Serves as subject matter expert in medication dispensing to inpatient areas. Duties include but not be limited to dispensing of medications, compounding IV, chemotherapy, biologics and hazardous drugs according to most recent guidelines, stocking/restocking of automated dispensing cabinets and ward stock areas, maintaining quality control (QC) practices and inspections, training staff and other duties as assigned.

Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to: Reading and interpreting pharmacy orders (unit dose, compounded sterile products, outpatient medications), obtaining proper medication or material in the proper strength and dosage form; determining proper amount and counts, pours, withdraws or measures the medications; affixing proper label and recording required data on pharmacy's copy of order. After a final check by a pharmacist, dispenses medication in acute, extended care areas, and outpatient areas For unit-dose medications, performing final review of medication (prepared by another technician) to be dispensed to inpatient areas (unit-dose carts, pre-exchange reports, missing dose requests, etc.) Filling automated dispensing machines independently without secondary review Performing final review of emergency code carts (prepared by another technician) and/or inventories and replenishing emergency code carts independently Collecting drug use evaluation data for quality improvement purposes Operating, maintaining and troubleshooting complicated pharmacy equipment Reconstituting oral or external medications (non-sterile); including calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the amount of drug or solution to be used After pharmacy order(s) are reviewed by a pharmacist for therapeutic propriety, reviewing orders for technical accuracy and converting the order, if necessary, so that the item dispensed corresponds to the drug and dose ordered May enter correct drug, strength, dosage form and quantity into the patient's medication profile (VISTA or otherwise) Answering questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution Identifying basic therapeutic problems such as patient allergies, duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class and alerting the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention Following facility policies and procedures to maintain compliance with USP 797, which includes performing monthly and daily cleaning of sterile compounding areas Compounding sterile products, both uncomplicated and complicated, to be delivered in the form of large volume, small volume, infusion syringe, ophthalmic preparations and other complex pharmaceuticals such as chemotherapy preparations Interpreting provider's orders, selecting and measuring appropriate ingredients, mixing ingredients in a safe and effective manner, inspecting the final product for accuracy, suitability and elegance, labeling the product, maintaining records of the compounding process, and supplying the product for delivery Using either standard protocols or beyond use dating guidelines to determine an accurate expiration date for compounded sterile products Performing all the duties of lower graded technicians, if required Work Schedule: Fulltime, Monday thru Friday; rotating work hours: 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; 11:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; 12:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Bargaining Unit position

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. Loss of Credential: An employee in this occupation who fails to obtain licensure/certification/ registration within the required time frame, or who fails to maintain the required licensure/certification/ registration must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment. For occupations which require an active credential (licensure/certification/registration) at all grade levels, at the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation for which he/she qualifies if a placement opportunity exists. For occupations which require an active credential (licensure/certification/registration) in assignments above the full-performance level only, at the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may remain at an appropriate lower grade level in the occupation when both of the following apply: the credential is not a requirement and a placement opportunity exists. 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). Grade Determinations: 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 (*): Certification. PTCB certification is required at this grade level and above. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 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. Preferred Experience: IV certification Previous VA experience Experience working in a hospital pharmacy IV chemotherapy certified References: VA Handbook 5005/15 Part II Appendix G28 Pharmacy Technician Qualification Standard GS-661 Veterans Health Administration March 17,2006 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. Physical Requirements: moderate lifting (15-44 pounds), moderate carrying (15-44 pounds), use of fingers, walking (greater than 2 hours), standing (8 hours), near vision correctable to 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors; ability to distinguish shades of colors, hearing (aid may be permitted), emotion/mental stability and typing/computer use.

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.

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

Contacts

• Address Thomas E Creek VA Medical Center 6010 Amarillo Boulevard, West Amarillo, TX 79106 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]