The Automation Pharmacy Technician position is located in the Newington Outpatient Pharmacy. Pharmacy technicians prepare medications by counting, pouring, weighing, measuring, and mixing or compounding medications. The pharmacy technician may also prepare medications for distribution to clinics and outpatients for pickup and mailing. Pharmacy technicians work in collaboration with other pharmacy technicians and responds to requests of pharmacists, call centers, patients and supervisory staff.

Duties

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Pharmacy Technician (Newington Outpatient Automation) GS-0661-08 Under the supervision of a Pharmacist, or Supervisory Pharmacy Technician, pharmacy technicians perform routine pharmacy functions including medication preparation, inventory accountability and medication distribution. Pharmacy technicians prepare prescriptions by counting, pouring, weighing, measuring, and mixing the medication if necessary. Pharmacy technicians receive and set up stock, and take inventory of medications. Pharmacy technicians prepare medications for outpatients in various settings, including non-sterile product preparation. Pharmacy technicians are able to read and understand medication profiles, refill prescriptions, track orders and triage patient medication inquiries appropriately. Pharmacy technicians at this GS-8 standard 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. This pharmacy technician will serve as a subject matter expert and key resource in the day-to-day technician duties of the specialized area for automation. The technician will also be able to perform all pharmacy technician duties as it relates to the outpatient pharmacy. Duties include but are not limited to the following description: Resolves problems and complaints regarding all pharmacy and automated dispensing automation, troubleshoots problems with all automated dispensing equipment when production is compromised and alerts appropriate personnel. Evaluates, coordinates and performs work activities involved with inventory management and pharmacy automation (i.e., ScriptPro, Pyxis, Omnicell, FastFill, OptiFill etc.). This will involve trouble shooting, gathering data, navigating formulary issues at the local level and coordinating between campuses as well as CMOP. This may involve the guidance and collaboration with procurement. Has oversight responsibility of the user files of all automated dispensing systems and for the addition of new items and deletion of obsolete items from all automated dispensing systems. Ensures that equipment is cleaned and maintained regularly to minimize downtime. Coordinates with HTM services to ensure preventative maintenance and collaboration with the contracted automation company is met if applicable. Trains and orients pharmacy staff, and other medical center staff involved in operating automation. Provides data for workload reports and process improvement projects to appropriate supervisors. Thoroughly understands VA pharmacy procurement and formulary and uses this knowledge to appropriately manage pharmacy automation equipment, drug entries, optimize medication utilization and to fulfill medications on backorder. Resolves customer service inquiries related to a broad range of topics, in particular in relation to pharmacy automation, but may include a variety of sources including patient advocate, pharmacy customer care, clinical contact center, direct patient calls and/or clinic requests. Thoroughly understands controlled substance policies and procedures, including controlled substance inspection process, discrepancies and resolution. Coordinates with procurement team to assist with reverse distribution functions. Maintains competency and training as an ordering officer for the national pharmacy prime vendor (PPV) contract in order to assist in occasional backup for basic ordering duties to meet operational goals. Ability to perform all major technician duties up to and including the GS-0661-07 Outpatient Technician assignments as related to prescription assembly, basic inventory, customer service, compounding, ward stock, controlled substances, medication preparation and distribution.. Knowledgeable and proficient in all areas related to GS-0661-08 duties as related to the outpatient pharmacy including controlled substance management, pharmacy customer service, inventory/procurement and reverse distribution matters along with workflow management. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Primarily Monday thru Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm, 8:30am to 5pm EST based on medical center needs. Telework: Ad-Hoc Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F06758 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. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) 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). Grade Determinations: Pharmacy Technician (Newington Outpatient Automation) GS-0661-08 Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level and demonstrate the KSAs below. Certification: For positions above the full performance level (GS-06), 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. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs for all GS-08 assignments and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment, if indicated: 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. Assignment: 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. In addition to managing automation, they will have knowledge, skills and abilities to cover higher level functions as applicable to the particular outpatient pharmacy setting- this can include filling controlled substance prescriptions while maintaining compliance with Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) regulations, taking medication histories and counseling patients, triaging customer service issues/requests from call centers, managing workflow, basic inventory procurement processes and training and orienting staff in the pharmacy and particularly the specialized area to which they are assigned. Preferred Experience: VA Outpatient Pharmacy experience. References: See VA Handbook 5005/159 Part II Appendix G28. Physical Requirements: Principal duties of this position require repetitive use of hands and fingers (e.g., preparing prescriptions, use of a computer keyboard, etc.). May require lifting and carrying light loads (up to 44lbs.), including boxes, equipment, medical supplies, stock boxes etc.; stooping or kneeling (e.g., to pick up items from the floor, remove and replace items on lower shelves, and to file documents in lower file drawers, etc.); sitting, walking, or standing for long periods of time (4-8 hours). Ability to operate automation. Normal ranges of hearing and vision are required to perform work and communicate effectively. An ability to perform tasks.

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 West Haven VA Medical Center 950 Campbell Avenue West Haven, CT 06516 US
• Name: Heather Volpe
• Email: [email protected]