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Summary This position is for a certified pharmacy technician above the full performance level GS-7 at the El Paso VA Healthcare System (EPVAHCS). Pharmacy technicians at this grade level are nationally certified by PTCB or ExCPT and can work autonomously using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties. Pharmacy technicians above the full performance level can mentor and train lower grade technicians in the practice setting. Responsibilities VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Pharmacy Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf 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 USP and VA guidelines, including the storage of high-risk medications, look-alike and sound-alike medications, hazardous drugs, 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 Quality Assurance procedures. Reports automation malfunctions timely the supervisor as appropriate Records expiration dates in the automatic prescription dispensing system upon receipt. Performs monthly inspections of assigned areas to ensure proper storage of medications and removal of soon to expire drugs. 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 measuring the amount of drug or solution to be used for final pharmacist verification. 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. 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. Uses standard protocols to determine an accurate expiration date for each batch prepared. 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. Assumes an active role in the overall pharmacy-training program consisting of students, externs, interns, residents, and professional and non-professional staff members. Demonstrates the ability to work under a variety of circumstances to maximize group productivity and quality. 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. Assists higher level technicians as needed. Duties are continued in the Education Section of this announcement Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 4:45 PM 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 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 #:52891-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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. English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in written and spoken English 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. 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. Preferred Experience: Outstanding customer service Extremely motivated Extremely motivated Ability to work with minimal supervision 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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-07. Physical Requirements: There are no physical requirements for this position. Walking, standing, light lifting, and carrying, may be required to perform some of the functions of this position. Education Duties Continued: Maintains national certification with PTCB or ExCPT Complies with all VHA, Medical Center, and Pharmacy regulations, directives, policies, and procedures. Works in other areas of pharmacy service as deemed necessary by the Chief, Pharmacy Service or Supervisor. Accurately interprets, fills, and readies prescriptions with appropriate medications for pharmacist verification. Appropriately restocks controlled substance items in automated secured cabinets throughout medical center, as assigned. Documents all controlled substance related transactions as indicated by VA and DEA guidelines. Assures that inventory counts are correct at the time of restocking. Ensures that proper handoff occurs when receiving or delivering controlled substances, always assuring that these medications are never left unsecured. Reports unresolvable discrepancies to immediate area supervisor for resolution. Assists in investigating, witnessing, and resolving discrepancies. Complies with all laws, regulations, directives, policies, and procedures applying to the dispensing, storage, transfer, inventory, and accountability of controlled substances. Provides proper documentations for all controlled substance that were claimed as lost from mail by the veterans. Initiates Issue Brief for each case to be reviewed by the supervisor. Assists inspectors with the inventory and accountability inspections. Monitors and analyzes orders and distribution patterns to identify questionable circumstances or unusual trends. Communicates potentialproblems to the supervisor. Provides training of controlled substance process to new pharmacy technicians, pharmacists, inspectors. Assembles prescriptions properly with the correct drug, strength, quantity, auxiliary labels, and prescription labels. for window dispensing and mail delivery. Assures that the correct medication is filled by using bar code scanning on stock bottles. Supports automation by manually completing prescriptions not processed through the automation dispensing machines. Assures the timely completion of all prescriptions. Continuously monitors workflow through automatic dispensing devices and routinely calibrates cassettes to ensure the high performance, good quality, smooth workflow, and prevention of errors that occur during the normal operation of the system. Inventories and replenishes automated dispensing devices. Operates and performs routine maintenance as per automated system Quality Assurance guidelines to maintain high performance of the system and minimized down-time Develops skills to facilitate correction of the automated systems. Documents downtime problems, actions, and resolution. Notifies the procurement technician when running low of any supplies for the automated system. Verifies the patient's identification following the Medical Center's policies (i.e., double patient identifiers) Verifies that the patient receives the correct prescriptions by using VA software (i.e., VISTA and barcode scanning) Verifies that the patient has received all prescriptions (i.e., refrigerated, controlled substances, bulk medications, etc.) Utilizes and comprehends the mail shipping programs used by the facility (i.e., USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.) for overnight delivery of non-controlled and controlled prescriptions. Performs searches, updates patient information, and generates shipping reports as requested by the supervisor. Calls patients to arrange delivery of refrigerated prescriptions and verifies patients address. Packages prescriptions appropriately, as to assure that packages are not damaged during transit (i.e., bubble wrap, ice blocks, insulated containers, etc. Utilizes VA software programs to check narratives and problem solves deliveries for patients with no physical address. Responds to all CCC requests in Power APP timely. Calls veteran when requested by CCC team. Follows facility script and etiquette when talking to customers. Handles patient queries and resolve their issues or initiate appropriate steps such as complaint escalation to appropriate pharmacy staff for resolution. Informs the Pharmacy Supervisor of problems or unusual situations with recommendations for appropriate action requiring pharmacy actions. Provides accurate information on status of prescriptions, refill and renewal process and relaying judgmental questions to the pharmacist as appropriate. Assists the pharmacist in the pre-packing and filling or nursing home orders in a timely manner. Fills prescriptions the day the label is generated or all new and refill medication orders for eligible Veterans. Orders will be faxed by the state nursing home (SNH) to the VA Pharmacy Monday-Friday (exceptions on holidays). Education may not be used to qualify for this position at the GS-7 level. IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.