Summary

The Cincinnati VA Medical Center is looking for an individual that can provide support to all pharmacy operations in a variety of settings and locations. This includes patient care activities in the main outpatient dispensing pharmacy - Ft. Thomas Division - outpatient clinic - administration area - or other area as assigned by the supervisor - including deliveries to associated off-site clinics.

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:

• a
• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• b
• 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
• c
• Certification
• For positions above the full performance level - the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either 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)
• (1) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
• OR (2) National Healthcareer Association (NHA) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• (d) 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
• e
• 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
• f
• 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 Determination: Pharmacy Technician - GS-07
• (1) Experience
• Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• (2) 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
• (3) Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles - practices - concepts and theories providing for sound independent work
• (b) Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent
• (c) Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team - Veterans and external customers
• (d) Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students
• (e) Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations - policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution
• (f) Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases
• AND Pharmacy Technician - GS-06
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• The candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of Federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice
• (b) Knowledge of preparation - storage and distribution of medication products including those requiring special handling and documentation
• (c) Ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate pharmacy dispensing equipment
• (d) Knowledge of basic inventory procedures
• (e) Ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel
• Assignments
• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• 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
• They also function as staff pharmacy technicians in various locations of the pharmacy - including pharmacy contact centers and other non-traditional pharmacy locations - with minimal oversight
• Preferred Experience: Previous outpatient pharmacy and customer service experience preferred
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS7
• Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion - involving standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time - typing - walking distances within the medical center - lifting/ carrying (up to 40 pounds) of pharmaceutical supplies and bending/stooping/stretching
• Employee will be stationed at the Cincinnati VA and may drive a government car to other facilities for coverage.

Duties

• The Cincinnati VA Medical Center (CVAMC) is a two-division campus located in Cincinnati - OH and Fort Thomas - KY serving 15 counties in Southwest OH - Northern Kentucky - and Southeast Indiana with 6 Community Based Outpatient Clinics located in Bellevue - KY
• Florence - KY
• Lawrenceburg - IN
• Hamilton - OH
• Clermont County - OH - and Georgetown - OH
• The CVAMC also supports two off main campus locations in the Cincinnati area via an Eye Center and Mental Health Outreach Community Division
• Duties: a
• Medication Distribution System 1) Reads and interprets prescriptions from the veteran electronic health record systems (EHRS) or in written format
• 2) Reviews prescription orders for technical accuracy
• 3) Prepares medications and ensures the orderable item matches the item being dispensed with regard to drug - strength - quantity - or appropriate supply item
• 4) Dispenses medications following all regulations - policies - and procedures for safe medication distribution
• 5) Uses automation to batch and label medications
• Ensure ScriptTalk labels are batched if needed
• Understands when to use other prescription labels with computer outages
• 6) Maintains highly sophisticated pharmacy equipment
• This includes cleaning procedures and maintenance of ADM's and other counting machines
• Troubleshoots equipment and databases when needed
• 7) Assists with automated or manual inventory processes that include but are not limited to inventory counts - medication ordering - stocking - checking for outdates - pulling outdates - pulling recalled medications - inspections or any other activity related to the supply of VA medications
• 8) Accurately interprets EHRM patient medication profiles
• Is able to confirm prescription information in the Pharmacy computer packages
• Able to execute refills or other technician duties within the pharmacy software
• 9) Accurately or updates patient information in the many pharmacy software packages such as ADM's and EHRM
• 10) Accurately enters notes into the electronic health record using pharmacy templates or blank forms
• 11) Comprehends and participates in procurement activities - inventory management - controlled substance dispensing - secure messaging - overnight mail - partial fills - window dispensing - administrative reports - prescription review - and incident reports as delegated by supervisor
• 12) Prioritizes workload to complete assignments on time
• 13) Maintains a safe orderly and clean working environment
• b
• Pharmacy Phone System 1) Able to use the current facility phone system
• 2) Maintains appropriate phone etiquette and professionalism
• 3) Able to work independently in phone center locations
• 4) Accurately collects and clarifies patient information
• c
• Pharmacy Mail System 1) Fills medication \"to be mailed\" in accordance with description provided in the medication distribution section
• 2) Ensures prescription label matches mailing label and maintains accuracy in other software or paper systems
• 3) Able to transport mail containers to pick up destinations - restock supplies - lift mail bags or containers
• 4) Assists with other medication distribution activities as directed by pharmacist - supervisor or as delineated as part of the shift responsibility
• d
• Medication Management System 1) Assists the pharmacist with problem solving patient care or medication issues
• 2) Assists in quality improvement projects as an individual or on assigned teams to improve pharmacy service
• 3) Assists to complete required pharmacy reporting obligations as directed
• 4) Maintains pharmacy security
• This includes the physical security of the pharmacy and the security of electronic records
• 5) Maintains accountability for tour of duty
• This includes being ready for their tour of duty at the start of their shift - and being on time as they return from lunch - breaks - or other assigned meetings and activities
• e
• Controlled Substances (CS) 1) Fills \"CS medication\" in accordance with description provided in the medication distribution section
• 2) Accurately maintains a rolling inventory in automation and performs a complete inventory every 72 hours per VA guidelines
• 3) Able to run reports such as \"Monthly CII Script Processing Detail Reports\" or other reports as needed
• f
• Other 1) Trains developmental pharmacy technicians and students in the medication management system - controlled substances - pharmacy mail system - pharmacy dispensing and distribution systems
• 2) Performs all duties of lower graded technicians - as assigned
• Driving: Employee will be stationed at the Cincinnati VA and may drive a government car to other facilities for coverage
• Work Schedule: Rotating 7-3:30 & 9:30-6
• rotating weekends & holidays
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #:92143-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.