GS-8 Anticoagulation Clinic Pharmacy Technician The incumbent functions as a Specialized Pharmacy Technician, primarily in the Pharmacy Service within the VA Central Iowa Health Care System (VHACIHCS). 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 Duties include, but are not limited to: The Clinical Pharmacy Technician (CPT) shall provide support for clinical operations of the Anticoagulation Clinic and Pharmacy Phone Triage and assigned Clinical Pharmacists. All duties of the CPT will be performed under the direct supervision of the assigned Clinical Pharmacist. All clinical decision making will first be reviewed by the Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner. All assigned clinical activities and functions shall be completed in accordance with approved protocols or procedures. Assigned activities include: 1. Functions at a higher independent level than lower grade technicians more than 25% of the time. May help clinical pharmacist specialist (CPS) triage and assess patients according to clinic protocols, making minor adjustments as reviewed with CPS. As clinical technician has supervision of the lower grade technical staff to ensure workload is being done in a timely and efficient manner, with no lost to follow up patients. This also includes teaching, training, and supervision of different level pharmacy students/interns and new employees as well. 2. Participates in a quality management and quality improvement projects for monthly and quarterly reports, including but not limited to Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) monitoring. Oral anticoagulation patient safety report, high INR's, low INR's, appointment statistics and complications reporting. Incumbent schedules outpatient clinic appointment using the Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VISTA) or other scheduling options. Uses established business rules to schedule appointments for veterans. This includes clinic visits, consultations and entries into the VISTA or other scheduling package. Complies with mandatory training requirements for the outpatient scheduling process. Collects data for quality assurance and management as assigned by supervisor. Check's appointments, encounters, and consult reports for completion as assigned. Responsible for follow up on daily workload and that all work has been delegated. Bringing any problems to the manager's attention for prompt follow up. Computer data entry: 1. Enter progress notes into the patient medical record, using appropriate templates and note titles to document information obtained directly from the patient or from a non-VA source. For anticoagulation notes, indicate in the progress note the responsible Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner- with whom the case was discussed and/or is responsible for the therapeutic decisions made. Forward each completed note to the appropriate clinical pharmacist for signature. For non-anticoagulation clinic notes, alert or attach the appropriate provider for notification or action. 2. Schedule clinic and lab appointments and enter in appropriate computer package. 3. Prioritize operational and assigned clinical functions to provide the highest quality of patient care. 4. Report all potential patient or pharmacy distribution problems verbally and/or in writing, as requested by the Clinical Pharmacist in the area assigned. Assist the Clinical Pharmacist in reporting Adverse Drug Reactions, Medication Errors, and 'Near Misses'. Obtains and assesses information on compliance, current anticoagulant dosage, medication changes, alcohol consumption, smoking, bleeding symptoms and general state of health. For stable patients, the clinical technician initiates and electronic progress note in CPRS, including assessment for anticoagulation indication, duration, and therapeutic goal range. ("Stable" warfarin patients are defined as those who have had at least the last 3 INRs within target without warfarin dosage change, without significant changes in other meds, and no complications of anticoagulation therapy). Reviews, medication history, changes (including herbals, dietary supplements/over the counter (OTC) medications), adherence, and complications of therapy and report findings to clinical pharmacist. Technical duties include completing electronic progress notes, scheduling appointments, completing consults, and documenting data in the Pharmacy record or the patient electronic medical record. Communicates to the Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner any changes in medications/diet, any evident reason for changes in INR value, and any abnormal laboratory findings. Also communicates with other staff (including providers and nursing personnel) any complications of anticoagulation therapy or other problems, when appropriate. Work Schedule: Full-time; Monday-Friday 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-8 Pharmacy Technician Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-7. This experience includes, but is not limited to: Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work; Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent; Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers; Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students; Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution; Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases. 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: PTCB as a CPhT. OR NHA as a ExCPT. AND Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs. (a) Comprehensive knowledge of concepts, principles, methodology and policies in a specialized area or section of pharmacy (such as sterile compounding, controlled substances, automation, clinical pharmacy, contact center, etc.) Note: See Specialized Area.in the Definitions Section. (b) Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures. (c) Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy. Preferred Experience: 1 year or more experience working as a Pharmacy Technician at the GS-7 level or above References: VA HANDBOOK PART II APPENDIX G28 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. 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]