Summary

The Chemotherapy/IV Pharmacy Technician is a highly specialized technician who - under the authority of the Associate Chief of Pharmacy - the Pharmacy Technician Supervisor - and Staff Pharmacist is responsible to assure compounded sterile preparations (CSPs) are correctly purified - sterilized - packaged - sealed - labeled (including assignment of appropriate beyond-use date [BUD]) - stored - and distributed.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• a
• Citizenship
• Citizen of the United States
• (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g - this part.) b
• Education or Experience
• A high school diploma or equivalent
• or at least 3 months experience
• c
• Certification
• Certification by the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is required at grades GS-6 and above
• d
• Loss of Credential
• An employee in this occupation who fails to obtain licensure/certification/registration within the required time frame - or who fails to maintain the required licensure/certification/registration must be removed from the occupation - which may also result in termination of employment
• For occupations which require an active credential (licensure/certification/registration) at all grades
• levels - at the discretion of the appointing official - an employee may be reassigned to another occupation for which he/she qualifies if a placement opportunity exists
• For occupations which require an active credential (licensure/certification/registration) in assignments above the full-performance level only - at the discretion of the appointing official - an employee may remain at an appropriate lower grade level in the occupation when both of the following apply: the credential is not a requirement - and a placement opportunity exists
• e
• Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• f
• English Language Proficiency
• Pharmacy technicians appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - this part
• GRADE REQUIREMENTS a
• Definitions(1) Creditable Experience
• To be creditable - the experience must have required the use of knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics associated with the scope of pharmacy technician practice
• (2) Quality of Experience
• To be creditable - pharmacy technician experience must be documented on the application and verified in an employment reference - or through other independent means
• (3) Part-time Experience
• Part-time experience as a pharmacy technician is credited according to its relationship to the full-time workweek
• For example - a pharmacy technician would receive 1 week of fulltime credit for each 2 weeks of half-time work
• (4) Grade Determinations
• In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: GS-7 (a) Experience
• One year experience at the next lower level and must fully meet the KSAs at the next lower level
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): (b) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities 1
• Ability to evaluate - analyze workflow - and coordinate work activities
• 2
• Ability to independently gather - evaluate - and analyze data to generate reports and/or for other projects/statistical purposes
• 3
• Knowledge of pharmacy policies and procedures sufficient to train and orient new employees and other staff
• 4
• Comprehensive knowledge of the operation and care of specialized pharmaceutical equipment
• 5
• Comprehensive knowledge of the procurement and formulary process
• 6
• Comprehensive knowledge of investigational drug policies and procedures
• 7
• Comprehensive knowledge of controlled substance policies and procedures - and the ability to identify and investigate discrepancies in these policies and procedures
• 8
• Comprehensive knowledge of - and ability to - analyze data in VA information systems (c) Assignments
• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity (difficulty) - and range of variety - and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Pharmacy technicians at this grade level may be assigned as a supervisor
• lead technician in a particular area of the pharmacy
• a controlled substance technician
• an investigational drug technician
• a procurement/inventory management technician
• a clinical pharmacy technician
• or similar assignment with this level of complexity
• The GS-7 level is for select - complex pharmacy technician positions - as established by each health care facility
• To be advanced - employees must meet all the following standards - provided the standard is part of their assignment
• Determinations concerning placement of positions at this grade level shall take into consideration the skill mix and the availability of supervision in the work unit
• Although these positions are under the supervision of a pharmacist - employees in such settings successfully and consistently demonstrate the exercise of independent technical judgment (without the need for readily available supervision) as well as comprehensive and thorough working knowledge of the most complex or difficult practices and procedures
• Such individuals may also serve as leaders or co-leaders in a Pharmacy Service or for a specific unit or section
• References: VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Appendix G - 28 for Pharmacy Technician Qualification Standard
• The full performance level of this vacancy is 7
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 7 to 7
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws The Chemotherapy/IV Pharmacy Technician is a highly specialized technician who - under the authority of the Associate Chief of Pharmacy - the Pharmacy Technician Supervisor - and Staff Pharmacist is responsible to assure compounded sterile preparations (CSPs) are correctly purified - sterilized - packaged - sealed - labeled (including assignment of appropriate beyond-use date [BUD]) - stored - and distributed
• This position requires that the Chemotherapy/IV Pharmacy Technician demonstrates a concerned and critical attitude toward accuracy and strict adherence to USP <797> and USP <800> guidelines and IV Room Pharmacy policy and procedure - including quality assurance
• The Chemotherapy/IV Pharmacy Technician also acts as a representative of the Pharmacy Service in a variety of Pharmacy related functions within the Healthcare System
• The incumbent will be trained and expected to function and maintain competency in other areas of Pharmacy Service - including both Clinic areas and Outpatient areas - as needed and assigned
• In addition - and as deemed necessary by either the Associate Chief of Pharmacy or the Pharmacy Technician Supervisor(s) - the incumbent may assist in other patient care areas - as needed - to maintain the consistency of overall Pharmacy services
• This position requires one year experience at the next lower level and must fully meet the KSAs at the next lower level
• In addition - the incumbent must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): - *Ability to evaluate - analyze workflow - and coordinate work activities in order to prepare and provide chemotherapy to the Veteran in a timely manner while ensuring safe handling of hazardous chemotherapy agents
• - Ability to independently gather - evaluate - and analyze data to generate reports and/or for other projects/statistical purposes
• - Knowledge of pharmacy policies and procedures sufficient to train and orient new employees and other staff
• - *Comprehensive knowledge of the operation and care of specialized pharmaceutical equipment - including the clean room and biological safety cabinet (BSC)
• - Comprehensive knowledge of the procurement and formulary process
• - Comprehensive knowledge of - and ability to - analyze data in VA information systems Functions - Assigned Duties - and Responsibilities a
• Prepares chemotherapy agents and compounded sterile products (CSPs) in compliance with USP <797> and USP <800> guidelines (generally 25% or more of regularly assigned daily duties) to be delivered in finished forms such as large volume parenteral - small volume parenteral - infusion syringe - infusion pump - or other modality as required
• Is familiar with use of closed-system transfer devices (CSTD) and other equipment needed for safe and proper CSP preparation
• b
• Undergoes initial IV Room Pharmacy training and competency assessment and annual re-assessment and successfully maintains this requirement
• c
• Obtains and utilizes knowledge of hazards of cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents - including but not limited to the dangers posed to those who prepare - deliver - administer - and/or receive treatment with these agents and the equipment and supplies used in the preparation of cytotoxic chemotherapy
• d
• Uses advanced knowledge of specialized techniques and procedures required for safely handling cytotoxic agents such as negative pressure technique - hazardous waste disposal - and cytotoxic spill response
• e
• Cleans the specified areas in the anteroom and cleanrooms - performing monthly surface sampling in all ISO classified areas as required per policy and operational standards
• General Assignments and Cross Functionality:- Answers pharmacy phone calls timely and triages them appropriately.- Collects - trends - and reports drug use evaluation (DUE) data for quality improvement purposes as required
• Actively assists in quality improvement activities by participating in Medical Center and service-level process assessment and action teams and continually seeks to improve services.- Identifies basic therapeutic problems such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class and alerts the Clinical Pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention.- Assists with inventory management and procurement of medicines - monitors inventory - and relays information to the Pharmacy procurement staff
• This also includes placing stock in proper storage areas - rotating stock on shelves as required - and removing/replacing outdated items and notifying procurement for replacement.- Provides training to new or existing Pharmacy staff to ensure competencies are developed and maintained
• The above list is not all inclusive Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am -4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required