Pharmacy Technician

Overview

The incumbent will assist the pharmacist in providing optimal care and timely service in accordance with the mission - vision - and goals of the Ann Arbor VA Healthcare System and Pharmacy. The duties of this position are performed in the sterile product preparation suite and accompanying storage areas of the inpatient pharmacy section at the Ann Arbor Department of Pharmacy service.

• Interpret - fill - and prepare prescriptions with appropriate medications and/or medical supplies for pharmacist verification.
• Maintain work areas in a clean and orderly condition; ensure stock and equipment are in assigned places and shelves and counters are free of dust and debris to create optimal work areas.
• Store and secure drugs and supplies according to USP and VA guidelines, including high-risk, look-alike/sound-alike, hazardous, controlled substances, corrosive chemicals, flammable liquids, and refrigerated items.
• Receive - check - rotate - and stock items from pharmacy procurement; identify and reconcile discrepancies to ensure correct items are received.
• Utilize automation dispensing equipment following safety and QA procedures; report malfunctions to supervisor timely.
• Record expiration dates in the inventory system upon receipt.
• Perform monthly inspections of assigned areas to ensure proper storage; remove soon-to-be-expired drugs; complete inspection reports in compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Assist higher-level technicians as needed; complete mandatory trainings; maintain national certification with PTCB or ExCPT.
• Controlled Substances activities: interpret - fill - and readies prescriptions; restock controlled substances in automated cabinets; document all transactions per VA and DEA guidelines; ensure secure handoffs.
• Comply with laws, regulations, directives, policies, and procedures for dispensing, storage, transfer, inventory, and accountability of controlled substances.
• Prescription Assembly: assemble prescriptions with correct drug, strength, quantity, labels; verify correct medication using barcode scanning; support automation by manually completing prescriptions not processed through automation.
• Window Pick-Up: verify patient identification and ensure correct prescriptions are dispensed per VA software (Vista and barcode scanning); verify that patient has received all prescriptions (including refrigerated and controlled substances).
• Demonstrate flexibility to shift priorities based on patient needs; work with others; may have protracted or irregular hours; shift rotation commonly required.

• Citizenship:
  United States citizen; non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited per 38 U.S.C. 7407(a).
• Education or
  
  Experience:
  
  None required for basic eligibility; for positions that accept education and experience to qualify, combinations totaling at least 100% are qualifying.
• Certification:
  For positions above full performance level, must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification (PTCB - Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) or NHA - ExCPT).
• Grandfathering and related provisions:
  See VA qualification standards; education outside the U.S. must be deemed equivalent;
  English proficiency in spoken and written English is required.
• Grade Determinations (GS-07):
  One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-06) with demonstrated KSAs; must have active national certification (PTCB or ExCPT).
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):
  Comprehensive knowledge of pharmacy concepts, policies; ability to train and orient staff; ability to evaluate and coordinate workflow within a section of the pharmacy.
• Preferred Experience:
  
  VISTA and CPRS experience or other computer programs and outpatient pharmacy processes.

• Inpatient/outpatient pharmacy environment; may involve extreme temperatures, noise, and exposure to cleaning/disinfecting products.
• Must be able to handle and dispense frozen and refrigerated items; may operate robotic packaging machinery and automated dispensing devices.
• Fine motor skills and excellent visual acuity for packaging and prescription interpretation; color vision and depth perception required.
• Hearing acuity required for professional communication; hearing aids permitted.
• Must be capable of lifting up to 50 lbs.; frequent bending, reaching, and standing; shift work and irregular hours may be required.
• Working with controlled substances requires adherence to all laws and procedures; inventory accuracy and secure handling are essential.