Provides support to all pharmacy operations in a variety of settings including patient care activities in the main outpatient dispensing pharmacy, phone center, outpatient clinic, administration area, or other area's as assigned.

Duties

Medication Distribution System Reads and interprets prescriptions from the veteran electronic health record systems (EHRS) or in written format. Reviews prescription orders for technical accuracy. Prepares medications and ensures the orderable items matches the item being dispensed with regard to drug, strength, quantity, or appropriate supply items. Including controlled substances and non-controlled substances, chemotherapy, hazardous drugs and compounding. Dispenses medications following all regulations, policies, and procedures for safe medication distribution. Uses Automatic Dispensing Machines (ADM) to fill, label and batch medications. Ensure ScriptTalk labels are batched if needed. Understands when to use other prescription labels with computer outages. Maintains highly sophisticated pharmacy equipment. Assists with automated or manual inventory processes that include but are not limited to inventory counts, medication ordering, stocking, checking for outdates, pulling outdates, pulling recalled medications, inspections or any other related activity. Accurately interprets EHRM patient medication profiles. Confirm prescription information in the pharmacy computer packages. Accurately updates patient information in the many pharmacy software packages such as ADM's and EHRM. Accurately enters notes into the EHRM as directed using pharmacy templates. Comprehends and participates in narcotic dispensing, secure messaging, overnight mail, partial fills, window dispensing, administrative reports, prescription review, and incident reports. Maintains a safe, orderly, and clean working environment. Ensures all look alike-sound alike, high alert, refrigerated medications are stored properly according to manufactures recommendations and Nation Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) requirements. Maintains adaptability and flexibility for various emerging roles and responsibilities in the medication distribution system including new equipment, assignments, and changes in pharmacy workflow. Pharmacy Phone System Use current facility phone system. Maintains appropriate phone etiquette and professionalism. Accurately collects and clarifies patient information. Capable of synthesizing patient information to identify basic therapeutic, distributive, or medication related problems. Understands when to alert pharmacists for problems. Communicates information accurately in the EHRM or other formats Completes calls and follows up in a timely manner as needed. Seeks opportunity to support pharmacy operations when the phone call volume is low. Pharmacy Mail System Fills medication "to be mailed" in accordance with description provided in the medication distribution section. Ensures prescription label matches mailing label and maintains accuracy in other software or paper systems. Able to transport mail containers to pick up destinations, restock supplies, lift mail bags or containers. Assists with other medication distribution activities as directed by pharmacist, supervisor or as delineated as part of the shift responsibility. Able to track patients mail packages as requested. Medication Management System Assists the pharmacist with problem solving patient care or medication issues. Assists in quality improvement projects as an individual or on assigned teams. Assists to complete required pharmacy reporting obligations as directed. Maintains pharmacy security. Maintains accountability for tour of duty. Efficiently uses written communication skills for job related activity such as secure messaging, email, etc Understands pharmacy SOPs and policy for general operations and inspections. Understands wastes streams for returned medications and medications to be destroyed. Receives, unpacks, sorts, checks, and properly stores medications and medical supplies in designated storages areas. Assists with wall-to-wall inventory or other inventory as needed. Routinely checks medication stocks in pharmacy storage areas for outdated or deteriorated items Identifies patients according to hospital policy and Nation Patient Safety Goals. Controlled Substances (if assigned) Fills "CS medication" in accordance with description provided Accurately maintains a rolling inventory and preforms a complete inventory twice a week. Able to run reports as needed. Verify inventory with VA Logistics Officer and accurately stocks ADM Ensure access to CS vault are limited to appropriate staff. Matches hardcopy prescriptions to prescription labels according to current federal and state requirements Work Schedule: 8am-4:30pm, 8:30am-5pm. Alternating weekends/holidays. Schedule may be subject to change based on the needs of the Agency. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 93204-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

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. Education or Experience: A high school diploma or equivalent; or at least 3 months experience. 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. Pharmacy technicians appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English accordance with VA Handbook 5005, chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.. 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: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must possess at least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-06). 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. Preferred Experience: One year VA Outpatient Pharmacy experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Light to heavy lifting and carrying (under 15 pounds up to 50 pounds, straight pulling (1 hour), pushing (2 hours), reaching over shoulders, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (5 hours), standing (7 hours), sitting (2 hours), repeated bending (2 hours), both legs required, ability for rapid mental and muscular simultaneously coordination, near vision correctable at 13 to 16 Jaeger 1 to 4, depth perception, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, ability to distinguish basic colors, ability to distinguish shades of color, working alone, protracted or irregular hours of work. Mental and emotional stability. Working closely with others and around intermittent excessive noise. Dexterity and vision are required for operation of computers and automated equipment.

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 John D Dingell Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 4646 John R Street Detroit, MI 48201 US
• Name: Montana Martin
• Phone: (313) 858-1404
• Email: [email protected]