The Compound Sterile Product (CPS) Pharmacy Technician is a highly specialized technician, who under the authority of the Compound Sterile Products (CSP) program manager or designee, will perform a variety of complex functions in the preparation of sterile IV products, chemotherapeutic agents, and non-hazardous products.

Duties

Knowledgeable in United States Pharmacopeia (USP) 797/800/795, Pharmacy Law, VHA Directives, and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) regulations as they relate to practice within the VA Healthcare System and its organizational elements to assist in management, compliance, staff education activities, training, and room certifications. Timely awareness of changes to departmental, facility, or organizational policies. Correctly interprets orders, selects, and measures appropriate ingredients, compounds ingredients in an aseptic manner, inspects the final product for accuracy and quality, suitability, and elegance, labels the product, maintains records of the manufacturing process, and supplies the product for delivery. Performs accurate product identification, dosage calculation, compounding, and labeling of agents by assigning accurate stability and handling information utilizing package literature, written procedural guidelines and application of specialized knowledge. Understands specific handling considerations for storage, distribution, and disposal of medications. Technical working knowledge of equipment and supplies used in compounding sterile products including but not limited to admixing pumps, needles, syringes, and various compounding supplies, etc. Operates and maintains complex pharmacy equipment including but not limited to Omnicell™/Pyxis™, BD IV Prep sterile compounding automation, laminar flow hoods, biological safety cabinets, restricted access barriers, repeater pumps, etc.) Ensures that the sterile preparations areas are cleaned daily, and appropriate logs are completed documenting for daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning. Uses knowledge, skills, and abilities to resolve questionable orders or situations to ensure quality of care. Contacts pharmacists to obtain clarification for prescriptions/orders or any situation that presents a possible hazard to patient care. Upon completion of the order, contacts the assigned pharmacist for a final check and then delivers prepared products to the wards, clinics, or other designated areas. Follows proper aseptic preparation techniques when compounding hazardous and non-hazardous medications, including the use of closed system transfer devices (CSTD). Reviews anticipated inventory needs and notifies procurement technician in a timely manner of products required. Receives hazardous IV chemotherapy inventory stock according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) guidelines placing in proper storage areas, rotating stock on shelves, and removing/replacing outdated items. Collaborates with pharmacy procurement to maintain chemo/IV room medication inventory, compounding supplies and cleaning product to ensure availability and minimize waste. Conducts daily, weekly, and monthly IV room cleaning to include check for soon to expire medications. Compounds wide variety of intravenous products including uncomplicated and/or complicated parenteral admixtures (small and large volume parenteral), infusion syringe, epidurals, intrathecals, sterile ophthalmic preparations, cardioplegia solutions, or other as required. Successfully passes all required sterile compounding competencies including gloved fingertip testing, media fill testing, and DCA sample testing, and didactic assessments. Assists in maintains a training/education manual for the focus area assigned. Able to perform and document preventative maintenance (PM) on all sterile compounding PECs. Trains new staff or staff that may require additional remediation based on the assessment of the Compound Sterile Products (CSP) program manager or designated personnel. Able to provide appropriate and constructive feedback to trainees and compounding staff as necessary. Able to perform compounding with IV automation, provide training as a superuser for IV technology, and perform troubleshooting on IV automation, including providing additional training to front line staff as needed. Work Schedule: 06:00 AM - 02:30 PM - rotating weekends and holidays off tours as needed for patient care needs Telework: Not Available 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 Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT). Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials 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 (1) Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level and demonstrate the KSAs below. (2) 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. (3) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs for all GS-08 assignments and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment, if indicated: (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: IV, 797 and compliance and compounding chemotherapy sterile compounded products References: VHA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G28 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8

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]