Summary

This position is located within the Miami VA Healthcare System - providing comprehensive support to pharmacy operations across various settings. Responsibilities include patient care activities in the main outpatient dispensing pharmacy - phone center - outpatient clinic - administrative area - and other assigned locations as directed by the supervisor. The role demands independent judgment and commitment to Veteran care. The medical center offers a full spectrum of outpatient medical services.

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
• 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)
• Education
• 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
• 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)
• - OR- 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)
• Grandfathering Provision
• Pharmacy technicians employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: Employees may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/ registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/ certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
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• Foreign Education
• To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials
• Foreign Education-Documentation Submitted
• To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials
• Grade Determinations: Pharmacy Technician - GS-07
• (1) Experience
• Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower (GS-6) grade level
• (2) 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)
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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
• 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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service.

Duties

• VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Major duties but - not are limited to: Medication Distribution System Reads and interprets prescriptions from the Veteran Electronic Health Record System (EHRS) or in written format
• Prepares medications and verifies that the orderable item matches the dispensed item in terms of drug - strength - quantity - and appropriate supply
• Utilizes Automatic Dispensing Machines (ADM) to batch and label medications - ensuring ScriptTalk labels are used as needed
• Understands when to use alternative prescription labels during computer outages
• Pharmacy Phone System Competent in using the current facility phone system
• Demonstrates appropriate phone etiquette and maintains professionalism at all time
• Capable of working independently in phone center locations
• Capable of synthesizing patient information to identify basic therapeutic - distributive - or medication-related issues
• Mail Packing Understands and utilizes the facility's mail shipping programs effectively
• Performs searches - updates patient information - and generates shipping reports as requested by the supervisor
• Contacts patients to arrange shipment of refrigerated prescriptions and verifies the accuracy of patient addresses
• Utilizes VA software programs to check narratives and resolve delivery issues for patients without a physical address
• Medication Management System Aids the pharmacist in resolving patient care or medication-related issues
• Participates in quality improvement projects - both individually and as part of assigned teams - to enhance pharmacy services
• Ensures pharmacy security - including safeguarding the physical premises and protecting electronic records
• Maintains accountability for their tour of duty by being ready to start their shift on time and returning promptly from lunch - breaks - and other assigned meetings and activities
• Controlled Substances (CS) Accurately maintains a rolling inventory in the automation system and performs a comprehensive inventory audit every 72 hours in accordance with VA guidelines
• Ensures hardcopy prescriptions are accurately matched to prescription labels in compliance with current federal and state regulations in a timely manner
• Adheres to all applicable laws - regulations - directives - policies - and procedures regarding the dispensing - storage - transfer - inventory - and accountability of controlled substances
• Automation Is proficient in the basic procedures for operating automated prescription filling machines
• Utilizes handheld scanners and/or scales to accurately load and restock canisters with the correct medication using NDC codes and barcodes
• Collaborates closely with the Informatics Pharmacist to ensure seamless operations and resolve any operational issues
• Other Duties Trains developmental pharmacy technicians and students in the medication management system - controlled substances protocols - pharmacy mail system - and pharmacy dispensing and distribution procedures
• Provides telephone support for pharmacy-related inquiries from other departments and patients
• Maintains medication storage areas in compliance with drug expiration dates and proper storage requirements as per Joint Commission standards - and completes all mandatory training
• Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 8am-8pm - variable 8 hour shifts - with rotating weekends and holidays
• Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increase
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 30958F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized