The Outpatient Controlled Substance Pharmacy Technician is responsible for assuring facility compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, directives, policies, and procedures applying to the dispensing, storage, transfer, inventory, and accountability of controlled substances. They will perform a variety of general and specialized technical and clerical support functions in Pharmacy Service and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the professional staff.

Duties

Major Duties: Collates and prepares prescriptions for distribution (pick-up and/or mail out). Ensures digital signature is valid for each narcotic prescription before filling. Maintains proficiency in transacting controlled substance prescriptions in applicable software systems. Assists with mail packaging of controlled substances, as staffing necessitates. Ensures packaged narcotic prescriptions for mail out are brought to the main mail cart each day before mail leaves the Outpatient Pharmacy area. Upholds complete vault and drug security when working in the vault, including vault entry log. Exhibits an ability to function independently with elevated level of productivity and accuracy. Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of all applicable laws, regulations, directives, policies, and procedures applying to the dispensing, storage, transfer, inventory, and accountability of controlled substances. Conducts and maintains accurate inventory of all controlled substances in the Outpatient pharmacy in accordance with VA policies and procedures to include front and back vaults. Reports all count discrepancies to a supervisor immediately. In addition identifies and reports any potential problem(s) of waste, fraud, diversion, and/or abuse to appropriate supervisors. Provides proper information and assistance to the supervisor to balance adjustment and inventory management. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, Days Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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 None required. 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. 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. 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: Certification: For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). OR National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT). GS-8 Pharmacy Technician Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-7. This experience includes, but is not limited to: 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; Resolving pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers; Training developmental pharmacy technicians and students; Dispensing 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. AND Certification: For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: PTCB as a CPhT. OR NHA as a ExCPT. AND Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/159 Part II Appendix G28 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08 Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

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 Minneapolis VA Medical Center One Veterans Drive Minneapolis, MN 55417 US
• Name: Karin Wehmeyer
• Phone: 3193380581
• Email: [email protected]