Pharmacy Technician

Full Job Description

This position is located in Pharmacy Service. Pharmacy technicians prepare medications by counting, pouring, weighing, measuring, and mixing or compounding oral and intravenous medications.

The pharmacy technician may also prepare medications for distribution to inpatient wards and clinics and outpatients for pickup and mailing.

The pharmacy technician works in collaboration with other pharmacy technicians and responds to requests of pharmacists and other pharmacy supervisory staff.

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: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C.

7403(f) Certification: For positions above the full performance level, the employee 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).

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).

Grade Determinations: Pharmacy Technician GS-0661-08 Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level and demonstrate the KSAs below.

Certification: For positions above the full performance level (GS-06), the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: PTCB as a CPhT.

OR NHA as a ExCPT.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs for all GS-08 assignments and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment, if indicated: Comprehensive knowledge of concepts, principles, methodology and policies in a specialized area or section of pharmacy (such as sterile compounding, controlled substances, automation, clinical pharmacy, contact center, etc.) Note: See Specialized Area.in the Definitions Section.

Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures.

Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy.

Assignment: Pharmacy technicians in this assignment specialize in areas such as sterile compounding, oncology, controlled substances, medication history review, clinical specialist (anticoagulation, pain, infectious diseases), clinical informatics, automation, immunizations and any other specialized area in the advancement of the profession.

The pharmacy technician will serve as a subject matter expert and key resource in the day-to-day technician duties of the specialized area.

The technician will be performing assignments such as compounding sterile products, filling controlled substance prescriptions while maintaining compliance with Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) regulations, taking medication histories and counseling patients, managing automation, managing workflow and training and orienting staff in the specialized area.

Preferred Experience: Previous Clinical Pharmacy Technician in Anticoagulation Clinic and/or Primary Care.

Strong customer service experience including problem solving, multitasking, organizational knowledge, and excellent communication skills.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Principal duties of this position require repetitive use of hands and fingers (e.g., preparing prescriptions, use of a computer keyboard, etc.).

May require lifting and carrying light loads (up to 44lbs.), including boxes, equipment, medical supplies, stock boxes etc.; stooping or kneeling (e.g., to pick up items from the floor, remove and replace items on lower shelves, and to file documents in lower file drawers, etc.); sitting, walking, or standing for long periods of time (4-8 hours).

Ability to operate automation. Normal ranges of hearing and vision are required to perform work and communicate effectively. An ability to perform tasks. Major Duties:

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Pharmacy Technician GS-0661-08 Under the supervision of a Pharmacist, or Supervisory Pharmacy Technician, pharmacy technicians perform routine pharmacy functions including receiving prescriptions from patients in writing or electronically from physicians.

Pharmacy technicians prepare prescriptions by counting, pouring, weighing, measuring, and mixing the medication if necessary.

Pharmacy technicians maintain patient profiles, prepare insurance claim forms, stock, and take inventory of medications.

Pharmacy technicians prepare medications for inpatients in various settings, including sterile product preparation.

Pharmacy technicians at this level have a higher level of responsibility for specialized areas of pharmacy and are expected to independently carry out assigned tasks of considerable difficulty.

Pharmacy technicians at this grade level may be appointed to one of the following assignments: (a) Pharmacy Technician.

Pharmacy technicians in this assignment specialize in areas such as sterile compounding, oncology, controlled substances, medication history review, clinical specialist (anticoagulation, pain, infectious diseases), clinical informatics, automation, immunizations and any other specialized area in the advancement of the profession.

The pharmacy technician will serve as a subject matter expert and key resource in the day-to-day technician duties of the specialized area.

The technician will be performing assignments such as compounding sterile products, filling controlled substance prescriptions while maintaining compliance with Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) regulations, taking medication histories and counseling patients, managing automation, managing workflow and training and orienting staff in the specialized area.

Major Duties: Conduct patient interviews and medication education. Communicate anticoagulant dose with patient, assess and accurately document all communications in their medical record.

Review patient lab results and medical history. Gather and document pertinent information for pharmacist review as appropriate. Collect and enter outside labs and pertinent medical history as needed.

Attend and actively participate in all clinical pharmacy activities as directed by Clinical Pharmacy Program Manager and/or Associate Service Chief - Ambulatory Care.

Maintain competence by participating in staff development programs and successfully complete annual competencies. Provide training and resources for clinical staff who are new to team, as applicable.

Triage phone calls and voicemail messages from internal and external customers. Fax, email, or mail correspondence to appropriate patients and staff.

Manage technical assignments of anticoagulation program. Use/understanding of both warfarin and DOAC dashboards. Other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

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) 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: No.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F06758 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.