This position functions in the Pharmacy Service Clinical Section specifically related to Administration duties. The incumbent at this level has a higher level of responsibility to the pharmacy clinical program area and expected to carry out assigned tasks of considerable difficulty independently.

Duties

Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Pharmacy Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf The Clinical Pharmacy Technician shall provide and support clinical operations of the clinics and its CPPs. All assigned clinical activities and function shall be completed in accordance with approved clinical pharmacy protocols or procedures: Assigned activities include but not limited to: Medication History Pull data via the electronic health record (EHR) on all new patients who are new to the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) and add to excel sheet to complete medication history. Interviews patients (families/caregivers as appropriate), to develop an accurate list of medications, strengths, and dosages the patient has been taking. Interviews patients for any over the counter medications and/or herbal product. Review Joint Legacy Viewer (JLV) to see if patient has been receiving medications from another VA. Document adverse reactions and allergies that the patient reports. Review any patient compliance issues based on the interview and refill history. Document the compiled list in the electronic health record. Add the CPP as an additional cosigner to the medication history note in the EHR if there are discrepancies. Contacts and collaborates with other healthcare providers in the facility as deemed appropriate. Clinical Review all encounters daily and notify CPP for completion. Review all consults and notify CPP for timely completion. Review all unsigned notes and notify CPP for completion. Review all user alerts and notify all pharmacists for completion. Call patients that are due/late for a refill on their chronic medication refills and offer refill to be mailed out for a 90-day supply and notify CPP for renewal. Review performance improvement dashboards which include hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, etc. and report to the Clinical Pharmacy Supervisor. Review all assigned CPP clinics for access and prepare and present the report to the appropriate Supervisor. Tract and trend these finding every month. Monitor for all non-formulary consults to ensure pharmacy service follows the National standard for timely turnaround. Technical Review all ambulatory care clinics with the appropriate CPP and the Clinical Pharmacy Supervisor to update and restructure as necessary. Enter all LEAF requests for all modifications to pharmacy clinics. Enter all LEAF requests for all clinic closures to pharmacy clinics. Works closely with other clinic administrative staff. Pulls CPP productivity information and reports for pharmacy supervisors monthly. Acts as a resource person for planning, reviewing, or revising pharmacy policies and/or procedures. Must possess extensive knowledge of all pharmacy computer packages/programs which include but not limited to: a. Microsoft Windows Programs b. Computerized Patient Records Systems (CPRS, GUI, VistA, EHR, etc.), national dashboards, National Drug File. c. Must have comprehensive knowledge of how these computer packages interact with various disciplines within the organization. Other duties: Participates in quality assurance, process improvement activities, and performance monitors. Maintain competence by participating in staff development programs. Provide in-service programs for appropriate clinic personnel and pharmacy technicians as assigned. Successfully complete annual competency certifications based on specific clinical functions/activities assigned. Performs all the duties of a pharmacy technician at the lower grades as assigned. Assists in other patient care areas as deemed necessary to maintain the consistency of overall pharmacy services. Assigned to clinics based on the business needs. Other duties as assigned by Chief of Service or Supervisor Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Available (Ad Hoc) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Pharmacy Technician (Clinical) Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). 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. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. Pharmacy technicians appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part 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). 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: Experience to receive, read, sort, and interpret prescriptions and determine kind, strength, and dosage of drugs to be dispensed. Can correlate instructions on the prescription with Pharmacy Policy. Experience to generate labels and process prescriptions by obtaining correct stock, counting, or measuring correct amount of medication Comprehensive knowledge in reviewing VA and available non-VA medical records and lab results (e.g., progress notes, glucose, A1c, renal function, etc.) and to be able to apply VHA criteria-for-use and use protocols or algorithms to evaluate laboratory values, clinical response, and other information in available medical records to make preliminary adjudications on selected medication requests. Ability to communicate appropriately with healthcare professionals internally and externally to retrieve clinical information and records necessary for medication requests Possess clerical skills required to create, update and maintain file systems, databases, and files as required and coordinate with local facility personnel to verify accuracy or advisement of corrective actions Must demonstrate 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 Grade Determinations: GS-8 Experience - Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7) and demonstrate the KSAs below. GS-8 Assignments. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Pharmacy technicians at this level have a higher level of responsibility for specialized areas of pharmacy and are expected to independently carry out assigned tasks of considerable difficulty. 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. GS-8 KSAs - You must meet the following Knowledge, Skills, and or Abilities. (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. Creditable Experience - To be creditable, a candidate must possess the required knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) associated with the scope of pharmacy technician practice. The candidate's experience must be evidenced by active professional practice. (Active professional practice means paid/non-paid employment as a professional pharmacy technician.) For reference, GS-7 Assignment: For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity 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. Reference: GS-7 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 5005/159, Appendix G28, dated November 7, 2023. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-08. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15 - 44 pounds; Moderate carrying, 15 - 44 pounds; Straight pulling up to 1 hour; Pushing up to 1 hour; Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Walking up to 4 hours; Standing up to 3 hours; Repeated bending up to 2 hours; Use of both legs; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Vision correctable with eye ware; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish colors; Ability to distinguish shades of color; Hearing (aid permitted).

Education

Education above high school may not be counted towards qualification for this position at the GS-8 level. High school education may only be counted towards meeting the basic requirements for this position.

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address VA TX Valley Coastal Bend HCS 2601 Veterans Drive Harlingen, TX 78550 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]