Pharmacy Technician

Full Job Description

This position is located with the Pharmacy Clinical Contact Center (PCCC) of the VISN 4 Clinical Contact Center.

The incumbent is a certified technician, efficient, motivated, and customer-friendly, who, under the authority of the Program Manager is responsible for the pharmaceutical management of patient care assistance activities regarding the PCCC.

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C.

§ 7407.

Education or Experience: 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.

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). 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.

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).

Grade Determinations: Pharmacy Technician, GS-7 Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (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.).

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.

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. Preferred Experience: Call Center, Outpatient pharmacy, and retail pharmacy experience preferred.

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 GS-7. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Major Duties:

Major duties include, but may not be limited to: Receives telephone calls from Veterans through the automated call distribution system. Answers Veteran inquiries related to process questions.

Documents all Veteran interactions using progress notes and other reports as needed.

Uses the highest level of customer service at all times to provide patient education via telephone on the medication refill process.

Follows-through on all prescription problems by phone or EHR progress note to the provider to avoid Veterans being out of medications.

Participates in telephone notification of class 1 medication recalls as necessary. Guides Veterans on how to return medicine to the pharmacy if needed and how to obtain replacement medications.

Seeks to solve Veteran's concerns at first contact. Independently inputs refill prescriptions into EHR computer system for immediate or mail-out processing.

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

Interacts 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.

Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding outpatient procedures. Performs other duties as required.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday between 7:00am and 10:00pm; rotating weekends between 7:00am and 7:00pm. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 02741-F / Pharmacy Technician Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized