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 at this grade level are nationally certified by PTCB or ExCPT and can work autonomously on assigned duties, using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties. Pharmacy technicians above the full performance level can mentor and train lower grade technicians in the practice setting.

Duties

Functions- General Interpret, fills, and prepares prescriptions with appropriate medications and or medical supplies for pharmacist verification Maintains work areas in a clean and orderly condition Assures drugs and supplies are appropriately stored and secured according to VHA policies, local Pharmacy policies, and United State Pharmacopeia policies on the storage of high-risk, look alike sound alike, hazardous, controlled substances, corrosive chemical, flammable liquids, and refrigerated items Receives, checks, rotates, and places in stock all items received from pharmacy vendors and identifies and reconciles any discrepancies Utilizes automated dispensing cabinets and dispensing equipment available to the pharmacy staff following all safety and QA procedures. Reports automation malfunctions timely Records expiration dates in the automated prescription dispensing system Performs monthly inspections of assigned areas to ensure proper storage of medications and soon-to ­expire drugs are removed. Completes inspection reports Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution. Identifies basic therapeutic problems and alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention Assists in training and orientation of new staff technicians, residents, and students Demonstrates the ability to work under a variety of circumstances Performs duties of all lower grade technicians as needed Participates in process improvement initiatives Controlled Substances Coordinates with Accountable Officer witness to receive controlled substances from pharmacy vendors Interprets, fills, and readies prescriptions for pharmacist verification Restocks controlled substances items in automated dispensing cabinets in pharmacy or throughout medical center Maintains perpetual controlled substance accountability according to local, VA, and DEA procedures and regulations Maintains controlled substance security Reports unresolvable discrepancies to vault pharmacist or immediate supervisor for resolution Complies with all laws, regulations, directives, policies, and procedures Assists Controlled Substance Inspectors with monthly unannounced inventory and accountability inspections Performs inventory of controlled substances every 72 hours Sterile Product Compounding Follows USP 797/800 guidelines for the compounding of all sterile preparations, including ophthalmic, cardioplegic, TPN, hazardous, large & small volume parenterals, PCAs, etc. Correctly interprets physician orders, selects, and measures ingredients, mixes ingredients in a safe and effective manner, inspects the final product for accuracy, suitability, and elegance, labels the product, maintains records of the manufacturing process, and supplies the product for pharmacist verification and delivery Uses standard protocols to determine the beyond-use-date for each batch prepared Consistently follows good manufacturing practices and sterile technique Maintains all quality assurance records Unit Dose Medication Management Inventories and replenishes emergency trays Operates and maintains automated dispensing unit dose systems Assures repackaged dosage forms are labeled according to USP and VA standards Maintains repackaging records that assures all regulatory and review standards are met Troubleshoots minor mechanical problems of all automated systems as they occur and coordinates resolution of more involved mechanical or software problems Automatic Replenishment/Ward Stock Inventories, assesses, and determines the need for floor stock Follows established policies and procedures, schedules, inventory levels, and usage rate reports to determine appropriate stock levels for specific areas of use Fills medication and supply items for wards using Automatic Replenishment reports Performs and documents inspection of assigned hospital areas for medication storage. Removes soon-to-expire and deteriorated drugs from the automated dispensing stations, stocks shelves, and the unit dose automated dispensing systems Assures that each area that is inspected meets established standards for appropriate drug storage conditions including drug security for inspection and accreditation Prescription Processing and Dispensing Prescription Assembly Window Pick-Up Work Schedule: Rotating Mon-Fri 7am-3:30pm, 7:30am-4pm, 9am-5:30pm with some weekends and holidays Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 0000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized 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. 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). 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: Pharmacy Technician, GS-07 Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. 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. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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. Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers. Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students. Ability to dispense 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. 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 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. Preferred Experience: Two years of pharmacy technician experience preferred in a retail and/or medical center setting. National Certification as either PTCB certification or NHA ExCPT (CPhT) is required at this grade level and above. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/159 PART II APPENDIX G28 G28-1 APPENDIX G28. PHARMACY TECHNICIAN QUALIFICATION STANDARD The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-07. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting; moderate carrying; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; standing; repeated bending; near vision correctable at 13' to 16' to Jaeger 1 to 4; ability to distinguish colors; mental and emotional stability Environmental Factors: constant noise; unusual fatigue factors (extensive keyboard and mouse); working closely with others; 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: Melissa Quilter
• Phone: 360-696-4061 X38599
• Email: [email protected]