Pharmacy Technician; Inpatient

Summary

Pharmacy Technicians are a vital component of medication distribution in the VA - and the need for fully functional and reliable personnel is critical to our mission. Certified technicians with advanced medical and technical knowledge that function above the journeyman level are highly integral to the Pharmacy Service. Technicians at this level have a major impact on operational aspects for providing timely - efficient - and accurate prescription filling/dispensing with minimal need of supervision.

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.

• 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 (GS-7 and above):
  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 Health career Association (NHA) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• Physical Requirements
• See physical requirements listed below
• English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)
• Grade Determinations:
  In addition to meeting the basic requirements above - to qualify for the GS-7 you must possess at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6) AND demonstrate all the Knowledge
  - Skills and Abilities
  
  (KSAs) below:
• 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:
  
  Ability to fill / troubleshoot pharmacy automation to include (e.g.
  
  - Scriptpro - Optifill - Omnicell) inventory management PTCB Certification or NHA Knowledge of brand / generic name medications 1-year of IV compounding experience under USP 797 - 800 guidelines Controlled substance management technician experience
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). Standards/
• This vacancy is above the full performance level
• Physical Requirements:
  
  The work is mostly standing - walking - bending and climbing however - some sitting - which involves typing - is also required
• Technicians must be able to lift and move cases of IV fluids weighing approximately 30 lbs
• Technicians work mainly in area assigned - however - may be required to walk to storage area or to various hospital units and clinics.

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties may include but are not limited to:
  Prescription Processing:
  Demonstrate ability to accurately navigate and utilize VistA - CPRS - and any other patient databases necessary to perform the job
• Establish patient eligibility status
• Establish provider prescriber authority and appropriately enter new providers into the system
• Knowledge of medical terminology and common abbreviates to accurately interpret/transcribe prescriptions
• Interpret prescriptions and other orders to determine proper disposition in accordance with established procedures
• Ability to perform a full administrative and technical review of the patient's medication and computer profile - being sure that the most current prescriptions are being processed - all older prescriptions for the same mediation(s) - checking for remaining authorized refills - checking for frequency of refills
• Enter correct medication - strength - dosage form - and quantity into patient's profile
• Filling:
  Possess an advanced technical knowledge of drug and medication brand names - generic names/chemical names - general and special storage requirements - expiration date requirements - manufacturer/distributor sources - dosage forms - basic pharmaceutical calculations - applicable systems of weights and measures and medical terminology to interpret…