This Pharmacy Technician (Outpatient/Inpatient/Administrative) position is for a certified pharmacy technician above the full performance level GS-7 at the Hershel "Woody" Williams VA Medical Center. Pharmacy technicians at this grade level are nationally certified by PTCB or ExCPT and can work autonomously, using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties. Pharmacy technicians above the full performance level can mentor and train lower grade technicians in the practice setting.

Duties

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Duties of the Pharmacy Technician (Outpatient/Inpatient/Administrative) include but are not limited to: Accurately interpret, fills, and prepares prescriptions with appropriate medications and or medical supplies for pharmacist verification. Maintains work areas in a clean and orderly condition by assuring that all stock and equipment are in assigned places and all shelves and counters are free of dust and debris in order to create optional work areas. Assures drugs and supplies are appropriately stored and secured according to USP and VA guidelines, including the storage of high-risk, look a-like sound alike, hazardous, corrosive chemical, flammable liquids, and refrigerated items. Receives, checks, rotates, and places in stock all items received from pharmacy procurement section and identifies and reconciles any discrepancies to assure correct items have been received. Utilizes automation dispensing equipment available to the pharmacy staff following all safety and QA procedures. Reports automation malfunctions timely the supervisor as appropriate Records expiration dates in the automatic prescription dispensing system upon receipt. Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile). This includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the amount of drug or solution to be used for final pharmacist verification. a. Manufactures products requiring compounding, whether made in large batches for more than one patient or in small batches to fill a single prescription or drug order. b. Correctly interprets physician orders, selects, and measures appropriate ingredients, mixes ingredients in a safe and effective manner, inspects the final product for accuracy, labels the product, maintains records of the manufacturing process, and attains a final check by a pharmacist. c. Uses standard protocols to determine an accurate expiration date for each batch prepared. d. Proficiently operates equipment including but not limited to balances and mixing machines in the routing of manufacturing pharmaceutical products. Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution. Identifies basic therapeutic problems, such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class and alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention. Assists in training and orientation of new staff technicians, interns, and students. Assumes an active role in the overall pharmacy-training program consisting of students, externs, interns, residents, and professional and non-professional staff members. Demonstrates the ability to work under a variety of circumstances to maximize group productivity and quality. Performs duties of all lower grade technicians as needed. Participate in performance improvement initiatives for pharmacy. Assists in quality improvement activities by participating in assessment and action teams that will improve service as assigned. Administrative/Quality Pharmacy Activities: Performs work involving the collection of patient specific data, researching medication profiles, and tracking of statistical information in the Computerized Patient Records System (CPRS) to collect quality and performance data. Responsible for collecting, compiling and/or tracking statistical information and preparing data/reports related to the administrative, clinical, and technical aspects of the program for submission to the Chief, and other supervisors. Uses multiple automated programs and software such as databases, spreadsheets, and graphics for the Pharmacy Office. Prepares a wide variety of recurring and nonrecurring reports, and other documents. Uses Microsoft Word software to create, copy, edit, store, retrieve, and print forms, memos, and letters; uses database or spreadsheet software to create, enter, revise, sort or calculate, and retrieve data for reports; and uses Microsoft Excel software to provide graphs and charts for reports and presentations. Maintains the Pharmacy SharePoint site. Coordinates and facilitates student rotations through multiple schools of pharmacy, including requests for PIV badge, parking and computer access. Serves as a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) sponsor. Serves as Pharmacy Service's primary timekeeper, initiating, and maintaining all required records in accordance with established policies and procedures. Keeps staff and all supervisors aware of current leave balance(s). Receives telephone calls, greets visitors, and based upon knowledge of the organizations and their programs and operations, refers telephone calls and visitors to appropriate staff. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, Dayshift Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 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. 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). 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). 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 (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. (5) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements. Pharmacy Technician, GS-07 Grade Determination: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level of GS-06. Specialized Experience: Pharmacy technicians at the full performance level may fill orders, dispense/deliver medications using automated systems or provide technical customer service to Veterans related to prescription needs. Duties will include delivery of medications to floors/patients, filling medications for the pharmacist to review, checking for expired medications, answering phones with appropriate disposition, preparing sterile products (when applicable) and assisting with basic inventory management such as putting up stock and identifying when medications need to be ordered. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) for the Level of GS-07: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work. (b) Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent. (c) Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers. (d) Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students. (e) Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution. (f) Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases. References: VA Handbook 5005 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07 Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

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 Huntington VA Medical Center 1540 Spring Valley Drive Huntington, WV 25704 US
• Name: Tianna Miller
• Phone: 404-680-6127
• Email: [email protected]