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. Advanced pharmacy technicians serve in specialized roles within the pharmacy department and are often involved with program management of their specialty area.

Duties

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Duties Include but not limited to: Provide pharmaceutical support to the inpatient veteran population at the Hershel Woody Williams VA Medical Center. The IV technician specialist is responsible for program management of the preparation of IV solutions, chemotherapies, and TPN preparations for administration to the veteran population served by the Inpatient Pharmacy Service, Compounded Sterile Preparations (CSP) Program Management: (25%) Serves as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) and key resource in day-to-day CSP program duties. Assists with CSP-related aspects of inspections and surveys, including Joint Commission. Analysis of workload/workflow and presentation of data to pharmacy management relating to IV preparation including changes to stock levels and updates to processes. Enters necessary data and records into Simplifi797 and/or IVX Workflow for later analysis. Ensures compliance with all policies and procedures relating to IV preparation, including the VA Inpatient Pharmacy Services Directive, Joint commission, USP 797 and 800, and all station memorandums and service level SOPs. Patient Care: IV Medications/Sterile Products: (40%): Maintains knowledge of appropriate aseptic technique and USP 797 regulation, policies and, procedures, and USP 707 regulation, policies, and procedures. Fills IV orders with accuracy and in a timely manner. Performs cleaning of the IV hoods and other clean room areas as appropriate. Documents all regular cleanings and other IV clean room quality assurance data (pressures, surface sampling, etc.). When a Quality Assurance measure falls outside of normal ranges, contacts supervisor or other appropriate person and takes action to correct in a timely manner. Complies with USP 797 and 800 standards at all times. Unit Dose: (15%) Maintains a knowledge of regulations, policies, and procedures regarding medication dispensing. Maintains a thorough working knowledge of the unit dose packaging automation. Manually prepackages and labels any medications not packaged by the unit dose automation. Complies with USP 800 standards for Handling of Hazardous Drugs. Ward Stock: (15%) Maintains a thorough working knowledge of the Automated Dispensing Cabinets (ADCs) (i.e.Omnicell) located on the wards and clinics, including use of the automation and required policies and procedures for stocking the automation. Responsible for restocking the correct item in the correct automated dispensing equipment location with the correct expiration date. Delivers ward-stocked medication items to the appropriate wards and clinics in a timely manner. Outpatient Prescriptions: (5%) Maintains a working knowledge of the ScriptPro system in order fill, label, and batch prescriptions. Fills and batches outpatient prescriptions for the pharmacist to check as needed when outpatient pharmacy is closed. Responsible for completing and documenting assigned ward inspections and pharmacy area inspections on a monthly basis. Maintains a working knowledge of the stocking of crash carts and emergency medication boxes. Customer Service: Relationships with supervisors, co-workers and others within the organization must be consistently courteous and cooperative in nature and overall contribute to the effective operation of the office. Performance must demonstrate the ability to adjust to change or work pressure in a pleasant manner; handle differences of opinion in a businesslike fashion; follow instructions conscientiously; and function as a team member, helping the group effort where possible. Work Schedule: Varies based on needs of the service. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:581-24049-F EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more 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-08 Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-08 candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-07 which includes: Independent judgement to perform a full range of duties Mentor and train lower graded pharmacy technicians in the practice setting. They assist advanced/ specialized pharmacy technicians and participate in performance improvement initiatives. And, Knowledge and Skills Required: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) for ALL GS-08 assignments and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment, if indicated: 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. Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures. Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy. Basic knowledge of pharmacy procurement, distribution and storage requirements to maintain a safe working environment. This includes not limited to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and DEA requirements and regulations. Ability to assist in determining and modifying as necessary: ordering intervals, inventory levels and cost-effective ordering quantities from required sources based on current financial conditions in pharmacy, seasonal variations in drug usage, changing patterns in medical practice, delivery time requirements and urgency of medical need. Pharmacy Technician: Pharmacy technicians in this assignment specialize in areas such as sterile compounding, oncology, controlled substances, medication history review, clinical specialist (anticoagulation, pain, infectious diseases), clinical informatics, automation, immunizations and any other specialized area in the advancement of the profession. The pharmacy technician will serve as a subject matter expert and key resource in the day-to-day technician duties of the specialized area. The technician will be performing assignments such as compounding sterile products, filling controlled substance prescriptions while maintaining compliance with Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) regulations, taking medication histories and counseling patients, managing automation, managing workflow and training and orienting staff in the specialized area. References: VA handbook 5005 The full performance level of this vacancy is 8. Physical Requirements: May require lifting and carrying moderate loads (up to 44 lbs.), including boxes and equipment, stooping or kneeling (e.g., to pick up items from the floor, remove and replace items on lower shelves, and to file documents in lower file drawers, etc.); sitting walking, or standing for long periods of time (4-8 hours).Normal ranges of hearing and vision are required to perform work and communicate effectively, must have the visual ability to distinguish between basic colors and shades of color. An ability to perform tasks requiring rapid mental and muscular coordination functions simultaneously is necessary. Incumbent must be physically capable of operating various types of equipment used for the job. Must be able to work closely with others. Must be able to stand at an IV hood for extended periods of time to prepare IV products. They must be able to make deliveries to ward med rooms and clinics throughout the medical center, including the ability to push/pull the unit dose carts to the inpatient wards. Employees must be able to retrieve items high on shelves or low to the ground. Fine movements of the hands are required to fill and label unit-doses, care for automation equipment, and prepare sterile IV products.

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: Chelsea Montgomery
• Phone: 352-214-8560
• Email: [email protected]