The Pharmacy technicians function in various areas of the pharmacist (e.g. inpatient pharmacy, outpatient pharmacy, IV room, various storage areas and other patient care areas, under the supervision of the Pharmacy Technician Supervisor or designee, depending upon the area of administrative assignment of the incumbent or a registered pharmacist in the absence of a pharmacy supervisor.

Duties

The processing and filling of outpatient prescriptions for scheduled and non­scheduled federal legend drugs and medical devices, over-the-counter items, and medical supplies. Obtains the proper medication or material in the proper strength and dosage form; determines proper amount and counts, pours, or measures the medications and affixes proper label for final check by a pharmacist. The preparation and distribution of inpatient unit dose medications, ward stock items, and intravenous admixtures. The pharmacy technician is responsible for maintenance and cleaning of pharmacy automated equipment. The operation, maintenance, re-stocking and troubleshooting of automated dispensing equipment. The preparation and maintenance of various logs, records, and reports.6. Compounds external medication (non-sterile) to be checked by a pharmacist. This includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the amount of drug or solution to be used. Maintains IV competency and prepares IV solutions (sterile product) with review by a pharmacist. 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. Physical requirements include but are not limited to, reaching overhead to stock shelves or obtain stock from storage, standing for a prolonged period of time, the ability to lift 40 pounds (the approximate weight of a case of IV fluid) and pushing a medication cart containing trays for inpatient cart exchange (approximate weight of 60 pounds). Maintains training requirements for operation of a government owned vehicle for service to CBOC's such as transport of medications, conduct ward inspections, equipment needs. Assists in total quality improvement activities by participating in medical center and service process assessment and action teams and continually seeks to improve service. Conducts monthly ward inspections of patient care areas. Maintains, verifies, stocks, and replaces outdates in assigned areas. Assists in other patient care areas as deemed necessary to maintain the consistency of overall pharmacy services. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am-4:30 pm (Occasionally 11:30 am-8:00pm, Saturdays and holidays) Compressed/Flexible:Not Authorized Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: United States 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). 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: Knowledge of Federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice. Knowledge of preparation, storage and distribution of medication products including those requiring special handling and documentation. Ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate pharmacy dispensing equipment. Knowledge of basic inventory procedures. Ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel. (3) Assignments. Pharmacy technicians at the full performance level may fill orders, dispense/deliver medications using automated systems or provide technical customer service to Veterans related to prescription needs. Duties will include delivery of medications to floors/patients, filling medications for the pharmacist to review, checking for expired medications, answering phones with appropriate disposition, preparing sterile products (when applicable) and assisting with basic inventory management such as putting up stock and identifying when medications need to be ordered. 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). 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, the following provisions apply: (1) Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) 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. (3) 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. (4) Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation. (5) 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. Grade Determinations: 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: Knowledge of Federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice. Knowledge of preparation, storage and distribution of medication products including those requiring special handling and documentation. Ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate pharmacy dispensing equipment. Knowledge of basic inventory procedures. Ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel. Preferred Experience: PTCB certified preferred References: VA Handbook 5005/159, Part II, Appendix G28 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6.

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 Coatesville VA Medical Center 1400 Black Horse Hill Road Coatesville, PA 19320 US
• Name: Crystal Davis
• Phone: 412-339-4888
• Email: [email protected]