Summary

The Outpatient Pharmacy Technician at the Boise Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) position functions in the outpatient section of the Pharmacy service line. The Outpatient Pharmacy Technician assignment involves the preparation - review - dispensing - control of medications - to outpatients - inpatients - inpatient treatment units - other services within the Boise VAMC. The work product directly affects the health of the Veterans. This position is not suitable for telework.

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
• 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)
• 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: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
• OR 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
• 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
• Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service
• g
• 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 Determinations: Pharmacy Technician - GS-03
• (1) Education and Experience
• (a) One year of post-secondary education
• OR (b) Six months of general experience
• OR (c) Student Technician
• A student enrolled in an approved nationally accredited pharmacy technician program for an occupation identified in 38 U.S.C. 7405(a)(1)(A) or (B) may be appointed on a temporary full-time - part-time or intermittent basis under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. 7405(a)(1)(D) for a period not to exceed two years or the duration of the individual's program
• Pharmacy Technician - GS-04
• (1) Education and Experience
• (a) Completion of two years of post-secondary coursework related to pharmacy (e.g. - 12 semester hours of science and mathematics courses)
• OR (b) Completion of one of the following: i Six months of experience - that demonstrated knowledge of medication or medical field practice
• OR ii Successful completion of a military or nationally recognized pharmacy technician education/training program
• American Society of Health System Pharmacists® (ASHP) - American Pharmacist Association (APHA) - Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) - PTCB or NHA are examples of acceptable professional organizations recognizing such training programs
• NOTE: Training courses recognized by PTCB and NHA are not actual certifications
• OR iii One year of experience equivalent to next lower grade level Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the education or experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Ability to follow policies and procedures
• (b) Ability to maintain appropriate files
• (c) Ability to communicate with patients and other health professionals
• (d) Ability to follow both written and verbal instructions
• (e) Ability to operate office software/equipment to include - computers - software applications and printers Pharmacy Technician - GS-05
• (1) Education or Experience
• (a) Successful completion of four years post-secondary education with courses related to pharmacy (e.g. - 48 semester hours of science - mathematics - pharmacy) or a bachelor's degree
• OR (b) An associate's degree in pharmacy technician or technology (48 semester hours of concentrated pharmacy technician training)
• OR (c) One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the education or experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of basic pharmacy operations
• (b) Knowledge of pharmaceuticals to perform duties in pharmacy functional areas
• (c) Knowledge of pharmaceutical nomenclature (including generic - chemical and proprietary names of drug)
• (d) Ability to fill prescriptions
• (e) Ability to use pharmacy information systems or basic pharmacy dispensing equipment with oversight Pharmacy Technician - GS-06
• (1) Education or Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower level
• (2) Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition - 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
• Preferred Experience: Two or more years of outpatient pharmacy technician experience in retail or hospital setting
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Duties

• Duties: 1
• Operates and maintains Pharmacy equipment - to include the ScriptPro Robotics Dispensing Machine - Omnicell Automated Dispensing Device - ScriptTak - and working knowledge of the Automated Call Distributor (ACD) phone lines
• 2
• Assumes responsibility for mailing correct and accurate pharmaceuticals to outpatient Veterans
• 3
• Answers questions from Pharmacy and Non-Pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution
• Identifies basic therapeutic problems - such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class and alerts the Pharmacists to the possible need for clinical intervention
• 4
• Assists in total quality improvement activities by participating in the medical center and service process assessment and action teams - and continually seeks to improve services
• 5
• Completely involved in implementing and improving Pharmacy service customer service activities
• 6
• Responsible for review of all stock in Pharmacy - clinics - outpatient patient clinics - and neighborhood areas for outdated pharmaceuticals - and drug recalls
• 7
• Effectively and expediently fills prescriptions for dispensing
• 8
• Routinely performs inspections of assigned areas - checking for out dates - over or under stocked items - condition of products - maintaining all Pharmacy areas and equipment in a clean - neat - and organized fashion
• 9
• Accomplishes other duties as assigned by the Supervisor or designee
• 10
• Demonstrates a working knowledge of Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA) and Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) - including associated Pharmacy applications
• 11
• Accomplishes Pharmacy administrative actions to include the following: Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy (CMOP) rejects - 3rd party billing - United Parcel Service (UPS) packing tracking - submission of CMOP orders - processing mail rejections - and faxing local prescriptions to the associated primary care provider or Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT)
• 12
• Completes all required Talent Management System (TMS) training on a timely basis and maintains certifications
• Work Schedule: Monday to Friday - 9:30am to 6:00pm
• Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: GS-0661-06 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized