Primary Purpose of the Position is: To ensure compounded sterile preparations have been appropriately prepared using aseptic technique, and verified in accordance with applicable regulatory standards, VHA Regulations, Medical Center Policies, and standard operating procedures. The Organizational Location of the Position is: Inpatient Pharmacy Section under the Office of the Associate Chief, Pharmacy Operations (Inpatient); Pharmacy Service, VA North Texas Health Care System, Dallas, Texas.

Duties

Duties are but not limited to: A. Sterile Compounding: 1. Knowledgeable in United States Pharmacopeia (USP) standards, Pharmacy Law, VHA Directives, and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) regulations as they relate to practice within the VA Healthcare System and its organizational elements. 2. Successfully complete assignments and maintain annual competencies to IV sterile preparations according to USP standards. 3. Uses aseptic technique to compound parenteral admixtures in the form of large volume, small volume, infusion syringe or another modality as required. 4. Generates proper product identification labeling and assigning accurate stability and handling information. Labeling also includes appropriate auxiliary information to ensure safety and efficacy to the patient and other handlers of the product. 5. Interprets orders appropriately and performs accurate product selection, dosage calculations and compounding of agents in an aseptic and effective manner, utilizing package literature, written procedural guidelines and application of specialized knowledge. B. Pharmaceutical Care: 1. Accurately interprets, fills, and prepares prescriptions with appropriate medications and/or medical supplies for pharmacist verification of outpatient prescription orders, inpatient orders, and clinic orders as required per policy. 2. Dispense medications to patients and/or other healthcare professionals post final verification by a pharmacist as required per policy. 3. Respond to questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel about drug distribution. 4. Provide patient education on topics like the refill process and relay questions outside of technician scope to the pharmacist. 5. Ensure adherence to appropriate storage guidelines including high-risk, look-alike sound-alike, and refrigerated items as per USP and VA guidelines. C. Medication Order Fulfillment: 1. Prepares medication orders properly with the correct drug, strength, dosage form, quantity, auxiliary labels. 2. Assures that the correct medication is filled by using appropriate and established safety measures and checks. 3. Inspects packaged items for accuracy and suitability (to include appropriate labeling and documentation) before submitting for final check by a pharmacist. 4. Ensures appropriate review of medications to be dispensed to hospital areas per service level procedures. 5. Supports automation by manually filling orders not processed through the automation dispensing machine. D. Ward and Clinic Stock Management: 1. Correctly inventories, assesses, and determines the need for ward and clinic stock replenishment at main facility and outlying clinical sites. 2. Utilizes usage rate reports and inventory levels (such as automatic replenishment reports) to determine appropriate stock levels for specific areas of use. 3. Accurately fills medications for wards and clinics following established policies and procedures. 4. Performs and documents inspection of assigned hospital areas for medication storage. Removes all expired and deteriorated drugs from the automated dispensing stations. E. Administrative and Education/Training: 1. Maintain a clean and organized work environment, ensuring that all items are stored in their designated places. 2. Assists in training and orientation of new staff technicians, interns, and students. Assumes an active role in the overall pharmacy-training program. 3. Exhibit adaptability in varied circumstances to enhance group productivity. 4. Use Veterans Health Information and Technology Architecture (VistA), EHR, and other aligned systems for various administrative tasks. 5. Participate in performance improvement initiatives for Pharmacy Service. VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Work Schedule: Rotating Shifts Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 51420F 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. 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. English Language Proficiency. Pharmacy technicians appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English. Grade Determinations: Pharmacy Technician, GS-07 In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-07 you must possess at least 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: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). National Health career Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT). Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical 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. 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-07. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting: (15-44 pounds); Moderate Carrying (15-44 pounds); Straight Pulling (less than 30 minutes); Pushing (less than 30 minutes); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 6 hours); Standing (up to 6 hours); Repeated bending (up to 1 hour); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; Hearing (aid permitted).

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/.

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

Contacts

• Address Dallas VA Medical Center 4500 South Lancaster Road Dallas, TX 75216 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]