U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Summary
The Pharmacy Technician (Outpatient) serves as an integral member of the Pharmacy Service at the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System - supporting the delivery of high-quality pharmaceutical care to Veterans. Working under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist - the incumbent performs a broad range of technical pharmacy duties involving the preparation - dispensing - distribution - and management of medications and pharmaceutical supplies.
Qualifications
Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
Basic Requirements
<ul>
<li>Citizenship</li>
<li>Be a citizen of the United States</li>
<li>Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with38 U.S.C.</li>
<li>7407(a)</li>
<li>Education or Experience</li>
<li>None required</li>
<li>For all grade levels and positions that accept both education and experience to qualify - equivalent combinations of qualifying education and experience that total at least 100% are qualifying</li>
<li>The combined percentage is determined by adding total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level to the education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level</li>
<li>Foreign Education</li>
<li>To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials</li>
<li>Grandfathering Provision</li>
<li>Pharmacy technicians employed in VHA on the effective date (11/07/23) of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation</li>
<li>Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for appointment in paragraph 5 - VA HR staff must use the following criteria to determine the appropriate grade assignment of candidates</li>
<li>Pharmacy Technician - GS-06</li>
<li>Education or Experience</li>
<li>One year of experience equivalent to the next lower level</li>
<li>Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)</li>
<li>In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of Federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice</li>
<li>Knowledge of preparation - storage and distribution of medication products including those requiring special handling and documentation</li>
<li>Ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate pharmacy dispensing equipment</li>
<li>Knowledge of basic inventory procedures</li>
<li>Ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel</li>
<li>Assignments</li>
<li>Pharmacy technicians at the full performance level may fill orders - dispense/deliver medications using automated systems or provide technical customer service to Veterans related to prescription needs</li>
<li>Duties will include delivery of medications to floors/patients - filling medications for the pharmacist to review - checking for expired medications - answering phones with appropriate disposition - preparing sterile products (when applicable) and assisting with basic inventory management such as putting up stock and identifying when medications need to be ordered</li>
<li>Preferred Experience: Minimum of two (2) years of experience in a retail pharmacy - and outpatient pharmacy</li>
<li>Current Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) certification preferred</li>
<li>The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-6. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit <a href="https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/</a>.</li>
</ul>
Duties
<ul>
<li>VA Careers - Pharmacy: <a href="https://youtube.com/embed/Fn%5C_ickNBEws" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://youtube.com/embed/Fn\_ickNBEws</a> Major Duties Reviews - interprets - and processes outpatient prescriptions received from authorized healthcare providers in accordance with established pharmacy policies and procedures</li>
<li>Dispenses medications and supplies after final verification by a pharmacist - ensuring proper patient identification and compliance with all applicable regulations</li>
<li>Delivers finished prescriptions to patients and/or caregivers using established patient identification procedures and customer service standards</li>
<li>Correctly packages and prepares prescriptions and pharmaceutical products for mailing and distribution</li>
<li>Assists with receiving - unpacking - stocking - rotating - and organizing medications and pharmaceutical supplies</li>
<li>Maintains cleanliness - organization - and operational readiness of assigned pharmacy work areas</li>
<li>Identifies - reports - and assists in resolving equipment malfunctions - automation issues - and workflow concerns</li>
<li>Fills prescriptions utilizing robotics - prescription packaging systems - automated dispensing equipment - and other pharmacy technology resources when assigned</li>
<li>Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications that do not require pharmacist review and performs calculations and conversions necessary to prepare medications accurately</li>
<li>Answers routine pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical inquiries regarding medication availability - prescription status - and pharmacy services - referring clinical questions to a pharmacist when appropriate</li>
<li>Responds to patient telephone inquiries and prescription-related questions using established pharmacy procedures and customer service practices</li>
<li>Assists in training and orienting lower-graded pharmacy technicians - students - and new staff members within the outpatient pharmacy</li>
<li>Processes prescription refill requests utilizing VistA and other VA pharmacy information systems while ensuring data accuracy and completeness</li>
<li>Files - retrieves - and maintains prescription records and related pharmacy documentation in accordance with record management requirements</li>
<li>Performs duties associated with inventory management - including receipt - storage - stocking - rotation - and monitoring of pharmaceutical inventory levels</li>
<li>Communicates stock shortages - backorders - and inventory concerns to procurement personnel and pharmacy leadership to minimize interruptions in patient care</li>
<li>Receives and stores pharmaceuticals in accordance with manufacturer requirements - federal regulations - and VA policy</li>
<li>Removes unusable - expired - recalled - or deteriorated stock from active inventory and coordinates appropriate disposition procedures</li>
<li>Conducts and documents monthly inventory inspections - including stock rotation - outdate reviews - and inventory control activities</li>
<li>Utilizes automated pharmacy systems and pharmacy software applications to support prescription processing - inventory management - reporting - and workload documentation</li>
<li>Protects sensitive patient information and maintains compliance with privacy - information security - and confidentiality requirements</li>
<li>Ensures compliance with all applicable VA policies - Pharmacy Service procedures - federal and state regulations - Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements - DEA regulations - and medication safety standards</li>
<li>Participates in quality improvement initiatives - patient safety activities - and pharmacy service performance improvement efforts designed to enhance medication management and customer service outcomes</li>
<li>Performs other duties as assigned in support of pharmacy operations and the mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs</li>
<li>Work Schedule: Rotating shifts that may include Monday through Friday - weekends - and holidays based on the needs of the service</li>
<li>Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position</li>
<li>Functional Statement #: 41217F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized</li>
</ul>

Pharmacy Technician (Outpatient Pharmacy)

Pharmacy Technician (Outpatient Pharmacy)

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