This position is located in the West Haven Outpatient Pharmacy. Pharmacy technicians prepare medications by counting, pouring, weighing, measuring, and compounding non-sterile preparations. The pharmacy technician may also prepare medications for distribution to various clinics and outpatients for pickup and mailing. The pharmacy technician works in collaboration with other pharmacy technicians and pharmacists and responds to requests other staff.

Duties

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Pharmacy Technician (West Haven Outpatient Pharmacy) GS-0661-07 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 the GS-07 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 the GS-07 level, pharmacy technicians use independent judgement to perform the full range of duties in the pharmacy. Duties include but are not limited to the following description: Prescription Assembly: Accurately interprets, fills, and prepares prescriptions with appropriate medications and or medical supplies for pharmacist verification. Pharmacy Inventory: Receives, checks, rotates, and places in stock all items received from pharmacy procurement section and identifies and reconciles any discrepancies to assure correct items have been received. Notifies purchaser of items needing ordering. Customer Service: Assists customers at the pharmacy window and answers the telephone. Responds to inquiries to best of technical expertise and refers any complex questions to a pharmacist. Pharmacy Automation: Utilizes automation dispensing equipment (i.e., ScriptPro, Pyxis, Omnicell, FastFill, OptiFill etc.) available to the pharmacy staff following all safety and QA procedures. Reports automation malfunctions timely to the appropriate personnel . Supports automation by manually completing prescriptions not processed through the automation dispensing machine. Inspections: Performs monthly inspections to assigned areas (both internal pharmacy locations and external clinics/units) to ensure proper storage of medications and soon to expired drugs are removed. Completes inspections in compliance with regulatory requirements. USP Non-Sterile Compounding: Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications. This includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the amount of drug or solution to be used for final pharmacist verification. Mail Packaging: Utilizes and comprehends VISTA records and the mail shipping programs used by the facility (i.e., USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.) for delivery of non-controlled and controlled prescriptions. Calls patients to arrange delivery of refrigerated prescriptions or high cost medications when needed and creates shipping labels with accurate patient information. Controlled Substances Activities: Accurately interprets, fills, and prepares prescriptions for pharmacist verification. Appropriately restocks controlled substances in automated secured cabinets (i.e., ScriptPro, Pyxis, Omnicell, FastFill, OptiFill etc.) in pharmacy or throughout medical center, as assigned. Assures inventory counts are correct at the time of restocking/dispensing. Performs controlled substance inventory in accordance with VHA directives. Maintains work areas in a clean and orderly condition and participates in performance improvement initiatives for pharmacy, including any special assigned projects. 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. Holidays and Weekends: Rotating shifts - Holidays 8am-430pm; Saturdays 8am-12noon Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F06757 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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. 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 (West Haven Outpatient Pharmacy) GS-0661-07 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. Assignment: Pharmacy technicians at the GS-07 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: 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]