Duties

Summary

The Outpatient Pharmacy Technician will provide high quality and efficient pharmacy services to patients/customers/units encountered/serviced in their assigned area of work. Technicians screen drug orders for accuracy and assist the pharmacist in solving potential drug related problems; technician has a working knowledge of hospital computer system(s), specifically the applicable VISTA, other software applications and processing options (e.g. outpatient prescription processing, etc.)
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Responsibilities

Major duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Fosters productive and cooperative working relationships by showing understanding, courtesy, tact, and politeness to others.
• Regularly cooperates with coworkers and others in meeting commitments and accomplishing assigned work on time.
• Assists other employees in the work unit in accomplishing assignments including supporting co-workers when work is done.
• Routinely displays courteous and tactful behavior. Projects a positive and professional image of Pharmacy Service.
• Responds constructively to feedback, seeking ways to improve. Consistently raises concerns in a constructive manner and offers potential solutions.
• Performance demonstrates efforts to improve patient satisfaction, and improve quality and timeliness.
• Provides courteous, cooperative, and timely service to patients, visitors, and staff, demonstrating good oral and written communication.
• Screens drug orders for accuracy and assist the pharmacist in solving potential drug related problems.
• Properly processes, fills and packages outpatient prescriptions for window and mail efficiently to achieve a twenty-minute window waiting time and two-day mail turnaround time.
• Fills window and mail prescriptions accurately.
• Distributes medication at the outpatient window after verifying two methods of identification of the patient/caregiver, providing special assistance to those with increased need.
• Correctly processes short stocked, partial supplies, mailed prescriptions and patient returns within stipulated time frames.
• Correctly processes and labels drugs, pre-pack items, bulk prescriptions per policy.
• Processes clinic orders, manages clinic stock inventory and fills clinic orders.
• Performs inventory replenishment, inspection maintenance and security control of crash carts, returning carts that have been serviced to the patient ready storage area.
• Has thorough understanding of code box and EMS box refill procedures. Documents all drug box exchanges properly and thoroughly.
• Maintains all pharmacy areas and equipment in a clean, neat, and organized fashion.
• Functions as first-line telephone contact for patients, providers, and/or the public. Addresses telephone requests in a timely and courteous fashion, processing, for example, refill requests, etc.
• Provides courteous, cooperative, and timely service to patients, visitors, and staff, demonstrating good oral and written communication. This includes identification of self and department, tact, self-control, patience, and discretion in dealing with the public, patients, fellow employees and management and projecting a positive image of Department of Veterans Affairs (i.e. customer service, good communication with co-workers and Veterans).
• Performs all other pharmacy duties as assigned.
• Has a thorough knowledge of the operation and basic daily maintenance and troubleshooting of all automated equipment in the pharmacy (e.g. ScriptPro, Q-matic).
• Knowledgeable about contingency plans and all policy and procedures regarding each automated machine.
• Technicians will notify Charge pharmacist when problems are encountered with all automated machines within the pharmacy.
• Correctly processes and labels drugs, pre-pack items, bulk supplies, etc. Properly operates all equipment in the assigned area(s) in an efficient manner.
• Prepares and fills controlled substances as needed for filling of outpatient orders and Omnicell. Follows VHA controlled substance handbook and department SOP's for processing all controlled substances through the vault.
• Prepares and fills controlled substances as needed for filling of outpatient orders and Omnicell. Follows VHA controlled substance handbook and department SOP's for processing all controlled substances through the vault.

Preferred Experience: 3+ years Outpatient Pharmacy Technician experience.
Work Schedule: "Various Tours Including Evenings and Weekends"
Tour Duty: Compressed/Flexible
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
None

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/09/2020.

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. A high school diploma or equivalent; or at least 3 months experience.

Grade Determinations:GS-05 Education or Experience: Successful completion of a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree that included at least 24 semester hours of courses related to pharmacy or pharmacy technology; successful completion of pertinent specialized training courses in pharmaceutical and pharmacy services while serving in the Armed Forces is creditable on a month-for-month basis up to the 1 year of experience required for the GS-5 level; or at least 1 year of experience at the next lower level that demonstrates the core competencies (KSAs) described at the GS-4 level:

• Ability to process and fill prescriptions under supervision;
• Ability to operate and maintain dispensing equipment;
• Ability to operate pharmacy information systems; Ability to maintain appropriate files;
• Ability to prepare sterile compounds under supervision.

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
1. Ability to operate and care for automated dispensing devices and equipment.
2. Knowledge of, and ability to perform, aseptic technique.
3. Knowledge of basic inventory procedures.
4. Knowledge of pharmacy information systems.

References: VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G28The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-05.

Physical Requirements: Employees are typically expected to work forty hours per week. This may include nights, weekends and/or holidays as assigned. Principle duties require repetitive use of hands and fingers (e.g. use of a computer keyboard, opening/closing stock bottles, etc.). May require lifting and carrying light loads (up to 44lbs.), including boxes, equipment, unit dose-cassettes, and IV solutions; stooping or kneeling (e.g., to pick up items from the floor, remove and replace items on lower shelves, and to file documents in lower file drawers, etc.); sitting, walking, or standing for long periods of time (4-8 hours). Normal ranges of hearing and vision are required to perform work and communicate effectively; must have the visual ability to distinguish between basic colors and shades of color. An ability to perform tasks requiring rapid mental and muscular coordination functions simultaneously is necessary. Must be physically capable of operating various types of equipment used for the job.

Education

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html .

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

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.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
Yes

Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you are required to provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• vha-10-25850c Application
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

Resume Reminder: Your resume must include the following for each job listed:
1) Job title and grade level/salary. In order to show that you meet time-in-grade, you must document grades you have held and how long you have held them;
2) Duties (you must include enough detailed information to support your specialized experience);
3) Month and year start/end dates (e.g. 04/2007 to 04/2008);
4) Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week);
5) Supervisor's contact information and whether or not the supervisor can be contacted.
6) Please be aware that your answers will be verified against information provided on your resume. Be sure that your resume clearly supports your responses to all of the questions by addressing your work experience in detail. Recommended: Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications. To ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties you performed under each individual job title. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications.

Recommended: Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications. To ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties you performed under each individual job title. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications.
VA Form 10-2850c Application for Associated Health Occupations can be found at: http://www.va.gov/vaforms/search_action.asp?FormNo=2850&tkey=&Action=Search .

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• vha-10-25850c Application
• PTCB
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx .

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.