GS-8 Pharmacy Technician - Controlled Substances/Vault Technician The incumbent functions as a Pharmacy Technician primarily in 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 Duties include, but are not limited to: Controlled Substance Vault: This position requires attention to detail and systematic work habits with detailed tracking and accuracy. All controlled substance medications are filled in the vault, including inpatient controlled substance medication restocks and outpatient prescriptions. The incumbent must display the following: Ability to independently evaluate and analyze workflow and coordinate work activities. Ability to independently gather, evaluate and analyze data to generate reports for projects or statistical purposes. Maintains a detailed, comprehensive knowledge of federal and state laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and other instructions governing control and distribution of controlled substance medications sufficiently to train and orient new employees and other staff. Fills outpatient controlled substance medication prescriptions and inpatient controlled substance medication restocks accurately and promptly in a fast-paced, high-volume environment. Accurately verifies that all outpatient controlled substance medication prescriptions are digitally signed or have a hard copy prescription prior to dispensing. Responsible for maintaining hard copy prescription records in the pharmacy vault. Maintains proficiency with outpatient medication dispensing equipment and inpatient unit-dose medication packaging equipment. Maintains exact inventory of all controlled substance medications in the vault, working closely with pharmacy procurement to ensure adequate inventory levels. Receives new stock and returned stock into inventory, ensuring accuracy of controlled substance medication records. Maintains absolute security of all controlled substance medications in the vault. Keeps and maintains exact detailed records of distribution of controlled substance medications, reconciles order forms with delivery record, monitors signatures for acknowledging receipt of controlled substance medications therefore minimizing the potential for forgery. Maintains exact records of destruction. Follows policies and procedures for handling the destruction and return of controlled substance medication. Accurately performs the controlled substance medication inventory. Accurately performs the biennial controlled substance medication inventory. Completes the monthly ward audit for the vault. Reports discovered discrepancies with the appropriate information to immediate supervisor, Chief of Pharmacy, and the Controlled Substance Coordinator. Works closely with the Controlled Substance Coordinator and inspectors. Pharmacy Technician duties: Administrative and clinical responsibilities will be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. When not directly involved in performing the duties of the Controlled Substances Vault Technician, the incumbent's duties will revert to those of a GS-6 Pharmacy Technician, including: Medication and supply inventory stocking Completing monthly ward audit inspections Delivering medication and supply items to patient care areas Inventory control Non-sterile compounding Prescription filling for scheduled and non-scheduled federal legend drugs, over the counter products, medical devices and supply items Unit-dose packaging and distribution May be assigned special pharmacy projects and other pharmacy duties by their supervisor or other member of the Pharmacy leadership team related to the Pharmacy Service and the provision of safe and effective pharmaceutical care. Training/Education duties: Functions as a resource person to all members of the Pharmacy staff regarding controlled substance medication inventory, dispensing, accountability, adherence to and compliance with all controlled substance related VHA, DEA, federal and state rules, laws, directives and handbooks. 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-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]