Pharmacy Technician; Outpatient

Overview

Summary The Pharmacy Technician (Outpatient) is nationally certified by PTCB or ExCPT and works autonomously, using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties. The incumbent will assist the pharmacist in providing optimal care and timely service with the mission, vision, and goals of the Battle Creek VA Medical Center. They are expected to acquire and maintain a high level of accurate productivity and performance;

reports directly to the Supervisory Pharmacy Technician (Outpatient).

Summary The Pharmacy Technician (Outpatient) is nationally certified by PTCB or ExCPT and works autonomously, using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties. The incumbent will assist the pharmacist in providing optimal care and timely service with the mission, vision, and goals of the Battle Creek VA Medical Center; they are expected to acquire and maintain a high level of accurate productivity and performance;

reports directly to the Supervisory Pharmacy Technician (Outpatient).

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:
  
  None required
• 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)
• National Health career Association (NHA) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• Grandfathering provision (if applicable for current VHA employees in this occupation)
• Creditable
  
  Experience:
  
  Knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) associated with the scope of pharmacy technician practice; active professional practice required
• General
  
  Experience:
  
  Any work demonstrating ability to perform the work of the position or related subject matter
• Part-Time
  
  Experience:
  
  Creditable according to its relationship to the full-time work week
• Quality of
  
  Experience:
  
  Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to pharmacy technician experience at the next lower grade level
• Specialized
  
  Experience:
  
  Experience that equips the applicant with the KSAs to perform the duties of the position; equivalent to at least the next lower grade level
• To be creditable, specialized experience must be equivalent to at least the next lower grade level
• One year of appropriate specialized experience may substitute for general experience
• Successful completion of pertinent specialized training courses (e.g., armed forces) credited on a month-for-month basis
• Grade Determinations: GS-07
  
  Experience:
  
  one year of experience equivalent to GS-06
• Examples of experience include: filling orders, dispensing/delivering medications using automated systems, providing technical customer service related to prescription needs, delivering medications to floors/patients, checking for expired medications, answering phones, preparing sterile products (when applicable), assisting with inventory management
• Certification:
  For positions above the full performance level, the employee must hold an active national certification (PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT)
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):
• Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts, and theories
• Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions or electronic equivalents
• Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with the healthcare team, veterans, and external customers
• Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students
• Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following regulations, policies, and procedures
• Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or related technology
• Reference: VA Qualification Standards
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07
• Physical Requirements:
  
  Regular physical exertion; standing or sitting for long periods, typing, walking within the medical center, lifting up to 40 pounds, bending, stooping, and stretching. Must read fine print on labels, have depth perception, distinguish basic colors, have hearing (aid permitted), clear speech, and emotional stability.

• Major duties include but are not limited to:
  Medication distribution and management; reads and interprets prescriptions from veteran EHR systems or written format; reviews prescription orders for technical accuracy
• Accurately interpret, fill, and prepare prescriptions with appropriate medications and/or medical supplies for pharmacist verification
• Assemble prescriptions with correct drug, strength, quantity, auxiliary labels, and prescription labels for window dispensing and mail delivery
• Verify correct medications using bar code scanning on stock bottles
• Support automation by manually completing prescriptions not processed through automation
• Ensure timely completion of all…