The Outpatient Pharmacy Technician functions independently under the supervision of the Outpatient Pharmacy Supervisor. Duties include, but are not limited to the following: controlled substance and non-controlled prescription filling involving Optifill® and FastFill® automation equipment and software, non-sterile compounding, packaging and metering orders for mail delivery using Endicia® equipment, and assisting with procurement functions.

Duties

Production: Prepares and fills outpatient orders and requests for non-controlled and controlled substances. Receives new and returned stock into inventory, thereby ensuring accuracy of controlled drug records. Conducts inventories and assists with controlled substance inspections. Provides customer service and interacts appropriately with patients, other healthcare employees, controlled substance inspectors, and regulatory officials. Provides information to those officials responsible for ordering non-controlled and controlled drugs to ensure stock levels are maintained at appropriate levels. Monitors and analyzes orders and dispensing patterns to identify questionable circumstances or trends and communicates potential problems to supervisor. Resolves discrepancies to the satisfaction of the supervisor and/or Controlled Substance Program Manager in a timely manner. Packages and meters orders for mail delivery. Works closely with the Controlled Substance Program Manager to ensure activities, policies, and procedures abide by all applicable federal, state, and local regulations. Handles chemotherapy and other hazardous drugs in accordance with local and national regulations. Automation Equipment Oversight: Maintains computerized records of dispensing system. Provides routine cleaning and maintenance of equipment as per the manufacturer's recommended schedule. Provides clerical review and analysis of prescriptions. Provides technical and clerical review related to prescription clarification. Performs prescription set-up, filling, and mailing. Performs operation and maintenance of all aspects of the OptiFill, including but not limited to the computer system, conveyer system, printers, filling stations, vial and caploaders, video system, and any other system/equipment related to the operation of theOptiFill. Troubleshoots equipment as necessary to maintain peak performance of the system. Calibrates OptiFill and FastFill drug cells as necessary. Performs technical and computerized program support work to a variety of technicaland/or program specialists in support of the line programs of the agency. Operates and monitors computer systems and peripheral equipment such as printers, CRTs, and external modems. Monitors system workflow and performance by observing system message, requesting control console display of status information, and responding promptly to messages displayed on the control console to avoid message backlogs or system deterioration or from knowledge gained from previous experience. Adjusts priorities, reassigns resources and equipment, and reconfigures hardware to ensure system performance and utilization is maintained. When systems fail to respond to established procedures, consults with technical manuals and/or vendor to arrive at a resolution or relies on past experiences through trial and error. Investigates system malfunctions to determine the cause. Defines and isolates the specific problem using available diagnostic and error recovery techniques and initiates corrective action. Contacts vendor representatives to determine the cause of problems that do not respond to available problem solving techniques. Monitors equipment controlling environment and executes emergency procedures in case of natural or man-made disasters and security risk situations. Performs daily quality assurance to monitor equipment performance/accuracy. Builds/calibrates drug canisters using system simulator module. Performs preventive maintenance/cleaning per manufacturer's recommended schedule. Maintains manuals, reference books, and/or software instructions associated with the programs and systems used in the organization. Maintains a user-based profile of hardware and software configurations for microcomputers and/or telecommunication facilities. Coordinates computer equipment and software inventory system, equipment warranties, and software licenses. Work Schedule: Full Time, Mostly Days with some evening/weekend/holidays Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 91645 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. 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: 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: 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/15 Part II Appendix G28 Physical Requirements: The position is active with work being performed in the inpatient pharmacy and sterile compounding suite with adequate lighting and ventilation. Periods of walking, standing, light to moderate lifting, and driving may be required.

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 Richard L Roudebush VA Medical Center 1481 West Tenth Street Indianapolis, IN 46202 US
• Name: Eileen Archer
• Phone: 463-867-6722
• Email: [email protected]