Pharmacy Technician

Full Job Description

The VISN 8 Clinical Contact Center (CCC) is seeking an experienced and dynamic Pharmacy Technician.

Ideal applicants are those who want to contribute to the achievement of quality care standards, as well as the growth and development of a VA academic hospital program.

You must be an excellent communicator and team player who is adaptable to the needs of a contact center, focused on customer service to Veterans.

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: Must be a US Citizen. English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), you must be proficient in basic written and spoken English.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met to qualify for a specific grade level.

Experience: Must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade level.

Examples of this include but is not limited to: filling orders, dispensing/delivering medications using automated systems or providing technical customer service to Veterans related to prescription needs.

Delivering 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.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs (a) Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work.

(b) Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent.

(c) Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers. (d) Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students.

(e) Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution.

(f) Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases.

Certification: 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) Preferred Experience: Experience working in a Pharmacy Call Center.

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.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-7. Physical Requirements: Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation as required by VA Handbook 5019.

This evaluation is administered by VA Occupational Health.

This position is primarily sedentary, but may involve prolonged standing and/or walking; lifting of weights up to 40 pounds; bending and/or stooping.

The incumbent must be physically, emotionally and mentally stable in order to efficiently perform the essential functions of this position without hazard to themselves or others. Major Duties:

As a Pharmacy Technician you are responsible for the technical management of all patient care assistance activities regarding the Clinical Contact Center (CCC).

The incumbent is responsible to the Clinical Contact Center Pharmacy Supervisory staff, for ensuring that the daily work assignments in this area are completed in a timely, efficient, and customer-oriented manner.

The incumbent also performs all processes and procedures involved with all program areas of the Pharmacy Service as requested.

Other duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Providing high-quality care, increasing access & improving outcomes for Veterans.

Communicating with Veterans through the automated call distribution system, answering inquiries related to process questions.

Following up on all prescription problems by phone or CPRS progress notes to avoid delay in Veteran medications. Participating in telephone notification of class 1 medication recalls as necessary.

Assisting telephone care program manager with compilation of data for workload statistics and to detect problems with the automated and internet refill systems.

Processing batch refill prescription ordering for mail-out processing and ultimate fulfillment of Veteran requests.

Interacting personally with Veterans or their representatives to assure medication profiles are updated, reviewed, and needed prescriptions items or prosthetics supplies are appropriately processed.

Accurately fills prescriptions orders by selecting correct product based on label requirements and assures each item is filled and labeled according to all applicable standards.

Answering questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding outpatient procedures.

Identifying basic therapeutic problems, such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class and alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention.

Other related duties as assigned.

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday- Sunday, 5:00 am - 1:00am (Various shifts available).

(Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor. The incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs).

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized. Telework: Available. Virtual: This is a virtual position.

Must be located within the VISN 8 area. Functional Statement #: 10048 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.