The Pharmacy Community Care Technician Coordinator is certified, highly independent specialized technician, Pharmacy Technician Supervisor, is responsible for ensuring compliance with the Pharmacy Community Care program. This position requires thorough knowledge and understanding of federal, VA, and facility regulations and pharmacy processes in general and involves performing complex procedures over a range of functions

Duties

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Community Care Program Management: 1. Receives faxed, mailed, electronically prescribed, or delivered prescriptions written by Non-VA providers and processes all received prescriptions to include assessment of appropriateness and eligibility, prioritizing urgent prescriptions first. 2. Utilizes electronic health record, or other related sites to determine authorization and eligibility of Non-VA Care by the medical facility. 3. Communicates with patients concerning prescriptions received from unauthorized provider visits and handles prescriptions appropriately, whether forwarding to primary care provider, returning to patient, and/or documenting in electronic health record. 4. Reviews authorized prescriptions for appropriateness using Pharmacy Technician knowledge, as well as knowledge concerning the national drug formulary and local VA formulary requirements. 5. Communicates with Non-VA providers and staff to request clarification of prescriptions or medication changes due to VA formulary and forwards all changes and clarifications to a licensed pharmacist to receive from the Non-VA representative and documents these actions on the prescription or in electronic health record. 6. Initiates the non-formulary/prior authorization process with the Non-VA provider and records needed documentation in electronic health record. 7. Follows up via phone and/or fax with Non-VA Provider regarding initiated communications concerning non-formulary/prior authorization medications, clarifications, or medication change requests frequently, and documents in electronic health record. Community Care Telephone Triage: 1. Assists the Community Care Clinical Pharmacist with inbound and outbound phone calls relating to community care that do not require a pharmacists' knowledge. 2. Utilizes pharmacy information systems to answer patient or provider questions 2 related to status of their prescription(s), completion date, package tracking, etc. 3. Monitors community care pharmacy voicemail regularly throughout shift and addresses messages promptly. 4. Transfers calls or messages to the Community Care Clinical Pharmacist as appropriate. 5. Documents phone conversations in electronic health record for future reference if appropriate. General Outpatient Pharmacy Support 1. Performs technical support work in the pharmacy under the supervision of a registered pharmacist. Fills, packages, assembles drugs and supplies accurately for dispensing or mailing to Veterans. Assists with ordering and inventory control concerns against the risk of being out of critical drugs for maintaining an acceptable level of health care. Routinely receives medications and supplies, checks for shortages, tampering, breakages, deterioration, and expiration of drug products, and supplies in assigned section (if one is assigned). 2. Knows drug medication brand names, generic names/chemical names, general and special storage requirements, expiration date requirements, dosage forms, applicable systems of weights and measures, medical terminology in order to interpret physician's orders and verify that correct drug, dosage form, strength and dose is prepared and dispensed. Understands drug usage and dosage forms available to be able to screen drug orders for propriety and assist the pharmacist in solving potential problems Education: 1. Participate in the training of other pharmacy technicians, pharmacy students, PGY-1, and PGY-2 residents at Edward Hines Jr, VA Hospital. 2. Interfaces with other health-care providers and administrators to ensure compliance with established pharmacy and medical center policies and procedures Administration/Technical Support: 1. Identify cost reduction/cost avoidance activities on a periodic basis. 2. Open and sort main distributing contents to appropriate areas and packages mail according to mailing system utilized. 3. Perform clerical or other functions as requested. Other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 7:30-4:00 ; with rotating weekends and holidays with off tour hours as needed for patient care Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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. 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 Health career Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT). 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: GS9 Experience. One year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the lower 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: (a) PTCB as a CPhT. OR (b) NHA as a ExCPT. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment, if indicated: (a) Expert knowledge serving as a key resource advising others in their particular specialty area or section of the pharmacy (such as procurement, sterile compounding (USP compounding standards), controlled substances DEA, automation, clinical pharmacy, lead tech, contact center, etc.). (b) Skill in analyzing data for self-driven (independent) performance improvement projects, workload analysis and statistical reports. (c) Skill in solving problems and implementing corrective actions to maximize outcomes in their program area. (d) Ability to maintain special accreditations and prepare for national reviews/inspections (e.g., The Joint Commission, Inspector General, American Society of Health System Pharmacists®, controlled substance inspections). (e) Ability to develop training programs and material for orientation, competency development and educational needs for regulatory requirements within the specialized pharmacy program area. Preferred Experience: Experience in community care prescriptions with strong communication and problem solving skills References: VHA Handbook 5005 PART II Appendix G28 Physical Requirements: 1. The incumbent must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the duties of this position. 2. The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing for prolonged periods of time, frequent twisting/turning, and bending/stooping. 3. The incumbent must be able to perform lifting/carrying, pushing, or pulling different types of equipment such as cabinets, carts or supplies weighing at minimum 50 pounds through various terrains. 4. This position routinely prepares medications that requires special handling and documentation including but not limited to hazardous drug medications. Must be able to wear appropriate respiratory and other personal protective equipment (i.e., PAPRs) as required by policy.

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 Edward Hines Junior Hospital 5000 South 5th Avenue Hines, IL 60141 US
• Name: Vanessa Houliston
• Phone: 725-210-2766
• Email: [email protected]