This position is for a certified pharmacy technician above the full performance level at the Carl T Hayden VA Healthcare System. 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. The employee will assist the pharmacist in providing optimal care.

Duties

The incumbent is expected to accomplish all duties related to stocking, delivering, inventory, inspections, assembling ward orders, prescription assembly, controlled substances distribution, sterile compounding (including hazardous drugs), unit-dose drug packaging, dispensing, distribution, and any other function related to pharmaceutical practices. The incumbent performs all duties under the supervision of the technician supervisor and is expected to acquire and maintain a high degree of accurate productivity and performance. General 1. Accurately interprets, fills, and prepares prescriptions/orders with appropriate medications and or medical supplies for pharmacist verification. 2. 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 to create optional work areas. 3. 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 a like, hazardous, controlled substances, corrosive chemical, flammable liquids, and refrigerated items. 4. 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. Controlled Substances Activities These functions will be supported in the absence of the controlled substance technician (i.e., after hours, weekends, and leave). a. Accurately interpret, fills, and readies prescriptions with appropriate medications for pharmacist verification b. Appropriately restocks controlled substances items in automated secured cabinets (i.e., OmniCell) in pharmacy or throughout medical center, as assigned. c. Documents all controlled substance related transactions as indicated by VA and DEA guidelines. d. Assures that inventory counts are correct at the time of restocking. Inpatient Pharmacy Activities: 1.Sterile Product Compounding a. Follow USP 797/800 Guidelines for the compounding of all sterile preparations, including ophthalmic, cardioplegic, TPN, hazardous, large & small volume IV solutions, PCAs, etc. Manufactures uncomplicated and/or complicated parenteral admixtures to be delivered in the form of large volume, small volume, infusion syringe or other as required. b. Correctly interprets physician orders, selects, and measures appropriate ingredients, mixes ingredients in a safe and effective manner, inspects the final product for accuracy, suitability, and elegance, labels the product, maintains records of the manufacturing process, and supplies the product for pharmacist verification and delivery. c. Uses standard protocols to determine an accurate expiration date for each batch prepared. Unit Dose Medication Management a. Prepares medications for pharmacist verification to be dispensed to hospital areas. b. Inventories and replenishes emergency trays. c. Operates and maintains automated dispensing unit dose systems. Automatic Replenishment/Ward Stock a. Correctly inventories, assesses, and determines the need for floor stock and external medication. b. Follows established policies and procedures, schedules, inventory levels, and usage rate reports to determine appropriate stock levels for specific areas of use. c. Accurately fills prescription items for wards using Automatic Replenishment reports. Outpatient Pharmacy Activities When assigned: 1. Prescription Assembly a. Assembles prescriptions properly with the correct drug, strength, quantity, auxiliary labels, and prescription labels. for window dispensing and mail delivery b. Assures that the correct medication is filled by using bar code scanning on stock bottles. Window Pick-Up a. Verifies the patient's identification following the Medical Center's policies (i.e., double patient identifiers) b. Verifies that the patient receives the correct prescriptions by using VA software (i.e., VISTA and barcode scanning)c. Verifies that the patient has received all prescriptions (i.e., refrigerated, controlled substances, bulk medications, etc.) Mail Packaging a. Utilizes and comprehends the mail shipping programs used by the facility (i.e., USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.) for overnight delivery of non-controlled and controlled prescriptions. b. Performs searches, updates patient information, and generates shipping reports as requested by the supervisor. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 2:00pm - 10:00pm w/Rotating Weekends Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. Education or Experience: Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent; or at least 3 months of experience. 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). Preferred Experience/Qualifications: Inpatient Pharmacy experience and CPhT Certification Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements above, applicants must possess the following grade requirements. GS-7 Pharmacy Technician: Applicants must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level and must fully meet the KSAs at the next lower level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs: Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work. Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent. Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans, and external customers. Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students. Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution. Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases. Assignment: For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Pharmacy technicians at this level are nationally certified and can work autonomously using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties. These pharmacy technicians mentor and train lower graded pharmacy technicians in the practice setting. They assist advanced/ specialized pharmacy technicians and participate in performance improvement initiatives. At this level, pharmacy technicians use independent judgement to perform the full range of duties in the pharmacy. They also function as staff pharmacy technicians in various locations of the pharmacy, including pharmacy contact centers and other non-traditional pharmacy locations, with minimal oversight. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G28 - Pharmacy Technician Qualification Standards. Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time, typing, walking distances within the medical center, lifting/carrying (45 pounds and greater) of pharmaceutical supplies, and pushing/bending/stooping/stretching.

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 Carl T Hayden Veterans' Administration Medical Center 650 East Indian School Road Phoenix, AZ 85012 US
• Name: Felicia Markham
• Phone: 909-583-6134
• Email: [email protected]