Clinical Pharmacy Technician

Summary

The Clinical Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) at the VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System is certified—highly specialized—and provides administrative—clerical—and clinical support to the clinical pharmacy section of the Pharmacy Service. The functions of the Clinical Pharmacy Technician include retrieving and monitoring laboratory values—medical chart/action profile reviews—telephone logistical support—communicating with MSAs for scheduling— and documentation in the electronic medical record.

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:
  
  A high school diploma or equivalent
• or at least 3 months experience
• 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)
• 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: PTCB as a CPhT OR NHA as an 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
• Preferred Experience:
  
  Strong customer service skills—Strong organizational skills
• Clinical pharmacy experience strongly preferred
• 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 GS08
• Physical Requirements:
  
  Work is primarily physical—and demands standing—walking—bending/stooping/stretching—twisting—and lifting/carrying items up to 40 lbs (and at times may be more).

VA Careers – Pharmacy:

• Clinical Pharmacy Technician shall provide support for clinical operations of facility clinical pharmacists
• All duties of the CPhT will be performed under the supervision of the assigned Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner (CPP)
• Basic:
  Evaluate and analyze the workflow to coordinate activities in support of clinical pharmacist practitioners
• Understand and apply Medical Center policies and procedures
• Interact directly with patients and family members to support clinic activities
• Communicate effectively with members of the healthcare team and stakeholders across the system
• Process medication refills upon request and assists with troubleshooting and tracking prescriptions as needed
• Administrative:
  Provide clinic support by faxing and mailing— and preparation of teaching materials— medication reconciliation— and other pharmacy related communication
• Assists with scheduling future lab orders— follow‑up appointments— and missed appointments
• Review clinic consults on a routine basis to schedule new patients for enrollment in clinic
• Triage telephone calls from patients— family members— and/or caregivers to address a variety of issues— evaluate the problem— and provide an appropriate solution or refer the problem expeditiously to the pharmacist…