The Orlando Veterans Healthcare System provides healthcare services to veterans across a large geographical area in Central Florida to include Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Brevard, Marion, Volusia and Lake Counties. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP). See Education Section.

Duties

THIS VACANCY IS OPEN TO CURRENT PERMANENT EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VHA NATIONWIDE) ONLY. The GS-7 Clinical Pharmacy Technician will provide administrative, clerical and basic clinical support to the clinical pharmacy section of the Pharmacy Service. The incumbent must have the ability to independently gather, evaluate and analyze patient data. The incumbent must be able to communicate orally and in writing in an accurate and concise manner which supports the needs of the customer. The GS-7 Clinical Pharmacy Technician will function in patient care areas providing various technical support services within the pharmacy division. The incumbent will promote harmonious relationships within the work environment supporting the needs of the patient care team and the patient. The incumbent will assist the clinical pharmacy service in the duties as assigned including, but not limited to patient and health care professional contact, data collection and analysis, entry of information into patient data bases, chart review and drug information. The incumbent will also triage telephone calls from patients, family members, and/or caregivers to address a variety of issues, evaluate the problem, and provide an appropriate solution or refer the problem expeditiously to the pharmacist when the problem is beyond the technician's level of knowledge or expertise. The clinical pharmacy technician is proficient in obtaining all vital signs and point of care (POC) labs (e.g., glucose, INR) and documenting subsequent values appropriately in the electronic medical chart. The incumbent is able to take data provided by patients in the form of home logs and compile that data for interpretation by the pharmacist. Additionally, the clinical pharmacy technician is familiar with procedures to upload data from glucometers or other POC machines to a computer. Follows protocols to evaluate laboratory values and determines follow up intervals per protocol for patients with labs within target range. Provides patient education on pharmacy topics including prescription refills, patient rights and responsibilities and education specific to the clinic procedures. Documents communication with patients in CPRS/VISTA. Incumbent will notify pharmacist of issues related to prescription duplication, medication compliance, allergies or adverse reactions which are identified through patient communication or medical record review. Duties are performed in a variety of care settings, including face to face and virtual patient care Administrative Functions: Incumbent will provide clinic support through appointment scheduling, faxing and mailing, preparation of teaching materials and filing. Reviews clinic consults on a routine basis to schedule new patients for enrollment in clinic. Performs population management and campaign engagement support as assigned. Answers routine inquiries from physicians, nurses and other staff on clinic procedures, non-formulary medication questions and other clinic issues. Updates and maintains the clinic databases as required. Assists in conducting and reporting internal audits as required. Maintains all pertinent professional and administrative records as necessary. Assists in data collection and analysis for drug utilization evaluation, medication errors, adverse drug events and performance improvement initiatives. Provides administrative support for the ongoing professional practice evaluation (OPPE) process for clinical pharmacy section. Incumbent has contact and collaborates with employees, co-workers in the pharmacy, medical staff, nursing staff, and other health care providers at the facility, vendors and their support staff or representatives, patients, care givers, and the public in order to obtain information and solve problems, take or give direction, discuss work efforts, and exchange factual information about work operations and patient care. This involves questions about and responses to general technical and procedural issues, clarification of orders and/or issues, and prioritization of issues. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday -8:00AM - 4:30PM with rotational need to include weekends, evenings, holidays and nights at the discretion of the Service. Compressed/Flexible: No Telework: YES - VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Title/Functional Statement #:Clinical Pharmacy Technician/PD03586F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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. 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. Grade Determination: GS-7 Experience. One year experience at the next lower level (GS-6) and must fully meet the KSAs at the next lower level. Examples of specialized experience at the GS-6 include, but are not limited to the following: 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. 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. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G28 Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. The work involves regular and recurring physical exertion including walking, bending, prolonged standing, stooping, lifting and carrying packages weighing up to 50 pounds. Dexterity is required for the operation of Pharmacy equipment. Must be able to distinguish between colors.

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.

Education Debt Reduction (EDRP):

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.

Contacts

• Address Orlando VA Medical Center 13800 Veterans Way Orlando, FL 32827 US
• Name: Michael Brown
• Phone: 407-405-6894
• Email: [email protected]