This position is for a certified pharmacy technician above the full performance level GS-7 at the Puget Sound VA Health Care System. 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 and timely service in accordance with the mission, vision, and goals of the Puget Sound VA Healthcare System and Pharmacy.

Duties

Duties include but are not limited to: Accurately interpret, fill, and prepare prescriptions with appropriate medications and or medical supplies for pharmacist verification. Maintain 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 in order to create optional work areas. Assure drugs and supplies are appropriately stored and secured according to VHA policies, local Pharmacy policies, and United State Pharmacopeia (USP) policies on the storage of high-risk, look alike sound alike, hazardous, controlled substances, corrosive chemical, flammable liquids, and refrigerated items. Receive, check, rotate, and place in stock all items received from pharmacy vendors and identify and reconcile any discrepancies to assure correct items have been received. Utilize automated dispensing cabinets and dispensing equipment available to the pharmacy staff following all safety and QA procedures. Report automation malfunctions timely to the supervisor as appropriate. Record expiration dates in the automated prescription dispensing system upon receipt or restocking. Perform monthly inspections of assigned areas to ensure proper storage of medications and soon-to-expire drugs are removed. Complete inspection reports in compliance with regulatory requirements. Compound and/or reconstitute oral or external medications (non-sterile). This includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the amount of drug or solution to be used for final pharmacist verification and assigning appropriate beyond-use-date. Answer questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution. Identify basic therapeutic problems, such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class and alert the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention. Assist in training and orientation of new staff technicians, residents, and students. Demonstrate the ability to work under a variety of circumstances to maximize group productivity and quality. Follow USP 797/800 guidelines for the compounding of all sterile preparations, including ophthalmic, cardioplegic, TPN, hazardous, large & small volume parenterals, PCAs, etc. Manufacture uncomplicated and/or complicated parenteral admixtures to be delivered in the form of large volume, small volume, infusion syringe, elastomeric devices, or other as required. Correctly interpret physician orders, select, and measure ingredients, mix ingredients in a safe and effective manner, inspect the final product for accuracy, suitability, and elegance, label the product, maintain records of the manufacturing process, and supply the product for pharmacist verification and delivery. Use standard protocols to determine the beyond-use-date for each batch prepared. Consistently follow good manufacturing practices and sterile technique through demonstration and/or actual work performance. Maintain all quality assurance records in accordance with regulatory requirements. Inventory and replenish emergency trays. Operate and maintain automated dispensing unit dose systems. Assure repackaged dosage forms are labeled according to USP and VA standards and attain a final review by a pharmacist. Inventory, assess, and determine the need for floor stock. Follow established policies and procedures, schedules, inventory levels, and usage rate reports to determine appropriate stock levels for specific areas of use. Fill medication and supply items for wards using Automatic Replenishment reports. 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 Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 3:00pm - 11:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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). 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: GS-7 Pharmacy Technician 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). Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following 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. PREFERRED EXPERIENCE: Two years of pharmacy technician experience preferred in a retail and/or medical center setting. REFERENCES: VHA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G28, Qualifications for Pharmacy Technicians The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, standing (6 hours), repeated bending (2 hours), near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, ability to distinguish basic colors, mental and emotional stability. Environmental factors include constant noise, extensive keyboard/mouse use, working closely with others, and working alone.

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 VA Puget Sound Health Care System 1660 South Columbian Way Seattle, WA 98108 US
• Name: Randi Tran
• Phone: 509-434-7000 X6680
• Email: [email protected]