Pharmacy Technician

Summary

This Pharmacy Technician position is assigned to the Eastern Kansas Health Care System in Topeka - KS. Under the supervision of a pharmacist - you will perform routine pharmacy functions including filling - preparation and dispensing of prescriptions - sterile compounding preparation - management of automated dispensing equipment (ADE) - inventory management and multiple types of customer contact services.

Qualifications

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

None required

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

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: 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

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

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

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

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-03 Education and Experience One year of post-secondary education or - Six months of general experience or - 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

Education and Experience - Transcripts submitted Completion of two years of post-secondary coursework related to pharmacy (e.g. - 12 semester hours of science and mathematics courses) or - Completion of one of the following: Six months of experience - that demonstrated knowledge of medication or medical field practice or - 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 - One year of experience equivalent to next lower grade (GS-3) level Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)

In addition to the education or experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to follow policies and procedures

Ability to maintain appropriate files

Ability to communicate with patients and other health professionals

Ability to follow both written and verbal instructions

Ability to operate office software/equipment to include - computers - software applications and printers

Pharmacy Technician - GS-05 Education-Transcripts Submitted or Experience 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 - An associate's degree in pharmacy technician or technology (48 semester hours of concentrated pharmacy technician training) or - One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-4) level

Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)

In addition to the education or experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of basic pharmacy operations

Knowledge of pharmaceuticals to perform duties in pharmacy functional areas

Knowledge of pharmaceutical nomenclature (including generic - chemical and proprietary names of drug)

Ability to fill prescriptions

Ability to use pharmacy information systems or basic pharmacy dispensing equipment with oversight

Pharmacy Technician - GS-06 Education or Experience

One year of experience equivalent to the next lower (GS-5) level

Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)

In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of Federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice

Knowledge of preparation - storage and distribution of medication products including those requiring special handling and documentation

Ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate pharmacy dispensing equipment

Knowledge of basic inventory procedures

Ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel

Preferred Experience: Experience working in a complex health care facility

Experience working in a fast paced inpatient and outpatient pharmacy setting

At least one year of pharmacy experience within the last 3 years

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-06

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-06.

Duties

Pharmacy Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdfMAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Reads and interprets prescriptions - obtains proper medication or material in the proper strength and dosage form

determines proper amount and counts - pours - or measures the medications

affixes proper label

and records required data on Pharmacy's copy of prescription/order

After a final check by a pharmacist - dispenses medication in ambulatory care or discharge situations

For unit dose medications - independently fills first dose medications - missing doses - and unit dose carts for inpatient areas

Repackages medications in unit-of-use packaging - obtains proper medication or material in the proper strength and dosage form

determines proper amount and counts - pours - or measures the medications

affixes proper label including barcodes

and records required data on Pharmacy's replenishment/repackaging logs

All repackaged unit dose medications will be checked by a pharmacist or another advance practice technician before dispensing

Documents the items dispensed in the unit dose computer package

Prepares all IV admixtures - including cytotoxic agents - investigational drugs - and other hazardous medications - in accordance with established policy and procedures

Adheres to appropriate aseptic technique and sterile procedures in preparing and handling of sterile products

Selects and measures appropriate ingredients - prepares the admixture - inspects the final product for accuracy and clarity - and affixes proper label including barcode

After final check by a pharmacist - delivers the sterile products to the appropriate areas

Maintains pre-determined levels of automatic replenishment/ward stock medications for patient care areas

Independently restocks without routine secondary review the patient care areas to established inventory levels

Obtains the correct medications or items for restocking - affixes proper label including barcodes - and delivers the medication to the appropriate patient care area

Monitors inventory needs in patient care areas

Places stock in proper storage areas - rotates stock - and removes/replaces outdated items

Documents the items dispensed in the automatic replenishment/ward stock computer package

Assists with inventory management by ensuring that adequate - in date stocks of medications and supplies for dispensing are maintained in the pharmacy

Orders inventory needs during the absence of the Inventory Management Technician

Compounds and/or reconstitutes simple oral or external medications (non-sterile) - which includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the drug or solution to be used

Receives new stock of controlled substances in accordance with VHA regulations

Records all transactions in the VistA Controlled Substances Software package

Operates and performs preventive maintenance on complicated pharmacy equipment

Provides technical assistance to biomedical and manufacturer service technicians when equipment requires repair or replacement

Coordinates the completion of all monthly ward inspections

Removes/replaces outdated items and excessive quantities of medications and documents findings using appropriate forms in accordance with established policy and procedures

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

Monitors refrigerator temperatures and documents temperatures on a log if appropriate daily in pharmacy

Assists collecting drug use evaluation data for quality improvement purposes

Participates in quality management and performance improvement activities by participating in service and medical center action teams

Provide patient education on pharmacy topics such as the requesting refill process - drug information sheets - and relaying judgmental questions to the pharmacist

Assists Pharmacy supervisor with training of new pharmacy technicians in both inpatient and outpatient areas

Inventories and replenishes emergency carts and anesthesia trays without a second review

Performs final review of replenished emergency carts and anesthesia trays that have prepared by lower graded technicians

As deemed necessary by the pharmacy supervisor - assists in other patient care areas to maintain the consistency of overall pharmacy services

Work Schedule: Weekend Day and Weekend Evening Tours - Off Tours as Needed Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service

Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized