Pharmacy Technician

Full Job Description

The Inpatient Pharmacy technician utilizes different abilities and knowledge to staff in various areas of both inpatient and outpatient pharmacy.

Under the supervision of the appropriate technician supervisor or pharmacist (in the absence of supervisor), the Inpatient Pharmacy Technician provides a variety of pharmacy support services based off daily assignments.

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.

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.

Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S.

program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. Pharmacy Technician, GS-06. (1) Education or Experience.

One year of experience equivalent to the next lower level. (2) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs).

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of Federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice.

(b) Knowledge of preparation, storage and distribution of medication products including those requiring special handling and documentation.

(c) Ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate pharmacy dispensing equipment. (d) Knowledge of basic inventory procedures.

(e) Ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel. 9 (3) Assignments.

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/.

Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing/sitting for prolonged periods of time, considerable walking, frequent twisting/turning, and bending/stooping.

Principle duties require repetitive use of hands and fingers when compounding or manipulating medications.

The incumbent must be able to perform lifting/carrying, pushing, or pulling different types of equipment such as cabinets, carts or supplies weighing at minimum 50 pounds through various terrains.

Must be physically capable of operating various types of equipment used on the job in the areas as assigned. Major Duties:

- Ordering, preparing, compounding and dispensing of hazardous/non-hazardous controls and non-control medications in both inpatient and outpatient pharmacy.

Requires knowledge of pharmaceuticals, intravenous solutions and pharmacy practices.

- Assist the procurement technician in all aspects of pharmaceutical and supply order initiations, receiving shipments of goods, ensuring compliance with storage requirements and inventory control through perpetual analysis.

- Responsible for all ongoing inventories of drug products and supplies and cost effective turn over must be consistently identified and maintained.

- Provide on the job developmental training to co-worker technicians, volunteers and students in accordance with established plans and practices.-Delivery of medications (control, non-control, hazardous, non-hazardous) to inpatient, outpatient, ambulatory care clinics, and community based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) as assigned.

- Must be able to handle emergency deliveries and pick up new orders and replenish needed supplies on his/her own initiative or as directed by lead/ supervisor technician or the pharmacist.

- Provides exceptional customer service to all stakeholders involved.

- Ability to perform record keeping functions associated with the unit dose/IV distribution system, prepacking, compounding, dispensing, floor stock and automatic replenishment.

-Independently works in all activities of this centralized intravenous admixture where he/she receives and reviews physicians order forms and is responsible for the preparation of all of the products prepared in the IV room.

-Ability to perform basic mathematical skills in order to calculate dosages, prepare complex solutions and make appropriate adjustments in the ingredients of the compound preparations based on quantity needed.

- Monitors refrigerator temperature on a daily basis in the pharmacy and remotely via temperature monitoring software. - Carefully and accurately receives new stock and processes returns.

- Performs ward inspections and assist with resolution of identified issues. - Troubleshoot system problems and provide detailed analysis to Pharmacy Management with regards to pharmacy automation.

- Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 6am-2;30pm ; Rotating weekends, holidays and other shifts as needed/assigned. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Location: 578 VA Hospital Hines IL Preferred experience: Previous hospital or VHA experience. Driving Required: Driving medications to CBOCs may be required.