The incumbent serves as a Pharmacy Technician-Automation with responsibility of performing duties at various clinics within VASNHS and may rotate on a regular basis or as required. Incumbent may work evenings, weekends and holidays as priorities demonstrate a need. Incumbent coordinates and oversees all operational aspects of the pharmacy automated dispensing equipment in the outpatient and inpatient areas of the pharmacy.

Duties

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Duties include but not limited to: Automation Management and Staff Training Startup and shutdown procedures. Restocking medications in the automated equipment. Recalibration of drug cells when appropriate. Routine maintenance/cleaning of the equipment. Procedures to follow for equipment malfunctions. Troubleshooting pharmacy automated dispensing equipment performance and complaints regarding pharmacy automation including medication refrigerators. Troubleshoots problems with automated dispending cabinets and filling systems when production is compromised, alerts appropriate personnel and actively participates in resolution. Management System Reads and interprets inpatient and outpatient orders, 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. Inventories and replenishes emergency carts. Collects drug use evaluation data for quality improvement purposes as required. Operates and maintains pharmacy automation equipment. Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile). This includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the amount of drug or solution to be used. 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. Assists in quality improvement activities by participating in medical center and service process assessment and action teams and continually seeks to improve services. Administrative Duties As required and assigned, the Pharmacy Technician-Automation is expected to accomplish all duties normally performed by general pharmacy technicians (GS-6 and below) related to outpatient and inpatient stocking, inventory, inspections, assembling patient order, controlled substance distribution, compounding, dispensing, distribution, and pharmacy call center. Remains current and appropriately applies federal/state laws/regulations, VA National/VISN/Local directives/handbooks/policies/procedures. Performs all duties assigned to GS-5 and GS-6 level pharmacy technician Work Schedule: Variable Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 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. 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. 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: Individual must be a current Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) with an understanding of the goals, objectives, and performance measures associated with the development, maintenance, and improvement of pharmacy computer programs and automation equipment. The Pharmacy Technician-Automation is responsible for daily technical and administrative operations of Pharmacy Automation. Incumbent possesses an extensive knowledge of pharmacy operations, services, activities, policies, and procedures as well as operation and care of specialized pharmaceutical equipment including but not limited to Pyxis, ScriptPro, Boxpicker, TCGRx, Eyecon, BD IV Prep. Incumbent must have outstanding Customer Service and computer skills, including but not limited to experience with Microsoft Word and Excel. 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-07. 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 Fresno VA Medical Center 2615 East Clinton Avenue Fresno, CA 93703 US
• Name: Tearia Hill
• Phone: 504-547-2869
• Email: [email protected]