday Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 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. Citizen of the United States. (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, 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. 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). Grade Determinations: GS-6 Pharmacy Tech 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 (*): Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Ability to solve problems and make recommendations, e.g., troubleshoot operational problems and refer for appropriate action. 2. Knowledge of the operation and care of automated equipment. 3. Knowledge of, and ability to follow, written instructions for compounding with aseptic technique for hazardous materials such as oncology agents. 4. Knowledge, and ability to perform, compounding with aseptic technique for routine sterile products. 5. Knowledge of policies and procedures for inventory management in specialized areas such as emergency carts. 6. Knowledge of the computerized prescription process demonstrated by the ability to input prescriptions and medication orders. **You must address the KSA's in your resume for qualification** 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G28, Pharmacy Technician Qualification Standards. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. Physical Requirements: Functional Requirements: heavy lifting {45Ibs and over); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; walking (3 hours per day); standing (8 hours per day); kneeling (2 hours per day); repeated bending (4 hours per day); both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; ability to distinguish shades of 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 VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System 2200 SW Gage Blvd Topeka, KS 66622 US
• Name: Joshua White
• Phone: 843-020-1452
• Email: [email protected]