GS-7 Pharmacy Technician The incumbent functions as a Pharmacy Technician primarily in the inpatient and outpatient work areas of the Pharmacy Service within the VA Central Iowa Health Care System (VHACIHS). This occupational series is eligible for the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP). Repayment is limited to $10,000 annually, up to $60,000 in lifetime awards. Participants must sign a service agreement and maintain an acceptable level of performance to remain eligible for this program.

Duties

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Pharmacy Technicians at this grade level are assigned to work in the inpatient and outpatient pharmacy dispensing work areas, performing duties related to: Preparing unit-dose and bulk medication for delivery and distribution to patient care areas located throughout the main campus and off campus locations (e.g., Community Based Outpatient Clinics). Preparing outpatient medication and supply prescriptions for dispensing through the outpatient Pharmacy window and mail delivery systems, including preparing packages to be mailed (regular, overnight, signature required, delivery confirmation, etc.) and receipt of returned mailed packages. Operation of Pharmacy service automation including unit-dose packaging, automated medication dispensing, outpatient medication dispensing, non sterile and non-hazardous sterile compounding. Operation of the Pharmacy service phone system, including operation of phones in the local Pharmacy Phone Triage Center. Customer service, problem solving, and phone communication skills are necessary. Preparation of non-sterile compounding in accordance with USP guidelines and requirements. Preparation of non-hazardous sterile compounding in accordance with USP guidelines and requirements in the IV room suite. Handling of hazardous medication in accordance with USP guidelines and requirements. Demonstration of inventory management procedures and practice through the performance of medication and supply re-ordering, ward audits, cycle counts, expirations, and medication/supply recall notifications. Pharmacy Technicians may be assigned duties as a ward audit coordinator who coordinates and reports the completion of all Pharmacy medication/supply storage locations. Compliance with laws, rules, and all regulations governing controlled substance medication accountability, security, distribution, dispensing, and inventory. Pharmacy Technicians may be scheduled to work in the controlled substance medication vault. Operation of computer applications related to Pharmacy Service functions, including documentation in the patient's electronic health record when required. Compliance with pharmaceutical waste regulations and facility GEMS programs. Pharmacy Technicians may be assigned champion roles within the Pharmacy Service to work directly with the facility GEMS coordinator to champion service line level compliance. Participates in Pharmacy Service quality assurance/quality improvement initiatives, documentation, tracking, and reporting. Compliance with policies and procedures related to the All-Hazards Emergency Cache and/or facility level emergency preparedness. May be assigned special projects and other duties by their supervisor (Pharmacy Technician Supervisor) or other member of the Pharmacy leadership team related to the Pharmacy Service and the provision of safe and effective pharmaceutical care. Assists with the orientation and training of new and existing Pharmacy Service staff as assigned by their supervisor or other member of the Pharmacy leadership team. Participates in meetings, conferences, and programs that provide exposure and insight into the specialized practice area within the Pharmacy Service. Obtains required continuing education and maintains clinical job knowledge and skills. Work Schedule: Full-time; Monday-Friday with rotating weekend/holidays 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: (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. Certification: For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: (1) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). OR (2) National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT). 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). 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: GS-7 Pharmacy Technician Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-6. This experience includes but is not limited to: 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. AND Certification: For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: (a) PTCB as a CPhT. OR (b) NHA as a ExCPT. AND Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work. (b) Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent. (c) Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers. (d) Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students. (e) Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution. (f) Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases. Preferred Experience: 1 year or more experience working as a Pharmacy Technician at the GS-6 level or above References: VA HANDBOOK PART II APPENDIX G28 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. 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.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address VA Central Iowa Health Care System 3600 30th St Des Moines, IA 50310 US
• Name: Adam Abbott
• Phone: 612-629-7067
• Email: [email protected]