The incumbent of this position serves as a pharmacy technician in various sections of the Pharmacy Service Line at the Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center (JMCAVAMC). Those sections of Pharmacy include Outpatient, Inpatient, Controlled Substance, Customer Service, Procurement Inventory, Sterile Compound IV Oncology, etc. Applicants must meet the requirement of the updated Pharmacy Technician Qualification Standard dated November 7, 2023.

Duties

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Performs essential role in preparation, compounding, dispensing, and distribution of sterile and nonsterile hazardous medication within designated sterile compounding areas. Receives, reviews, and prepares physician order for cytotoxic agents and pre-medication. Utilizes proper inventory management to ensure sufficient stock of medications and supply are available to meet the needs of the pharmacy and patient care. Download invoices daily as part of the drug accountability process or other inventory management system. Assesses workload volume throughout the day, identifying backlogs, and makes staffing adjustments as needed to meet organizational goals. Organizing and assisting the pharmacy technician team to ensure assigned tasks are timely and accurately completed for their program area. Provides patient education on the medication refill process, the use of automated telephone system, the use of internet refill system and general information on outpatient pharmacy process to ensure patient centered program. Assists the pharmacist supervisor with compilation of data for workload statistics and analysis to detect problems with outpatient pharmacy prescription pick-up process. Prepares, operates, restocks, and maintains complex automated dispensing cabinets and all necessary equipment supporting pharmaceutical patient care functions. Assists, reviews, and makes recommendation in inventory control of controlled substances. Prepares, fill, and dispense controlled substance according to policies and procedures. Conducts regularly schedule inventories every 72 hours and daily if needed according to regulations and policies. Ensures that equipment is cleaned and maintained to minimize downtime. Provides data for workload reports and process improvement projects to appropriate supervisors. Prepares medications and ensures the orderable item matches the item being dispensed with regard to drug, strength, quantity, or appropriate supply item. Accurately enters notes into the electronic health record using pharmacy templates or blank forms. Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile). This includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the amount of drug or solution to be used. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:00 am - 3:30 pm, or 8:00 am - 4:30 pm with rotating weekends. Subject to change by the needs of the organization. Compressed/Flexible:Not Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 54890F; 54889F; 54911F; 54888F; 54887F; 54918F; 54912F; 54876F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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. Certification. For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: (1) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). OR (2) National Health-career 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: GS-07 Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-06. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): (a) Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work. (b) Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent. (c) Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers. (d) Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students. (e) Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution. (f) Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases. GS-08 Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-07. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): (a) 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. (b) Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures. (c) Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy. Preferred Experience: None Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-07 to GS-08. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

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 Atlanta VA Medical Center 1670 Clairmont Road Decatur, GA 30033 US
• Name: Antonio Isaac
• Phone: (404)625-8703
• Email: [email protected]