The Community Care Pharmacy Technician is responsible for the receiving, assessing appropriateness, and processing of Community Care prescribed prescriptions for final review by a pharmacist assigned to Community Care. 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: 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. (1) None required. (2) 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. 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. Certification. For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: (1) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). OR (2) National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT). Grade Determinations: GS-08 (1) Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level and demonstrate the KSAs below. (2) Certification. For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: (a) PTCB as a CPhT. OR (b) NHA as a ExCPT. (3) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs for all GS-08 assignments and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment, if indicated: (a) Comprehensive knowledge of concepts, principles, methodology and policies in a specialized area or section of pharmacy (such as sterile compounding, controlled substances, automation, clinical pharmacy, contact center, etc.) Note: See Specialized Area.in the Definitions Section. (b) Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures. (c) Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/159 PART II APPENDIX G28 Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time, typing, walking distances within the medical center, lifting/ carrying (up to 40 pounds) of pharmaceutical supplies, and ending/stooping/stretching. ["VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws A. Community Care Prescription Support Receives faxed, mailed, electronically prescribed, or delivered prescriptions (including from CBOC locations) written by Community Care providers and documents all received prescriptions in Electronic Health Record (EHR). Reviews EHR to determine authorization to receive Community Care. Communicates with patients concerning prescriptions received from unauthorized provider visits and handles prescriptions appropriately, forwarding to primary care provider or returning to the patient. Reviews authorized prescriptions for appropriateness using pharmacy technician knowledge, as well as knowledge concerning the national drug formulary and local VA formulary requirements. Communicates with Community Care physicians and nurses to request clarification of prescriptions or medication changes due to VA formulary and forwards all changes and clarifications to a licensed pharmacist to receive from the Community Care representative. B. Third-Party Collections Resolves ePharmacy rejects and processes them to be dispensed. Sends rejects to Clinical Pharmacist for resolution when appropriate. Interacts with patients, providers, and other VA staff and third-party payers as needed to resolve rejects. Ensures rejects are resolved so that patient receives appropriate medications in a timely manner, this should be done daily. Helps start prior authorization request for outside prescription plans. C. General Activities 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 a-like, 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 in conjunction with pharmacy procurement personnel. Utilizes automation dispensing equipment available to the pharmacy staff following all safety and QA procedures. Reports automation malfunctions timely the supervisor as appropriate D. Controlled Substances ActivitiesThese functions will be assisting in or the absence of a controlled substance technician. Accurately interpret, fills, and readies prescriptions with appropriate medications for pharmacist verification 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, assuring that these medications are never left unsecured. E. Inpatient Pharmacy Activities (when assigned): Sterile Product Compounding (These functions will be assisting in or the absence of the sterile compounding technician.) 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. Unit Dose Medication Management Performs review of medications prepared by another pharmacy employee to be dispensed to hospital/clinic areas. Automatic Replenishment/Ward Stock Correctly inventories, assesses, and determines the need for floor stock and external medication. F. Outpatient Pharmacy Activities (when assigned): Prescription Assembly Assembles prescriptions properly with the correct drug, strength, quantity, auxiliary labels, and prescription labels. for window dispensing and mail delivery Window Pick-Up Verifies the patient's identification following the Medical Center's policies (i.e., double patient identifiers) Mail Packaging Utilizes and comprehends the mail shipping programs used by the facility (i.e., USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.) for overnight delivery of non-controlled and controlled prescriptions. Work Schedule: Full Time; 8AM to 4:30PM and per service needs Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: Ad Hoc; Per service needs and subject to manager approval/federal policy. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not available Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
