The Pharmacy Technician (Controlled Substance Coordinator) functions as the technician for the controlled substance management program as well as the automated dispensing cabinets for all sites within the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System.

Duties

Major duties include, but are not limited to: Trains all CTVHCS controlled substance officer technicians and coordinates coverage with pharmacist supervisors at all CTVHCS facilities Requires an in-depth knowledge of the laws, regulations, and official policy pertaining to controlled substance management including procurement, dispensing and recordkeeping Assists facility Controlled Substance Inspection Coordinator in training controlled substance inspectors for the facility and assisting them with any issue related to inspections Reviews reports and balance discrepancies to detect potential diversion; reports questionable actions or concerning trends to appropriate parties. Possesses a thorough knowledge of hospital computer programs, pharmacy automation, pharmacy policies/procedures/SOP's Develops policies and procedures for the service and facility regarding controlled substances, investigational drugs, and ADC's Performs duties of lower grade technicians as needed for patient care Coordinates the technical aspects of pharmacy drug distribution activities to ADC's to ensure processes are in alignment with automation capabilities so that efficiencies are maximized. Incumbent is instrumental in recommending changes forth improvement of the workflow, work methods, and priorities involved within the drug distribution system. Evaluates and analyzes workflow and coordinates all work activities involved with Pharmacy ADC's throughout multiple facilities. This will involve trouble shooting, regularly gathering data, analyzing, and interpreting VA data and formulating action plans. Ensures that automated dispensing data is archived within established guidelines for each type of equipment throughout multiple facilities. Resolves problems and complaints regarding all ADC's, troubleshoots problems with all automated dispensing equipment when production is compromised and alerts appropriate personnel. Has oversight responsibility of the user files of ADC's throughout multiple facilities. Has oversight responsibility for the addition of new items and deletion of obsolete items from ADC's. Ensures processes are developed for equipment downtime, including contingency plans. Develops training programs and material for orientation. Trains and orients pharmacy staff, controlled substance inspectors, nursing and other medical center staff involved in operating ADC's. Provides data for workload reports and process improvement projects to appropriate supervisors throughout multiple facilities. Thoroughly understands investigational drug policies and procedures, if applicable, as they relate to Pharmacy automation equipment Thoroughly understands controlled substance policies and procedures, including controlled substance inspection process, discrepancies and resolution as they related to the use of ADC's. Trains all CTVHCS controlled substance officer technicians on dispensing and recordkeeping activities for investigation medication protocols at CTVHCS facilities Requires an in-depth knowledge of the laws, regulations, and official policy pertaining to investigational medications including procurement, dispensing and record keeping Ensures all investigation medications and records are stored in accordance to VHA requirements Develops policies and procedures for the service and facility regarding investigational medications Performs duties of lower grade technicians for investigational medication protocols Assists in the quality management of Pharmacy Service by participating in process action teams, committees, and/or workgroups; continually seeks ways to improve the service provided to patients and other customers. Maintains clean and orderly work areas by keeping stock and equipment in assigned places and all counters free of debris for optimal work environment in accordance with good manufacturing practices. Ability to interact with facility personnel and our Veteran customers in a professional manner that promotes proper rapport and insures the highest level of customer service and patient care. Ability to recognize and solve problems, makes recommendations to avoid potential problems, and refers appropriate concerns to appropriate personnel. Is expected to protect patient sensitive information, electronic and print in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, Federal Regulations, VA statutes and policy, and VHA policy. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 50601 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). Education or Experience. None required. For all grade levels and positions that accept both education and experience to qualify, equivalent combinations of qualifying education and experience that total at least 100% are qualifying. The combined percentage is determined by adding total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level to the education as a percentage of the education required for the 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: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).OR National Health career Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT). 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. Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. English Language Proficiency. Pharmacy Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determinations: Pharmacy Technician, GS-09 Experience. One year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the 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 the following KSAs and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment, if indicated: Expert knowledge serving as a key resource advising others in their particular specialty area or section of the pharmacy (such as procurement, sterile compounding (USP compounding standards),controlled substances DEA, automation, clinical pharmacy, lead tech, contact center, etc.). Skill in analyzing data for self-driven (independent) performanceimprovement projects, workload analysis and statistical reports. Skill in solving problems and implementing corrective actions tomaximize outcomes in their program area. Ability to maintain special accreditations and prepare for national reviews/inspections (e.g., The Joint Commission, Inspector General, American Society of Health System Pharmacists®, controlled substance inspections). Ability to develop training programs and material for orientation, competency development and educational needs for regulatory requirements within the specialized pharmacy program area. 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 Technician. Pharmacy technician coordinators perform the full range of program coordination in their specialized area of pharmacy. These positions require independent technical judgement and expertise in complex areas of pharmacy practice that have specific laws, significant regulatory requirements and quality/safety standards. They organize, coordinate and manage single or multiple programs under the delegation of pharmacy supervisors or Associate Chiefs. Pharmacy technicians at this level must have expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for the complex program area and manage all aspects of compliance with these standards with limited input from pharmacy supervisor(s). Pharmacy technicians at this grade level may be assigned as a coordinator in areas requiring detailed regulatory oversight and record keeping including, but not limited, to the Controlled Substance Program, Research/Investigational Drug Program, Procurement, Automation & Informatics program, Quality/Patient Safety, Clinical or Call Center. Preferred Experience: 2 years' experience as a Lead Controlled Substance Officer in the VA. Experience using Pandora to find anomalies in Pyxis ADCs at VA. Experience running Pandora/Pyxis reports for OIG/DEA. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is 09. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

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 Central Texas Health Care System 1901 Veterans Memorial Drive Temple, TX 76504 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]