The pharmacy technician is responsible for providing pharmacy technician support to the outpatient veteran population served by the Pharmacy Service at the Huntington, WV VA Medical Center. The individual is responsible for an in-depth knowledge of outpatient pharmacy policies and procedures for filling and dispensing of medications, including knowledge regarding automation, prescription filling processes and controlled substances.

Duties

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Pharmacy Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf Duties to include but not limited to the following: Performs purchasing functions of all prescription and non­prescription drug products and supplies for Pharmacy Service in timely and cost-effective manner. Establishes processes and procedures for borrowing items from area hospitals or pharmacies on an emergency basis and ensures their safe transport to the medical center. Ensures timely and appropriate product reconciliation with the loaning organization. Assures consistent vendor delivery schedules that support the needs and goals of the Pharmacy Service. Investigates and resolves shipping and receiving errors from vendors and suppliers in compliance with hospital fiscal policies. Reports and resolves discrepancies and reconciles orders in a timely manner. Utilizes the prime vendor as primary source for medications and supplies. If an item is unavailable, decides whether to order an equivalent generic substitute, different strength, bottle size, or wait and reorder the next day. Coordinates with pharmacy supervisors when necessary, concerning drug unavailability. Using the prime vendor database, determines the cost differential to purchase from a different manufacturer, as well as the expected due-in date of the unavailable produce at the prime vendor. Utilizes the Medical/Surgical Prime Vendor to procure supply items unavailable through Pharmacy prime vendor. Acts as an active liaison with Logistics Service in identifying alternative procurement sources, expediting interim and emergency orders, resolving administrative and procedural problems, etc. Reconcile prime vendor, purchase card, return goods documents and credits as directed by local, VISN and national policy. Ensures compliance with all controlled substances rules and regulations as defined by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the VHA Controlled Substance Handbook (VHA Directive 1108.01 (01)). Included are the extensive requirements for placing narcotic orders, receipt of narcotic orders, and the immediate transport of received narcotics to the respective narcotic vault. Maintains all required documentation of daily purchases and coordinates product receipt and control point management. Works directly with supervisory personnel to support and ensure department budgetary compliance. Maintains a complete and current record keeping and retrieval system. Files are routinely purged to avoid accumulation of obsolete material based on Records Management guidelines. Ensure that use of purchase card is consistent with VA Handbooks the hospital's fiscal policies. Resolves any discrepancies related to Drug Accountability and McKesson invoices. Effectively manages prime vendor 1358's daily and shares in the responsibility for the overall management of the department's multi-million-dollar pharmaceutical budget. Maintains pharmacy inventory software to ensure that appropriate quantities are ordered so that stock levels are maintained without excess. Ensures that stock is dispersed into designated storage areas with appropriate storage requirements based on VA, OSHA, US Pharmacopoeia, and Joint Commission standards. Performs weekly inspection of cache to ensure that building is secure, and medications are properly stored. This includes check of room temperature, general cleanliness, refrigerator temperature, security of carts, medications expiration dates and alarm system in working order. This inspection shall be documented on inspection form and filed in Pharmacy Service office. Adding controlled substance duties. Maintains inventory management, including adequate stock and review of expiration dates. Works closely with the supervisors to investigate discrepancies or diversion. Follows policies and procedures for handling of destructions and returns for controlled substance medication. Works with other controlled substances technicians to ensure twice weekly (3 days apart) inventories are completed in the outpatient pharmacy vault and sheets are given to the Controlled Substance Program Manager for filing and verification during the controlled substance monthly inspection. Maintains an organized system to track paperwork, signatures, mail outs, and other pertinent information for controlled substance filling. Works closely with local mailroom, USPS, and UPS employees to ensure timely mailing of controlled substance. Work Schedule: Available tour of duty will be confirmed and discussed during an interview, it conducted.Compressed/Flexible: Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 0000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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. Certification. For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through one of the below: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT). 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). 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). 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: Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. 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. 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. Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. Grade Determinations: Grade Requirements for the GS-08. In addition to the basic requirements above, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower GS-07 level. Examples of this specialized experience include: Mentor and train lower graded pharmacy technicians in the practice setting. Assist advanced/ specialized pharmacy technicians and participate in performance improvement initiatives. Use independent judgement to perform the full range of duties in the pharmacy. Provide support in various locations of the pharmacy, including pharmacy contact centers and other non-traditional pharmacy locations, with minimal oversight. And, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the basic and grade level experience above, candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs for all GS-08 assignment. 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.) 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. Preferred Experience: The below is preferred only and not a requirement for the position: Experience filling controlled substance prescriptions and maintaining mail records for controlled substance prescriptions to be mailed to ensure accurate and timely daily pick up. Experience researching and resolving issues related to mailed outpatient scheduled prescriptions, using computer or available resources. Experience independently initialing orders for pharmaceutical and supply items, assuring inventory control through perpetual evaluation and analysis, receiving shipments of goods, assure compliance with storage requirements for pharmaceutical items, liaison with company representatives and managerial staff. References: VA Handbook 5005/159, Part II, Appendix G28 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. 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 t 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.

Education

IMPORTANT: No educational requirements

Contacts

• Address Huntington VA Medical Center 1540 Spring Valley Drive Huntington, WV 25704 US
• Name: Erika Dowell
• Phone: (216) 225-8132
• Email: [email protected]