Pharmacy technicians at this level are nationally certified and can work autonomously using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties at the Sheridan VA Health Care System. 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. ***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 6, 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-07 -Experience Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-06). -Certification 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 all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work. Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent. Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers. Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students. Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution. Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases. 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: PTCB Certified; Prior experience as a Pharmacy Technician References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G28 Physical Requirements: 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 General Duties: 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. Assures drugs and supplies are appropriately stored and secured according to USP and VA guidelines, including the storage of high-risk, look a-like sound a-like, hazardous, controlled substances, corrosive chemical, flammable liquids, and refrigerated items. Inpatient Pharmacy: -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: -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 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. 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 (NIOSH) requirement. -Controlled Substances Activities Interprets, fills, and readies prescriptions with appropriate medications for pharmacist verification Restocks controlled substances items in automated secured cabinets in pharmacy or throughout medical center, as assigned. Work Schedule: M-F; Various Rotating Day Shifts/Rotating Weekends 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: No Telework Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 59275-A 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.
