Summary
Pharmacy technicians at this level are nationally certified and can work autonomously using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties. These pharmacy technicians' mentor and train lower graded pharmacy technicians in the practice setting. They assist advanced/ specialized pharmacy technicians and participate in performance improvement initiatives. At this level - pharmacy technicians use independent judgement to perform the full range of duties in the pharmacy.
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
- Education or Experience:(1) None required.(2) 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)
- National Health career Association (NHA) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
- Foreign Education: To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials
- 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)
- GRADE DETERMINATIONS: In addition to the basic requirements for appointment - VA HR staff must use the following criteria to determine the appropriate grade assignment of candidates
- Pharmacy Technician - GS-07: Experience
- Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade GS-6 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: PTCB as a CPhT
- NHA as a ExCPT
- Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
- In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs for all GS-7 assignments and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment - if indicated: 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: Certification and Education Certification by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the National Health career Association (NHA)
- Completion of a formal pharmacy technician training program or equivalent experience
- Work Experience: Prior experience working as a pharmacy technician - preferably in a healthcare or hospital setting
- Skills and Competencies: Strong knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology - medications - and basic pharmacology
- Proficiency in dosage calculations and preparation of medications
- Ability to manage inventory - supply orders - and record-keeping with attention to detail
- Familiarity with automated medication dispensing machines
- Customer Service: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for interacting with healthcare providers and veterans
- Ability to provide compassionate and efficient service to a diverse patient population
- Regulatory Knowledge: Understanding of HIPAA regulations and the ability to handle PHI and sensitive data responsibly
- Awareness of safety standards and infection control procedures
- Technological Proficiency: Ability to quickly learn and adapt to new technologies and systems
- Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
- Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
Duties
- VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional General Pharmacy Technician Duties Required to have principles - practices - concepts - & theories providing for sound independent work
- Dispenses medication or sterile products following all regulations - policies - & procedures to ensure safe mediation distribution
- Resolves pharmacy/medication issues with members of the healthcare team - Veterans - & external customers
- Responsible for computerized prescription process & input of prescriptions & medication orders or electronic equivalent Recognize & solve problems - makes recommendations to avoid potential problems - & refers appropriate concerns to Lead Technician/Procurement Technician or supervising Pharmacist
- Uses knowledge of policies & procedures for inventory management to receive & inventory pharmacy stock - relay inventory information to the Lead Technician/Procurement Technician - & to obtain additional medication & supplies from our prime vendor when Lead Technician/Procurement Technician is unavailable
- Protects patient sensitive information - electronic & print in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 - Federal Regulations - VA statutes & policy - & VHA policy
- Troubleshoot - operate & care for automated Pharmacy equipment
- Accurately compounds medications for inpatient & outpatient use following written instructions & using proper aseptic technique without a second review
- Conducts monthly ward & clinic inspection per VAMC policies & procedures
- Is aware of general drug therapy guidelines such as duplicate therapy (e.g.: checks to ensure inpatients on enoxaparin are not also on heparin drip
- Uses extensive knowledge of drug & medication brand & generic names
- general & specific storage requirements
- expiration date requirements
- dosage forms
- pharmaceutical weights & measures
- medical terminology
- & the computerized prescription process
- INPATIENT: INTRA VENOUS ADMIXTURE & UNIT DOSE: Uses knowledge & ability to safely & accurately clean IV Hoods & prepare IVs & routine sterile products using proper aseptic technique
- Performs complex calculations to ensure proper dose is prepared
- Accurately & safely compounds chemotherapy & hazardous products using aseptic technique
- Communicates with the supervising Pharmacist & nursing staff to ensure adequate stock levels of bulk IV fluids is available on the wards
- Responsible for maintaining & operating Omnicell automated dispensing system & restocks on regular basis without a pharmacist review
- Responsible for obtaining up to date UNIT DOSE ward pick list - filling the UNIT DOSE cart accurately & delivering the cart on a timely basis
- Responsible for pre-packing oral tablet & capsules for use in UNIT DOSE area - & for relabeling injectable - topical - & other items with BCMA labels for use by inpatients - using accurate quality control measures
- OUTPATIENT AREA: Uses knowledge of policies & procedures for prescription interpretation - drug selection - prescription fillinQ & dispensinQ
- Responsible for outpatient Pharmacy Call Center telephone calls - processes prescription renewals - refill & partial requests in VISTA & follows up each telephone call - enters prescription renewal requests into Access program
- Fills prescriptions for controlled substances following VAMC policies & procedures - & ensuring the perpetual inventory is correct
- Packages medications & supplies for mailing - observing special considerations for controlled substances - & items that require refrigeration or special h&ling
- Dispenses prescriptions using proper procedure to ensure identification of recipient including verifying photo identification & use of ScriptPro dispensing station
- Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - weekends/holidays - variable shifts Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary & regular salary increases 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) & 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 #: 59279-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
