Pharmacy Technician - Inpatient

Summary

A Pharmacy Technician-Inpatient provides various technical support services within the pharmacy department and may function in various areas of the pharmacy. These areas may include but are not limited to; inpatient pharmacy - outpatient pharmacy - IV room - various storage areas - offices and patient care areas. These pharmacy technicians mentor and train lower graded pharmacy technicians. Employees at this grade level use independent judgement to perform the full range of duties in the pharmacy.

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

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy

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

(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

Please submit transcripts to verify education

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)

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)

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

For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: (1) Employees may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions

(2) Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/ registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/ certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels

(3) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard

(4) Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation

(5) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation

Grade Determinations: Pharmacy Technician - GS-07

(1) Experience

Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (See GS-06 Assignment below)

(2) 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

(3) 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

GS-6 Assignment

Pharmacy technicians at the full performance level may fill orders - dispense/deliver medications using automated systems or provide technical customer service to Veterans related to prescription needs

Duties will include delivery of medications to floors/patients - filling medications for the pharmacist to review - checking for expired medications - answering phones with appropriate disposition - preparing sterile products (when applicable) and assisting with basic inventory management such as putting up stock and identifying when medications need to be ordered

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-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is the GS-7. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service.

Duties

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major duties - include but are not limited to: Distributive Functions Fills inpatient medication orders to fulfill pre-exchange doses - missing dose reports - Automated Dispensing cabinets (ADCs) loads and restocks - and IV orders with accuracy

Delivers pre-exchange doses - missing doses - ADC loads and restocks - and IV medications to the appropriate location within the hospital as needed for administration

Prepares intravenous admixtures in compliance with USP 797 regulations and medical center policies and procedures

Utilizes TCGRx Automated Tablet Packaging (ATP) Machine to accurately repackage medications needed for inpatient use

Operates - stocks - provides basic maintenance to - and troubleshoots issues with ADC in compliance with policies and procedures

Ensures that all pharmacy equipment is cleaned and maintained to minimize downtime

Replenishes - checks - and maintains records for emergency carts - emergency kits - and OR trays

Assists in unloading and stocking medications - fluids - and supplies in appropriate pharmacy inventory and ward stock areas within a reasonable time after receipt and regularly rotates stock

Properly deducts medications from outpatient inventory via ScriptPro Inventory Management (SIM) as needed for inpatient dispensing

Utilizes barcode scanning programs in VISTA to ensure accurate dispensing of bulk medications (inhalers - topicals - insulin - etc) and compounded IV products

Processes and fills outpatient prescriptions for scheduled and non-scheduled federal legend drugs and medical devices - over-the-counter products - and supply items incompliance with regulations - policies - and procedures for pharmacist review

Utilizes ScriptPro to assist in the packaging and dispensing of medication to patients for outpatient window prescriptions

Also ensures two patient identifiers are utilized when dispensing medications and patient signatures for medication pick up are obtained

Procurement/ Responsibilities Provides information to pharmacy procurement personnel regarding medications and supplies needed from the warehouse or wholesaler based on items used that day

Collaborates with pharmacy procurement personnel to manage out of stock items and ensures the items are filled as soon as stock is available

Other Significant Responsibilities Completes monthly inspection(s) of all assigned internal and external pharmacy areas as delegated by supervisor and/or as determined by the needs of the pharmacy

Assists with preparation for special accreditations and reviews (e.g. - The JC - IG -SOARS - ASHP) and meeting with reviewing/inspecting officials and/or pharmacy management

Participates in educating and training new employees or employees introduced to selected practice areas

Keeps abreast of changes in the Pharmacy Service (i.e. - interdepartmental memoranda - relevant station memoranda - and policies and procedures) and maintains general knowledge of VA - DEA and JC regulations

Work Schedule: Tuesday-Saturday OR Monday-Friday

Tour will vary based on staffing needs

Including but not limited to: 6AM-2:30PM - 7AM-3:30PM - 8AM-4:30PM - 9AM-5:30PM - 10AM-6:30PM - 11AM-7:30PM - 12PM-8:30PM - 1PM-9:30PM

2PM-10:30PM

7PM-7AM - 9PM-7:30AM

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases

When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)

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 #: 60614F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized