Pharmacy Technician

Summary

This recruitment is for a Clinical Pharmacy Technician who is a certified pharmacy technician with advanced skills providing administrative - clerical - and clinical support to the Clinical Pharmacist Practitioners (CPP). The primary practice area for this position will be Anticoagulation Services; however - the incumbent may additionally support other clinical pharmacy services - as necessary.

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
• (1) None required
• (2) 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: (1) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
• OR (2) National Health career 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:
  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 - 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 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  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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). Standards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is the GS-08
• Physical Requirements:
  
  See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service.

• VA Careers - Pharmacy:  Clinical - Routinely reviews laboratory monitoring reports for selected disease states and identifies patients with values outside of the normal limits
• Reports identified patients to the assigned clinical pharmacy specialist for evaluation
• - Assists Clinical Pharmacy Specialists with Medication Reconciliation
• - Completes clinical pharmacy medication utilization evaluations
• - Provides patient education on pharmacy topics including but not limited to requesting refill process - drug information sheets - letter mailing to assist with compliance with therapy
• - Participates in performance improvement processes and programs as assigned
• - Review consults and completes actions as requested
• - Enter and adjudicate supply order requests (with pharmacist verification)
• - Assist the Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner in reporting and entry of adverse drug reactions into VA ADERS - and Medication Errors - and Close calls in Joint Patient Safety Reporting System (JPSR)
• - If applicable - troubleshoot pharmacy automated dispensing equipment performance by making minor adjustments to equipment when needed and contacting appropriate staff when service is required
• - Provide logistical support as a point of contact for telephone - voicemail - fax - secure messaging - and TEAMS for prescription operational issues and clinical team needs
• - Resolve - if able - prescription operational issues
• otherwise - will triage to a pharmacist
• - Run reports and assist with reviews and actions as needed
• Operations/Procurement - as needed - Inventories and replenishes emergency carts
• - Operates - monitors - and maintains complicated pharmacy equipment and refrigerator temperature on all pharmacy refrigerators
• - Conducts monthly ward inspection of…