The Supervisory Pharmacy Technician is responsible for management and supervision of pharmacy technicians at the Sheridan VA Medical Center. This position requires significant independent technical judgement and expertise in complex areas of pharmacy practice, regulatory requirements and quality standards. They organize, coordinate, communicate, and manage programs for the pharmacy service at the facility level. ***This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until October 30, 2024. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be August 8, 2024. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until positions are filled.*** Basic Requirements -Citizenship Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a) -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) -Education or Experience None required. -Certification Employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). OR National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT). Grade Determinations: Pharmacy Technician, GS-09 -Experience One year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the lower grade level (GS-08). -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 OR NHA as a ExCPT AND -Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Expert knowledge serving as a key resource advising others in their particular specialty area or section of the pharmacy (such as procurement, sterile compounding (USP compounding standards), controlled substances DEA, automation, clinical pharmacy, lead tech, contact center, etc.). Skill in analyzing data for self-driven (independent) performance improvement projects, workload analysis and statistical reports. Skill in solving problems and implementing corrective actions to maximize outcomes in their program area. Ability to maintain special accreditations and prepare for national reviews/inspections (e.g., The Joint Commission, Inspector General, American Society of Health System Pharmacists®, controlled substance inspections). Ability to develop training programs and material for orientation, competency development and educational needs for regulatory requirements within the specialized pharmacy program area. Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders and managers. Ability to utilize staffing methodology principles to determine adequate staffing to coordinate and manage workflow and work activities within pharmacy Assignment: Supervisory Pharmacy Technician 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. Supervisory pharmacy technicians are responsible for management and supervision of at least three GS-08 pharmacy technicians. These positions require significant independent technical judgement and expertise in complex areas of pharmacy practice, regulatory requirements and quality standards. They organize, coordinate and manage programs for the pharmacy service at the facility level. These pharmacy technicians will be responsible for communicating with VISN or national pharmacy leadership as well as individual facility leadership and staff. Preferred Experience: PTCB Certified; 3-5 years pharmacy technician experience; formal leadership training or experience as a supervisor; familiarity with inpatient, outpatient, controlled substance regulations, and procurement. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G28 Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. This position provides services to patients and their families. Incumbents must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others. Normal work of the position requires visual acuity (with the ability to read typewritten characters without strain, corrective lenses permitted), keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, manual dexterity. This position may require reaching above shoulder-level height and requires potentially moderate levels of lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds). This position requires long periods of sitting, standing and walking. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. ["Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Pharmacy Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf Major Duties -Supervises pharmacy technicians as assigned by the Associate Chief, Pharmacy Operations or designee. -Advises others in their particular specialty area or section of the pharmacy. -General -Interprets, fills, and prepares prescriptions with appropriate medications and or medical supplies for pharmacist verification. -Maintains work areas in a clean and orderly condition by assuring that all stock and equipment are in assigned places and all shelves and counters are free of dust and debris in order to create optimal work areas. -Community Care -Triage incoming prescriptions and progress notes. -Disseminate prescriptions and progress notes to appropriate staff. Inpatient Pharmacy Activities: -Sterile Product Compounding -Follow USP 797/800 Guidelines for the compounding of all sterile preparations, hazardous, large & small volume IV solutions, PCAs, etc. -Interprets physician orders, selects, and measures appropriate ingredients, mixes ingredients in a safe and effective manner, inspects the final product for accuracy, suitability, and elegance, labels the product, maintains records of the manufacturing process, and supplies the product for pharmacist verification and delivery. -Unit Dose Medication Management -Performs review of medications prepared by another pharmacy employee to be dispensed to hospital areas. -Inventories and replenishes emergency trays. -Automated Dispensing Cabinets -Inventories, assesses, and determines the need for medications in automated dispensing cabinets. -Follows established policies and procedures, schedules, inventory levels, and usage rate reports to determine appropriate stock levels for specific areas of use. -Inventory Management -Monitors inventory needs in-patient care areas, relays this information to the appropriate Pharmacy personal. -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 requirement. Outpatient Pharmacy Activities: -Prescription Assembly -Reviews prescription orders for technical accuracy. -Assembles prescriptions properly with the correct drug, strength, quantity, auxiliary labels, and prescription labels for window dispensing and mail delivery. -Window Pick-Up -Verifies the patient's identification following the Medical Center's policies. -Verifies patients receive the correct prescriptions by using VA software. -Mail Packaging -Packages medications for shipment to patients or to Community Based Outpatient Clinics. -Utilizes and comprehends the mail shipping programs used by the facility for overnight delivery of non-controlled and controlled prescriptions. -Inventory Management - Assists with automated or manual inventory processes. -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 requirement. -Controlled Substances Activities -Interpret, fills, and readies prescriptions with appropriate medications for pharmacist verification -Restocks controlled substances items in automated secured cabinets in pharmacy or throughout medical center. Work Schedule: M-F; 07:00AM- 3:30PM Relocation/Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. 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) and 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 #: 59666-O Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
