These requirements apply to all VHA pharmacy technicians employed in the General Schedule performing a variety of pharmacy duties under the supervision of a pharmacist. Pharmacy technicians perform routine pharmacy functions including filling, preparation and dispensing of prescriptions, sterile compounding preparation, management of automated dispensing equipment (ADE), inventory management and multiple types of customer contact services.

Duties

1. Reads and interprets prescriptions, obtains proper medication or material in the proper strength and dosage form; determines proper amount and counts, pours, or measures the medications; affixes proper label; and records required data electronically or via the Pharmacy's copy of prescription/order. After a final check by a pharmacist, dispenses medication in a clinic, ambulatory care, dispensing window, or discharge situations. 2. Inventories replenished emergency carts without a second view. Collects drug use evaluation data for quality improvements purposes. Operates and maintains complicated pharmacy equipment. 3. Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile) without a second review. This includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the amount of drug or solution to be used. 4. After prescription/order(s) are reviewed by a pharmacist for therapeutic propriety, reviews orders for technical accuracy and convers the order, if necessary, so that the item dispensed corresponds to the drug and dose ordered. 5. Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution. Identifies basic therapeutic problems such a s duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class and alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention. 6. Monitors refrigerator temperature daily in assigned areas. 7. Conducts periodic ward inspection of clinic care areas and/or nursing medication rooms. 8. Maintains, verifies, stocks and replaces outdates in patient care area automated dispensing machines. 9. Assists with inventory management, maintaining stock levels and ordering of medications. 10. Properly handles medications by ensuring high alert, hazardous, refrigerated and controlled substance medications are handled/stored appropriately and legally. 11. Prepares medications that requires special handling and documentation. 12. Assists in training for lower graded technicians and technician students. 13. Replenishes stock to outlying Community Based Outpatient Clinics 14. Ability to solve problems and make recommendations, e.g., troubleshoot operational problems and refer for appropriate action; 15. Knowledge of the operation and care of automated equipment; 16. Knowledge of, and ability to follow, written instructions for compounding with aseptic technique for hazardous materials such as oncology agents; 17. Knowledge, and ability to perform, compounding with aseptic technique for routine sterile products; 18. Knowledge of policies and procedures for inventory management in specialized areas such as emergency carts; and 19. Knowledge of the computerized prescription process demonstrated by the ability to input prescriptions and medication orders. Work Schedule: Rotating Shifts, (Monday to Friday 07:00am-4:00pm, 8:00am-4:30pm, 1030am-7:00pm) Including rotating Holidays and Weekends Compressed/Flexible:Not available Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 619-54808F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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. 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: One year experience at the next lower level and must fully meet the KSAs at the next lower level (GS 05). References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-28 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. Physical Requirements: Duties may require sitting, standing, walking, bending, stooping, or kneeling for extended periods of time. Ability to lift/push/pull light loads, carts weighing 40 pounds or more. Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination. Normal range for hearing and vision.

Education

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.

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 Central Alabama VA Medical Center-Montgomery 215 Perry Hill Road Montgomery, AL 36109 US
• Name: Vincent Sykes
• Phone: 334-847-0947
• Email: [email protected]