This position functions is for a pharmacy technician at the Miami VA Healthcare System. The incumbent is a highly functioning technician, who will perform a variety of complex technical skills and functions, which requires comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceuticals and pharmacy practices. Most duties will be performed at the Miami VAMC, although some work at other facilities may be required. Is expected to accomplish all duties related to stocking, delivering and assembling ward orders.

Duties

Most duties will be performed at the Miami VAMC, although some work at other facilities may be required. The incumbent is expected to accomplish all duties related to stocking, delivering, inventory, inspections, assembling ward orders, prescription assembly, controlled substances distribution, sterile compounding (including hazardous drugs), unit-dose drug packaging, dispensing, distribution, and any other function related to hospital/clinic support. The incumbent performs all duties with limited supervision and is expected to maintain a high degree of accurate productivity and performance. A. Sterile Product Compounding 1. Follows USP 797 Guidelines for the compounding of all sterile preparations, including ophthalmic, cardioplegic, TPN, hazardous, large & small volume IV solutions, PCAs, etc. Manufactures uncomplicated and/or complicated parenteral admixtures to be delivered in the form of large volume, small volume, infusion syringe or other modality as required. 2. Correctly interprets physician orders, selects and measures appropriate ingredients, mixes ingredients in a safe and effective manner, inspects the final product for accuracy, suitability and elegance, labels the product, maintains records of the manufacturing process and supplies the product for pharmacist verification and delivery. 3. Uses standard protocols to determine an accurate expiration date for each batch prepared. 4. Consistently displays competence with good manufacturing practices and sterile technique through demonstration and/or actual work performance. a. Follows proper aseptic preparation techniques when compounding sterile products. B. Unit Dose Medication Management 1. Performs review of medications prepared by another pharmacy employee to be dispensed to hospital areas. 2. Inventories and replenishes emergency trays. 3. Operates and maintains automated dispensing unit dose systems. 4. Inspects packaged items for accuracy and suitability before submitting for final check, prior to distribution to hospital areas. 5. Assures repackaged dosage forms are labeled according to USP and VA standards and attains a final review by a pharmacist. 6. Maintains repackaging records that assures all regulatory and review standards are met. 7. Trouble-shoots minor mechanical problems of all automated systems as they occur and coordinates resolution of more involved mechanical or software problems with Supervisor, vendor help desk, ADPAC, etc. as appropriate. C. Controlled Substances Activities These functions will be supported in the absence of the controlled substance technician (i.e. after hours, weekends, leave). 1. Appropriately restocks controlled substances items in automated secured cabinets (i.e. Pyxis) throughout medical center, as assigned. 2. Documents all controlled substance related transactions as indicated by VA and DEA guidelines. 3. Maintains confidentiality of access codes. D. Bulk Compounding and Extemporaneous Compounding 1. Manufactures products requiring compounding, whether made in large batches for more than one patient or in small batches to fill a single prescription or drug order. 2. Correctly interprets physician orders, selects and measures appropriate ingredients, mixes ingredients in a safe and effective manner, inspects the final product for accuracy, labels the product, maintains records of the manufacturing process, and attains a final check by a pharmacist. 3. Uses standard protocols to determine an accurate expiration date for each batch prepared. 4. Proficiently operates equipment including but not limited to balances and mixing machines in the routing of manufacturing pharmaceutical products. E. Automatic Replenishment/Ward Stock 1. Correctly inventories, assesses, and determines the need for floor stock and external medication. 2. Follows established policies and procedures, schedules, inventory levels, and usage rate reports to determine appropriate stock levels for specific areas of use. 3. Accurately fills prescription items for wards using Automatic Replenishment reports. 4. Performs and documents an inspection of assigned hospital areas for medication storage. Removes all expired and deteriorated drugs from the automated dispensing stations, stocks shelves, and the unit dose automated dispensing systems. Work Schedule: Monday -Friday from 7:30am -4:30pm including weekends and holiday rotations. Compressed/Flexible:Not Authorized Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS a. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). b. Education or Experience. (1) None required. (2) For all grade levels and positions that accept both education and experience to qualify, equivalent combinations of qualifying education and experience that total at least 100% are qualifying. The combined percentage is determined by adding total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level to the education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level. c. Grandfathering Provision. Pharmacy technicians employed in VHA 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 in this standard but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it. d. Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. e. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. f. English Language Proficiency. Pharmacy Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f) GRADE DETERMINATIONS. In addition to the basic requirements for appointment in paragraph 5, VA HR staff must use the following criteria to determine the appropriate grade assignment of candidates. a. Pharmacy Technician, GS-03. (1) Education and Experience. (a) One year of post-secondary education. OR (b) Six months of general experience. OR (c) Student Technician. A student enrolled in an approved nationally accredited pharmacy technician program for an occupation identified in 38 U.S.C. 7405(a)(1)(A) or (B) may be appointed on a temporary full-time, part-time or intermittent basis under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. 7405(a)(1)(D) for a period not to exceed two years or the duration of the individual's program. (2) Assignment. Employees at the entry-level are developmental trainees. The pharmacy technician trainee is performing routine pharmacy duties under direct supervision of higher graded technicians to learn the basic functions of pharmacy operations. b. Pharmacy Technician, GS-04. (1) Education and Experience. (a) Completion of two years of post-secondary coursework related to pharmacy (e.g., 12 semester hours of science and mathematics courses). OR (b) Completion of one of the following: i Six months of experience, that demonstrated knowledge of medication or medical field practice. OR ii Successful completion of a military or nationally recognized pharmacy technician education/training program. American Society of Health System Pharmacists® (ASHP), American Pharmacist Association (APHA), Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), PTCB or NHA are examples of acceptable professional organizations recognizing such training programs. NOTE: Training courses recognized by PTCB and NHA are not actual certifications. OR iii One year of experience equivalent to next lower grade level. (2) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the education or experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Ability to follow policies and procedures. (b) Ability to maintain appropriate files. (c) Ability to communicate with patients and other health professionals. (d) Ability to follow both written and verbal instructions. (e) Ability to operate office software/equipment to include, computers, software applications and printers. c. Pharmacy Technician, GS-05. (1) Education or Experience. (a) Successful completion of four years post-secondary education with courses related to pharmacy (e.g., 48 semester hours of science, mathematics, pharmacy) or a bachelor's degree. OR (b) An associate's degree in pharmacy technician or technology (48 semester hours of concentrated pharmacy technician training). OR (c) One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. (a) Knowledge of basic pharmacy operations. 2) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the education or experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (b) Knowledge of pharmaceuticals to perform duties in pharmacy functional areas. (c) Knowledge of pharmaceutical nomenclature (including generic, chemical and proprietary names of drug). (d) Ability to fill prescriptions. (e) Ability to use pharmacy information systems or basic pharmacy dispensing equipment with oversight. d. Pharmacy Technician, GS-06. (1) Education or Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower level. (2) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of Federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice. (b) Knowledge of preparation, storage and distribution of medication products including those requiring special handling and documentation. (c) Ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate pharmacy dispensing equipment. (d) Knowledge of basic inventory procedures. (e) Ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel. The full performance of the position is GS-6. Reference: VA HANDBOOK 5005/159 November 07, 2023, PART II APPENDIX G2

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 Bruce W Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 1201 Northwest 16th Street Miami, FL 33125 US
• Name: Joselyne Figueroa-Cruz
• Phone: 787-600-0438
• Email: [email protected]