Summary

The Outpatient Pharmacy Technician is primarily responsible for management of filling and coordinating distributive and administrative tasks primarily located in the outpatient pharmacy. Secondary responsibilities include management of incoming pharmacy phone calls and prescriptions requests. The possible tour of duty is between the hours of 8 am and 9 pm - Monday through Friday - rotating weekends and holidays.

Qualifications

This position falls under the FY 26 Shortage Occupation list and VETERANS' PREFERENCE DOES NOT APPLY 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:

• Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States
• Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a)
• 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.(3)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 Health career 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-07
• Experience-Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• (Creditable Experience - To be creditable - experience must have required the use of knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics associated with the scope of pharmacy technician practice.) 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
• Assignments: For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Pharmacy technicians at this level are nationally certified and can work autonomously using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties
• These pharmacy technicians mentor and train lower graded pharmacy technicians in the practice setting
• They assist advanced/ specialized pharmacy technicians and participate in performance improvement initiatives
• At this level - pharmacy technicians use independent judgement to perform the full range of duties in the pharmacy
• They also function as staff pharmacy technicians in various locations of the pharmacy - including pharmacy contact centers
• References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/159 PART II APPENDIX G28 dated November 07 - 2023 Physical Requirements: Fine manipulation to include keyboarding (8 hours) - hearing (aid permitted) - employee will be required to sit at a computer for long periods of time in order to complete the duties of the position

Duties

• VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Pharmacy Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf Primary Functions are but not limited to: al supply prescriptions for mail out and/or pick up
• Reviews orders for completeness and fills order accurately - selecting drug products prescribed by their trade or generic name
• assembles completed orders for pharmacist review and check
• Independently fills orders which involve counting - prepackaging - reconstitution - measuring and selecting required medication items or components - and labeling with prescription and appropriate auxiliary labels
• Takes appropriate action to notify procurement staff as well as pharmacist or patient if the ordered item is not immediately available in the requested amount or strength
• Maintains Scriptpro for maximum utilization of automated systems through maintenance - appropriate robot usage - inventory management - etc
• Fills controlled substances (class II-V) prescriptions for refill - mail out and window patients - in the absence of the controlled substance technician
• Maintains a perpetual inventory on all controlled substances
• Documents and reports all discrepancies to the outpatient pharmacy supervisor and investigates discrepancies for resolution in a timely manner
• police report completion within 8 administrative hours
• Completes all inventories within the time frame established by VHA Directive 1108.01
• Receives new and returned stock by ensuring the accuracy of controlled drug records - in the absence of controlled substance technician
• Assists in the monthly controlled substance inspection
• Ensures that controlled substances to be destroyed are witnessed to include - counting the drug and packaging for destruction
• The drug will be placed in a sealed bag and labeled with medication - name - strength - and quantity
• Sealed bags will then be placed in the inpatient narcotic vault by the end of the shift
• Assists with monitoring and analyzing orders and distribution patterns to identify questionable circumstances or unusual trends
• Maintains control of prescription items prior to dispensing or mailing in accordance with VHA Handbook 1108.05
• Ensures compliance with medication delivery and/or dispensing processes to ensure correct medication is dispensed to the correct patient
• Competently provides technical coverage for other outpatient areas as needed
• Responsible for filing all prescription fill documentation and preparing for long term storage as required by law and VA regulations
• Actively participates in quality assurance programs - as required
• Trains and/or orients employees - students - and volunteers thoroughly - concerning work procedures - as required
• Willingly and actively assists coworkers when workloads become unmanageable or overwhelming
• Actively participates in staff or other assigned meetings by offering suggestions for improving operations within the service in a positive - constructive manner
• Assures that assigned ward inspections are completed and submitted in a timely and accurate manner Work Schedule: varying shifts between 0700-2100 Compressed/Flexible: Not available Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay - 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: Available (full-time telework position) Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 00000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required