Pharmacy Technician

Summary Pharmacy Technician - Clinical Pharmacy Technician/Office Assistant The primary functions of the Clinical Pharmacy Technician include obtaining, performing, and monitoring laboratory values according to established procedures, electronic health record (EHR) reviews, telephone logistical support, scheduling, entering progress notes (with oversight of a CPP (Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner)), and supplemental patient education communication. Responsibilities Duties include, but are not limited to: Technician Activities 1) The Clinical Pharmacy Technician shall provide support for clinical operations of clinical pharmacy clinics including the Anticoagulation Clinic, as well as other clinical programs and their clinical pharmacists. All duties of the Clinical Pharmacy Technician will be performed under the direct supervision of the assigned Clinical Pharmacist. All clinical decision-making will first be reviewed and directed by the CPP. All assigned clinical activities and functions shall be completed in accordance with approved clinical pharmacy protocols or procedures. 2) Will assist CPP triage and assess patients according to clinic protocols, making minor adjustments as reviewed with CPP. Clinical Technician may oversee the lower-grade technical staff to ensure workload is being done in a timely and efficient manner. This also includes teaching, training, and oversite of pharmacy students/interns and new employees as well. Clinical Activities 1) Clinical Assessment a) Obtains and reviews information on compliance, current anticoagulation medication dosages, medication changes, alcohol consumption, smoking, bleeding symptoms and general state of health, b) Reviews medication history, changes (including herbals, dietary supplements/over the counter (OTC) medications), adherence, and complications of therapy and report findings to Clinical Pharmacist. c) Assesses patient compliance and attains renewals for anticoagulation and other medications as appropriate. d) Routinely monitors laboratory data and refers patients to CPP for evaluation according to clinic protocol. e) Assists with scheduling future lab orders and follow-up appointments. 2) Technical duties include completing electronic progress notes, scheduling appointments, administratively completing consults, and documenting data in the Pharmacy record or the patient EHR. 3) Communicates to the CPP changes in medications or complications, assisting in the prevention of other drug-related problems, when appropriate. 4) Telephone support involves rescheduling patients who have missed appointments, phone interviews of patients who have obtained labs from outside labs, and triaging incoming phone calls from patients, their family members or other health providers. 5) Extensive working knowledge of anticoagulation clinic process, anticoagulation medications, safety rules and regulations, and monitoring parameters as required. 6) Contributes to clinic flow management by running reports, contacting Veterans and/or family members, reviewing/obtaining records and communicating issues to assist in providing effective clinical care. 7) Navigates dashboards and reviews assigned data for action according to established procedures. Administrative Activities 1) Incumbent generates work-orders as necessary. 2) Assists in the timely updating of Pharmacy assigned policies and procedures. 3) Completes annual Pharmacy EIL (Equipment Inventory Listing) successfully and timely, working to address any issues and communicating issues in a timely manner. 4) Assists with creation of staff schedules for weekends, on-call, holidays, and late shifts. 5) Serves as the primary timekeeper for Pharmacy Service and has knowledge of Title 5 and Title 38 hybrid timekeeping systems and processing of personnel matters (leave, overtime, etc.), including required forms. Takes necessary actions, through knowledge of VA regulations, to ensure compliance in personnel and timekeeping responsibilities. 6) Responsible for tracking action items and putting together agendas & minutes for Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and other Pharmacy meetings as assigned. Ensures minutes of meetings are completed accurately and efficiently. Provides administrative follow-up of committee procedures/agendas, continuing education, and service policies and procedures. Formulates and continually monitors all meeting responsibilities to assure accountability for the services. 7) Responsibility for telephone triage, management of inquiries, and timely response to requests. 8) Answers routine inquiries (via telephone or otherwise) from medical staff or Veteran patients on the availability of drugs and dosage forms, or prescription status. Refers appropriately to professional staff those questions having to do with drug reactions, rational therapy, and requests for formulary additions, etc. Must maintain a working knowledge of the facility and clinical programs, including drug formulary issues. 9) Performs computer manipulations that are required to complete the principal duties of the position. Work Schedule: Full-time Telework: If approved, will be on an ad-hoc basis Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications All requirements must be met by the close date of this announcement. 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. 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: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). OR National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT). English Language Proficiency. Pharmacy Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: GS-8 Pharmacy Technician Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-7. This experience includes, but is not limited to: Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work; Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent; Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers; Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students; Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution; Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases. AND Certification: For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: PTCB as a CPhT. OR NHA as a ExCPT. AND Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs. (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.). (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 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. Grandfathering Provision. Pharmacy technicians employed in VHA on the effective date 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. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/ registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/ certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels. (3) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (4) Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation. (5) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.