The Primary Purpose of the Position is: To accomplish all duties related to pharmaceutical practices for outpatient care areas in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures including but not limited to the dispensing, storage, transfer, inventory and accountability of controlled substances, hazardous medications, nonhazardous medications, and medical supplies.

Duties

The Lead Pharmacy Technician will adhere to all policies and procedures of the department of pharmacy. Duties include, but are not limited to: A. Operational Lead 1. Assists with the development and coordination of pharmacy programs & workflow. 2. Serve as a liaison to professional, technical, and administrative staff from other services within the medical center. 3. Able to perform and oversee all aspects of outpatient pharmacy technician duties. 4. Operates and maintains all Outpatient Pharmacy automation to maximize production and efficiency by keeping machines adequately stocked and responding to all alarms, system errors, and mechanical needs. 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. C. Prescription Fulfillment 1. Assembles prescriptions properly with the correct drug, strength, quantity, auxiliary labels, and prescription labels for window dispensing and mail delivery post pharmacist verification. 2. Follows procedures for filling medications and assures that the correct medication is filled by using bar code scanning on stock bottles. 3. Supports automation by manually filling prescriptions not processed through the automation dispensing machine 4. Assures the timely completion of all prescriptions. 5. Window Pick-Up a. Verifies the patient's identification following the Medical Center's policies. b. Verifies that the patient receives the correct prescriptions by using VA software (i.e., VISTA and barcode scanning). D. Medication Order Fulfillment (Inpatient) 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. 6. Assures the timely completion of all medication orders. E. 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. F. Controlled Substances Activities These functions will be supported as needed or in the absence of the controlled substances technician (i.e., after hours, weekends, and leave) 1. Maintains vault duties as assigned. 2. Document all controlled substance-related transactions in line with VA and DEA guidelines, ensuring accurate inventory counts during restocking. 3. Always safeguard controlled substances, ensuring they are never left unsecured. a. Report and assist in resolving discrepancies and comply with all regulations regarding controlled substances. G. 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. H. Communication 1. Establishes, develops, and maintains effective working relationships and rapport with facility providers, nursing, Pharmacy Service personnel, and other departments as needed. Serves as a source to resolve questions and problems affecting hospital staff members and patients. Work Schedule: To be discussed with candidate and will match current position tour as assigned by the service. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: United States 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. 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 Healthcareer 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). 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: (1)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. (2)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. (3)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. (4)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. (5)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. Grade Determinations: Lead Pharmacy Technician, GS-08 Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level and demonstrate the KSAs below. Certification: For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either:(a) PTCB as a CPhT. OR (b) NHA as a ExCPT. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs for all GS-08 assignments and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: 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. Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures. Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy. Reference: VA Handbook 5005/159 Part II Appendix G28 dated November 7, 2023. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8.The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-8. 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: 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]