Pharmacy Technician

Serves as the VISN 16 South Central VA Health Care Network Health Care Systems Pharmacy Technician for the Southeastern Louisiana Veterans Healthcare System (New Orleans, LA), and Michael

E. DeBakey Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Houston, Texas), and Community Based Outpatient Clinics located in Beaumont, Texas VA facility, and Lufkin, Texas VA facility.

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.

Functions or scope of duties:

* Accurately interpret, 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 optimal work areas.

* Assures drugs and supplies are appropriately stored and secured according to USP and VA guidelines, including the storage of high-risk, look a-like sound alike, hazardous, 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 QA procedures. Reports automation malfunctions timely the supervisor as appropriate

* Records expiration dates in the automatic prescription dispensing system upon receipt.

* Perform monthly inspections to assigned areas to ensure proper storage of medications and soon to expired drugs are removed. Completes inspection reports in compliance with regulatory requirements.

* Completes all National, VISN, local, and Pharmacy mandatory trainings in a timely manner.

* Maintains national certification with PTCB or ExCPT

* Comply with all VHA, Medical Center, and Pharmacy regulations, directives, policies, and procedures.

* Appropriately restocks controlled substances items in automated secured cabinets (i.e., Pyxis) in pharmacy or 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.

* Assist in investigating, witnessing, and resolving discrepancies.

* Comply with all laws, regulations, directives, policies, and procedures applying to the dispensing, storage, transfer, inventory, and accountability of controlled substances.

* Follow USP 797/800 Guidelines for the compounding of all sterile preparations, including ophthalmic, cardioplegic, TPN, hazardous, large & small volume IV solutions, PCAs, etc. Manufactures uncomplicated and/or complicated parenteral admixtures to be delivered in the form of large volume, small volume, infusion syringe or other as required.

* Correctly interprets physician orders, selects, and measures appropriate ingredients, mixes ingredients in a safe and effective manner, inspects the final product for accuracy, suitability, and elegance, labels the product, maintains records of the manufacturing process, and supplies the product for pharmacist verification and delivery.

* Uses standard protocols to determine an accurate expiration date for each batch prepared.

* Consistently displays competence with good manufacturing practices and sterile technique through demonstration and/or actual work performance.

Work Schedule:

Rotating shifts, including weekends and holidays, to meet the needs of the service.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus):
Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance):
Not Authorized

Pay:
Competitive salary and regular salary increases

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 #: 629-01342F, 580-02175F

Permanent Change of Station (PCS):
Not Authorized