Summary
As required and assigned - the technician can function in the role of a pharmacy technician completing normal duties related to - assembling medication orders - prescription set ups - non-sterile compounding - mail packaging - dispensing - ordering - stocking - delivering - inventory inspections and distribution.
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:
- U.S. citizenship
- Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
- Education or Training
- A high school diploma or equivalent
- OR at least three (3) months experience
- Physical Requirements
- See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
- English Language Proficiency
- Pharmacy technicians appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in both spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)
- Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: GS-6 Pharmacy Technician: A) Experience: One (1) year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-5 level which demonstrates knowledge - skills - and abilities that are directly related to the specific assignment and fully meets all of the performance requirements for the GS-5 Pharmacy Technician
- B) In addition to meeting the basic requirements and grade determinations - applicant must demonstrate the following: 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
- References: VA Handbook 5005/159 - Part II - Appendix G28 Pharmacy Technician Qualifications Standard - dated November 07.2023 - http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/Directives-Handbooks/Documents/5005.pdf Preferred Criteria: Possess recent Pharmacy Technician Outpatient experience within the past year
- NOTE: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience - including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g. - Peace Corps - AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g. - professional
- philanthropic
- religions
- spiritual
- community
- student
- social)
- Volunteer work helps build critical competencies - knowledge - and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment
- You will receive credit for all qualifying experience - including volunteer experience
- Grandfathering Provision: All persons employed in VHA in this occupation 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 required in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure/certification/registration - may be reassigned - promoted - or demoted within the occupation
- Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration - may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level - or demoted within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
- 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 re-appointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
- 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
- If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation - the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.
Duties
- Summary Continued: As required and assigned - the technician can function in the role of a pharmacy technician completing normal duties related to - assembling medication orders - prescription set ups - non-sterile compounding - mail packaging - dispensing - ordering - stocking - delivering - inventory inspections and distribution
- Duties include but not limited: Accurate Medication Orders: Outpatient medication orders are processed and filled accurately in accordance with all laws - rules - regulations - and policies as observed by the pharmacist and reports of incidents received by the pharmacy supervisor
- Filling orders may include the counting - repackaging - reconstituting - measuring - compounding non-sterile products - compounding sterile products - and selecting required medication items - labeling the medication with a barcode if needed - affixing the appropriate auxiliary labels - using automated dispensing machines and documenting these activities per department protocol
- Potential medication order problems are brought to the attention of the pharmacist for assistance with immediate resolution
- Proper start up and shut-down procedures are followed to operate pharmacy automation equipment
- Data back-up and QA is · performed as scheduled - per policy - to ensure safety and proper functioning of equipment
- This is documented daily or as required in hospital policy
- Stocking medications - rotating stock - reviewing stock for outdated and/or deteriorated medications is performed accurately and within established guidelines as evidenced by supervisor review or reports of incidents received by the supervisor
- Outdated and/or deteriorated medications are disposed of according to pharmacy policy with special attention to ensure patient confidentiality is maintained
- Compounded Sterile Products: Technician uses complex technical functions .to prepare compounded sterile products (CSP)
- These functions are performed accurately and thoroughly in accordance with USP 797 guidelines as evidenced by supervisor review and reports of incidents received by the supervisor
- Maintenance and cleaning activities required by external certification agencies (OSHA - Joint Commission - etc.) - and Infection Control monitors are performed thoroughly and consistently - and documentation of completion is logged concurrently
- Mandatory records - documents - and logs (i.e
- chemo logs) are maintained by the technician appropriately and accurately as described in USP 797 and hospital policy
- IV Room Quality Assurance programs are actively participated in as necessary and appropriate
- Current departmental - state and federal laws and regulations - and manufactures' instructions applicable to the compounding CSP are strictly adhered to
- Pharmacy CSP or commercially available stock items are not released from pharmacy custody until they are verified and initialed by a Registered Pharmacist
- General Performance: Compliance with the Joint Commission - VHA - VA and other program review criteria that govern service is exhibited and documented as evidenced by both internal and external reviews
- Employee demonstrates high ethical standards and prevents violations of the law
- Patient sensitive materials are consistently disposed of in sensitive waste receptacles as required by Federal rules and regulations/HIPAA
- Faxes - messages - written orders and other communications are handled appropriately without deviation from the patient confidentiality requirements as evidenced by supervisor observation and reports of incidents to the supervisor
- Proficiency in the operation of the relevant VISTA computer packages (to include CPRS - Controlled Substance - Outpatient - Inpatient - Progress Note - Hospital Information - Laboratory - Time and Attendance - etc.) is consistently demonstrated as assessed by the supervisor
- VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Work Schedule: Schedule can vary depending on staffing needs
- Includes weekends and some holidays Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
- Functional Statement #: 03823-F
