Summary

The Pharmacy Technician at the Albany Stratton VA Medical Center is certified - highly specialized - and is responsible for performing all assigned inpatient pharmacy or outpatient pharmacy duties. At least 25% of their time will be used to carry out duties that require a higher level of responsibility for specialized areas of pharmacy and are expected to independently carry out assigned tasks of considerable difficulty.

Qualifications

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.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)
• 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 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-0661-08 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-08
• Physical Requirements: See VA and Directive and Handbook 5019

Duties

• Major duties includes but not limited to: Accurately interpret - fills - and prepares prescriptions with appropriate medications and or medical supplies for pharmacist verification
• Maintains work areas in a clean and orderly condition by assuring that all stock and equipment are in assigned places and all shelves and counters are free of dust and debris in order to create optimal work areas
• Assures drugs and supplies are appropriately stored and secured according to USP and VA guidelines - including the storage of high-risk - look a-like sound a-like - hazardous - controlled substances - and refrigerated items
• Receives - checks - rotates - and places in stock all items received in order
• Identifies and reconciles any discrepancies to assure correct items have been received
• Operates and maintains complicated pharmacy equipment including robotic dispensing - automated counting - and barcode re-labeling equipment
• Trouble-shoots minor mechanical problems of all automated systems as they occur and coordinates resolution of more involved mechanical or software problems with supervisor - vendor help desk - etc
• as appropriate
• Performs monthly inspections to assigned areas to ensure proper storage of medications and soon to expired drugs are removed
• Completes inspection reports in compliance with regulatory requirements
• Monitors temperature of Pharmacy refrigerators/freezers and maintains temperature logs as necessary
• Assists narcotic inspectors with the inventory and accountability inspections
• Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution
• Identifies basic therapeutic problems - such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class and alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention
• Outpatient responsibilities include prescription filling - pharmacy phone triage - window prescription dispensing - narcotic vault assignments - preparing medications for mailing - or other areas that may develop from patient pharmacy needs
• Inpatient responsibility include aseptic admixture preparation - accurate automatic and on-demand ward stock replenishment - maintenance and operation of automated prepackaging - storage - and dispensing equipment - assembly and documentation of controlled substance requests - and properly packaging unit of use medications
• Ability to prepare - fill - and dispense controlled substance according to policies and procedures
• Conducts regularly scheduled biweekly inventories and assists the Controlled Substance Inspectors in completing the unannounced monthly inspections
• Effectively coordinates the purchasing of all drug products and supplies by maintaining a comprehensive knowledge of the procurement and formulary process
• Maintains CS accurate stock with electronic inventory through decrementing prescriptions - transferring to automated dispensing cabinets - and dispensing on green sheets
• Removes all expiring/outdated medications from ward automated dispensing cabinet locations and vault stock when needed
• Follows policies and procedures for handling the destruction and return of medication
• Monitors - analyzes orders - and usage/distribution patterns for questionable circumstances or unusual trends
• Communicates potential problems to the Pharmacy Supervisor
• Maintains files of hard copy CII-CV prescriptions and all narcotic related records
• Resolves inventory discrepancies immediately when discovered by reviewing reports and contacting appropriate persons when needed
• Reports discrepancies to pharmacy supervisor for follow-up
• Ensures all controlled substances procedures abide by all local requirements - VISN - OIG and VHA handbook expectations and requirements - The Joint Commission (TJC) standards - VACO directives - Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) requirements - appropriate inventory management practices - and any other requirements that may apply
• Prepares cytotoxic chemotherapy and is knowledgeable about working in a vertical flow hood - proper PPE use - and proper handling of chemotherapy agents when stocking - transporting - and mixing
• Accurately uses safety mechanisms when compounding chemotherapy including specialized admixing pumps - needles - syringes - transfer devices and camera safety systems
• Is knowledgeable about negative pressure technique - hazardous waste disposal - and cytotoxic spill response
• Performs duties of all lower grade technicians as needed
• Assists higher grade technicians as needed
• ***Performs other duties as assigned*** Work Schedule:- Monday - Friday 8:00am-4:30pm with rotation to the 9:30am - 6:00pm tour and rotating weekends and holidays
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 49715F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized