Summary
Pharmacy technicians at this level are nationally certified and can work autonomously using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties. The applicant will serve the Atlanta VA Medical Center which is located at 1670 Clairmont Road in Decatur - Georgia.
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
- English Language Proficiency
- Pharmacy technicians appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English Certification
- Certification by the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is required at grades GS-6 and above
- Grade Determination (GS-8):Experience
- One year experience at the next lower level (GS-7) - and must fully meet the knowledge - skills - and abilities (KSAs) at the next lower level - which are: Knowledge of Federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice
- Knowledge of preparation - storage and distribution of medication products including those requiring special handling and documentation
- Ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate pharmacy dispensing equipment
- Knowledge of basic inventory procedures
- Ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel
- NOTE: Your description of your work experience in your resume/CV must adequately demonstrate all required knowledge - skills - and abilities in order for you to be found qualified and referred for consideration
- References: VA Handbook 5005/15 - Part II - Appendix G28 - Pharmacy Technician Qualification Standard
- Physical Requirements: The position requires frequent walking and standing
- repeated bending
- moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds)
- the ability to read handwritten or typed characters with or without glasses
- ability to hear conversation voice with or without aid
- and emotional and mental stability.
Duties
- Pharmacy Technicians assigned to this position must demonstrate the following 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 medications orders or electronic equivalent
- Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other member 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
- MEDICATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: 1
- Reads and interprets orders - obtains proper medication or material in the proper strength and dosage form - determines proper amount - and counts - pours - or measures the medications
- affixes proper label
- and records requires data on Pharmacy's copy of outpatient order
- After a final check by a pharmacist - dispenses medication in hospital settings
- 2
- For unit-dose medications - prepares medications to be dispensed to inpatient areas (med-carts - ward stock) - and/or fills unit-dose carts and has work reviewed by a pharmacist
- 3
- Inventories and prepares emergency carts with appropriate medications and supplies
- 4
- Collects drug use evaluation data for quality improvement purposes as required
- 5
- Operates and maintains complicated pharmacy equipment such as unit dose prepackaging machines - automatic dispensing machines - IV compounding machines and other pharmacy devices
- Able to troubleshoot the equipment and the technology platforms/databases
- 6
- 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
- 7
- After prescription/order(s) are reviewed by a pharmacist for therapeutic propriety - reviews orders for technical accuracy and converts the order - if necessary - so that the item dispensed corresponds to the drug and dose ordered
- 8
- Identifies basic therapeutic problems such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class and alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention
- 9
- Maintains - verifies - stocks - and replaces outdates in patient care areas and the areas' automated dispensing machines
- 10
- Ensures all look alike - sound alike - high alert - refrigerated medications are stored properly according to manufactures recommendations and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) requirement
- 11
- Monitors inventory needs in-patient care areas - relays this information to the appropriate Pharmacy personal
- This also includes placing stock in proper storage areas - rotating stock on shelves and removing/replacing outdated items
- 12
- Assists with inventory management and ordering of medicines and supplies
- 13
- Performs all the duties of lower graded technicians - if required
- GENERAL DUTIES:As deemed necessary by the pharmacy supervisor - assists in other patient care areas to maintain the consistency of overall pharmacy services
- However - primary assignments of work schedule and tours would involve outpatient pharmacy services
- This includes patient care activities in the main outpatient dispensing pharmacy - phone center - outpatient clinic - administration area - or other area as assigned by the supervisor
- The position includes independent judgement and team assignments as they relate to pharmacy services and the care of the Veteran
- The medical center offers a full range of medical care services.
