Career Center

Summary

The Pharmacy Technician is nationally certified by PTCB or ExCPT and works autonomously - using independent judgement to assist the pharmacist in providing optimal care and timely service with the mission - vision - and goals of the Battle Creek VA Medical Center; they are expected to acquire and maintain a high level of accurate productivity and performance.

Qualifications

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
• 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)
• English Language Proficiency
• 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)
• Creditable Experience
• To be creditable - a candidate must possess the required knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs) associated with the scope of pharmacy technician practice
• The candidate's experience must be evidenced by active professional practice
• (Active professional practice means paid/non-paid employment as a professional pharmacy technician.) General Experience
• (1) Any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position - or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation
• Successful completion of a course for medical technicians - hospital corpsmen - medical service specialists or hospital training obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces or the U.S. Maritime Service under close medical and professional supervision is creditable on a month-for-month basis for general experience
• Part-Time Experience
• Part-time experience is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time work week
• For example - one week of full-time credit is equivalent to two weeks of half-time work
• Quality of Experience
• Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to pharmacy technician experience at the next lower grade level
• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - administrative independence - complexity and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Specialized Experience
• Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs) to successfully perform the duties of the position and is typically in - or related to - the work of the position to be filled
• To be creditable - specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level
• Applicants who have one year of appropriate specialized experience are not required to have general experience - education above the high school level or any additional specialized experience to meet the minimum qualification requirements
• Successful completion of pertinent specialized training courses in pharmaceutical and pharmacy practices while serving in the Armed Forces is creditable on a month-for-month basis up to the one year of specialized experience
• Grade Determinations: GS-07 Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-06)
• Examples of experience include: fill orders - dispense/deliver medications using automated systems or provide technical customer service related to prescription needs
• delivery of medications to floors/patients - filling medications for the pharmacist to review
• checking for expired medications
• answering phones with appropriate disposition
• preparing sterile products (when applicable)
• assisting with basic inventory management such as putting up stock and identifying when medications need to be ordered
• 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 all of the following KSAs:(a) Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles - practices - concepts and theories providing for sound independent work.(b) Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent.(c) Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team - Veterans and external customers.(d) Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students.(e) Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations - policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution.(f) Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases
• 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-07
• Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion - involving standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time - typing - walking distances within the medical center - lifting/ carrying (up to 40 pounds) of pharmaceutical supplies - and bending/stooping/stretching
• Position requires the ability to read fine print on labels - depth perceptions - ability to distinguish basic colors - hearing (aid permitted) - clear speech - and emotional stability.

Duties

• Major duties include - but are not limited to: Accurately interprets - 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 to create optional work areas
• Assures drugs and supplies are appropriately stored and secured according to United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and VA guidelines - including the storage of high-risk - look a-like sound a-like - hazardous - controlled substances - corrosive chemical - flammable liquids - and refrigerated items
• Receives - checks - rotates - and places in stock all items received from pharmacy procurement section and identifies and reconciles any discrepancies to assure correct items have been received
• Utilizes automation dispensing equipment available to the pharmacy staff following all safety and QA procedures
• Reports automation malfunctions timely the supervisor as appropriate Records expiration dates in the automatic prescription dispensing system upon receipt
• 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
• Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile)
• This includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the amount of drug or solution to be used for final pharmacist verification
• a
• Manufactures products requiring compounding - whether made in large batches for more than one patient or in small batches to fill a single prescription or drug order
• b
• Correctly interprets physician orders - selects - and measures appropriate ingredients - mixes ingredients in a safe and effective manner - inspects the final product for accuracy - labels the product - maintains records of the manufacturing process - and attains a final check by a pharmacist
• c
• Uses standard protocols to determine an accurate expiration date for each batch prepared
• d
• Proficiently operates equipment including but not limited to balances and mixing machines in the routing of manufacturing pharmaceutical products
• 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
• Assists in training and orientation of new staff technicians - interns - and students
• Performs duties of all lower grade technicians as needed
• Participates in performance improvement initiatives for pharmacy
• Assists in quality improvement activities by participating in assessment and action teams that will improve service as assigned
• Appropriately restocks controlled substances items in automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs) in pharmacy and/or throughout medical center - as assigned
• Documents all controlled substance related transactions as indicated by VA and DEA guidelines
• Performs review of medications prepared by another pharmacy employee to be dispensed to hospital areas
• Inventories and replenishes emergency trays
• Operates and maintains automated dispensing unit dose systems
• Inspects packaged items for accuracy and suitability before submitting for final check - prior to distribution to hospital areas
• Assures repackaged dosage forms are labeled according to USP and VA standards and attains a final review by a pharmacist
• Maintains repackaging records that assures all regulatory and review standards are met
• Trouble-shoots minor mechanical problems of all automated systems as they occur and coordinates resolution of more involved mechanical or software problems
• Correctly inventories - assesses - and determines the need for floor stock and external medication
• Performs and documents an inspection of assigned hospital areas for medication storage
• Removes all expired and deteriorated drugs from the automated dispensing stations - stocks shelves - and the unit dose automated dispensing systems
• Work Schedule: Rotating tours: Monday-Friday 7:00am-8:00pm
• alternating weekends 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 93106-A