Summary

The Oklahoma City VA Healthcare System, Pharmacy Service, is recruiting for a Pharmacy Technician. Pharmacy Technicians at this grade level are nationally certified by PTCB or ExCPT and can work autonomously, using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties. This announcement has been extended and will remain open until February 18, 2025.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship
• Be a citizen of the United States
• 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: (1) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
• OR (2) National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for appointment in paragraph 5, VA HR staff must use the following criteria to determine the appropriate grade assignment of candidates
• Pharmacy Technician, GS-7 Experience
• Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• 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
• 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements: Work is performed primarily in the inpatient pharmacy and outpatient care areas, where there is a potential for exposure to communicable diseases
• Such areas are adequately heated and ventilated, and safety precautions are required
• In some cases, dealing with anti-neoplastic drugs may expose the incumbent to hazardous and toxic agents
• The incumbent works with drugs/chemicals and must exercise precautions to avoid accidental contact to the skin, eyes, and lungs
• Follows life safety management (fire protection) procedures
• Follows all hazardous pharmaceutical handling and disposal policies
• Reports safety hazardous materials/Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)/waste management issues through appropriate channels
• Follows Emergency Preparedness plan
• Follows security policies/procedures
• This position requires climbing stairs, lifting to 40 pounds, dexterity of the hand and wrist, and arm strength to perform dispensing of medication orders
• The position requires walking, standing, and sitting for long periods of time
• g
• Complies with federal, state, and local environmental and other requirements preventing pollution, minimizing waste, and conserving cultural and natural resources.

Duties

• VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Pharmacy Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf Accurately interpret, fills, and prepares prescriptions with appropriate medications and or medical supplies for pharmacist verification
• 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
• Receives, checks, rotates, and places in stock all items received from pharmacy procurement section and identifies and reconciles any discrepancies to assure correct items have been received
• Utilizes automation dispensing equipment available to the pharmacy staff following all safety and QA procedures
• Reports automation malfunctions timely the supervisor as appropriate
• Records expiration dates in the automatic prescription dispensing system upon receipt
• Perform monthly inspections to assigned areas to ensure proper storage of medications and soon to expired drugs are removed
• Completes inspection reports in compliance with regulatory requirements
• Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile)
• 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 pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention
• Assists in training and orientation of new staff technicians, interns, and students
• Assumes an active role in the overall pharmacy-training program consisting of students, externs, interns, residents, and professional and non-professional staff members
• Demonstrates the ability to work under a variety of circumstances to maximize group productivity and quality
• Participate in performance improvement initiatives for pharmacy
• Complies with all VHA, Medical Center, and Pharmacy regulations, directives, policies, and procedures
• May be assigned to work in other areas of pharmacy service as deemed necessary by the Chief, Pharmacy Service or Supervisor
• Controlled Substances Activities Accurately interpret, fills, and readies prescriptions with appropriate medications for pharmacist verification Appropriately restocks controlled substances items in automated secured cabinets (i.e., Pyxis) in pharmacy or throughout medical center, as assigned
• Documents all controlled substance related transactions as indicated by VA and DEA guidelines
• Assures that inventory counts are correct at the time of restocking
• Ensures that proper handoff occurs when receiving or delivering controlled substances, assuring that at all times these medications are never left unsecured
• Reports unresolvable discrepancies to immediate area supervisor for resolution
• Assist in investigating, witnessing, and resolving discrepancies
• Assists inspectors with the inventory and accountability inspections
• Outpatient Pharmacy Activities: Prescription Assembly Assembles prescriptions properly with the correct drug, strength, quantity, auxiliary labels, and prescription labels
• for window dispensing and mail delivery Assures that the correct medication is filled by using bar code scanning on stock bottles
• Supports automation by manually completing prescriptions not processed through the automation dispensing machine
• Assures the timely completion of all prescriptions
• Window Pick-Up Verifies the patient's identification following the Medical Center's policies (i.e., double patient identifiers) Verifies that the patient receives the correct prescriptions by using VA software (i.e., VISTA and barcode scanning) Verifies that the patient has received all prescriptions (i.e., refrigerated, controlled substances, bulk medications, etc.) Mail Packaging Utilizes and comprehends the mail shipping programs used by the facility (i.e., USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.) for overnight delivery of non-controlled and controlled prescriptions
• Calls patients to arrange delivery of refrigerated prescriptions and verifies patients address
• Packages prescriptions appropriately, as to assure that packages are not damaged within transit (i.e., bubble wrap, ice blocks, insulated containers, etc.) Choice or Community Care Assists the pharmacists with choice prescriptions or authorization paperwork
• Independently contacts prescribers or non-VA clinic staff for prescription information to meet NF or PADR criteria
• Receives authorization, NF, or PADR documentation
• Update consults in the EMR to document activities
• Work Schedule: Full-time - Rotating tours, including weekends and holidays Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 59043A