Pharmacy Technician

Full Job Description

The incumbent will serve as a pharmacy technician at the Butler VA Healthcare System and is responsible for assuring facility compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, directives, policies and procedures.

The incumbent must be familiar and knowledgeable with the technical and administrative aspects of all areas of pharmacy practice.

Rotational tours of duty are necessary for the continuity of patient care.

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. 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.

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).

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-07. Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower 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: PTCB as a CPhT. 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: National Pharmacy Technician Certification Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Major Duties:

VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY Major Duties: Performs final review of medication to be dispensed to inpatient areas (unit dose carts) utilizing the tech-check-tech methodology.

Operates all pharmacy equipment in assigned areas. Assumes the initiative in this function, keeping equipment neat and orderly at all times.

Fills ward orders initiated by nurses and automatic replenishment orders initiated by a pharmacy technician. Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution.

Inventories and replenishes emergency carts (crash carts) and automated dispensing machines making sure all drugs are in date, intact, and suitable for administration.

Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile) without a second review.

This includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures so that the correct amount of drug ingredients and/or solutions is used. Follows all guidelines for Bar Code Label Requirements.

Scans and verifies barcodes on a daily basis. Prepares bar codes used for IV therapy, unit dose packaging, and printer labeling, records and tabulates data for quality control.

Uses tech-check-tech function when checking another pharmacy technician's work, being sure appropriate drug strength, quality, and labeling is accurate for inpatient distribution without a final check by a pharmacist.

Is responsible for all aspects of the automatic replenishment/ward stock program without a final review. This includes making sure all drugs are in date and suitable for administration.

Is responsible for the delivery of all inpatient drugs to the unit areas, including unit dose, IV's automatic replenishment medications, controlled substances, and narcotics, and the safety and security of medications in transit.

Independently completes all ward inspections and pharmacy stock inspections monthly, assuring all aspects of TJC requirements are met which includes outdated drugs in storage areas.

Is responsible for the repackaging of medication consistent with usage requirements and maintaining the appropriate records.

This includes making sure proper and legal packaging requirements are met for unit dose drugs. Is proficient in conversion of drug brand names and generic names.

Accurately prepares Intravenous Piggybacks, admixtures, large volume IV's daily and in sufficient quantity to cover the period over which these medications will be required and within appropriate expiration dates.

Uses either standard protocols or judgment to determine an accurate expiration date for each batch prepared.

Consistently displays competency with good manufacturing practices and sterile technique through demonstration and/or actual work performance.

This involves interpretation of provider's orders, selecting and measuring appropriate ingredients, mixing ingredients in a safe and effective manner, inspecting the final product for accuracy and suitability, labeling the product, maintaining records of the manufacturing process, and supplying the product for delivery within a time frame consistent with administration requirements.

Uses standard protocols and judgment to determine and accurate expiration date for each compound prepared.

Is able to read, interpret, and fill prescriptions under the direct supervision of the legally responsible pharmacist.

The incumbent is able to identify basic therapeutic problems such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class and alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for intervention.

This is done with notification to the pharmacist so that time requirements for the order can be achieved.

Fully proficient in the use of ScriptPro equipment used for daily filling of patient medications employing proper labeling requirements, operating procedures, robot maintenance, and utilization of corresponding documentation logs.

Maintains proper documentation with verification by a pharmacist inspecting the medicine before loading into the robot.

Assists the pharmacists in all aspects of this program and assumes initiative in solving problems that do not require licensure.

Appropriately labeling all prescriptions filled including all prescription paperwork. Packages prescriptions to be mailed to patients, ensuring paperwork and prescriptions are complete.

Operates and maintains complicated pharmacy equipment including the ScriptPro Robotics, ScriptTalk printers, computer equipment and label/paperwork printers, and fax machines.

Maintains stock levels of bulk drugs, units of use, and materials for prescription filling, consistent with usage.

Orders, receives, and checks in pharmacy medications and supplies according to established policies and procedures.

Work Schedule: Fulltime; Monday- Friday; 8:00am- 4:30pm/ 8:30am- 5:00pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position.