This Pharmacy Technician serves at the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System (ECHCS). Pharmacy technicians in this assignment specialize in automation and the advancement of the profession at the Eastern Colorado Health Care System.

Duties

VA Total Rewards: Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Pharmacy Technician Total Rewards: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf This position is located at VA Eastern Colorado Health Care | Veterans Affairs. Pharmacy technicians in this assignment specialize in automation and the advancement of the profession. The duties include but are not limited to the following: Required to have concepts, principles, methodology, and policies in the specialized area of automation Trains and orients new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures Evaluates, analyzes, and coordinates workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy Coordinates the technical aspects of pharmacy drug distribution activities to ensure standard operating procedures are in alignment with automation capabilities so that efficiencies are maximized. Incumbent is instrumental in recommending changes for the 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 automation. This will involve troubleshooting, 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 Ability to participate in process actions teams to improve automation quality and safety Resolves problems and complaints regarding all pharmacy and automated dispensing automation, troubleshoots problems with all automated dispensing equipment when production is compromised and alerts appropriate personnel Has oversight responsibility of the user files of all automated dispensing systems Has oversight responsibility for the addition of new items and deletion of obsolete items from all automated dispensing systems Trains and orients pharmacy staff, and other medical center staff involved in operating the automation Provides data for workload reports and process improvement projects to appropriate supervisors Thoroughly understands VA Pharmacy procurement and formulary and uses this knowledge to appropriately manage Pharmacy automation equipment 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 Inpatient services may include but are not limited to such areas as aseptic admixture preparation including cytotoxic agents, automatic and on-demand ward stock replenishment, maintenance, and operation of automated prepackaging and dispensing equipment, assembly, and documentation of controlled substance requests, and properly packaging with documentation of single unit of use medications Outpatient services may include but are not limited to outpatient prescription filling, pharmacy phone triage, window prescription dispensing, narcotic vault assignments, maintenance, and operation of automated prescription dispensing equipment, and packaging of mailout prescriptions 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: 8 hour tour between 6:00am and 8:00pm; dependent on service coverage needs. Pharmacy service is a 24/7 operation, this position is expected to rotate through weekends, holidays, evenings and overnights on a fair and equitable basis as assigned. Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay, higher or unique qualifications, or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 554-59205-A 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 1. 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 with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). 2. 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). 3. Certification. For positions above the full performance level (GS-06), the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: (a) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). OR (b) National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT. 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 DETERMINATION - GS-08 Experience. Candidates must possess one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07) and Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) below. Certification. For positions above the full performance level (GS-06), 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. 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 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-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-08. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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 VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System 1700 N Wheeling St Aurora, CO 80045 US
• Name: VISN 19 HR Contact Center
• Phone: 719-227-4600
• Email: [email protected]