This position functions primarily in the Inpatient care areas and the Pharmacy Service within the VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS). This area serves adult and elderly Veterans needing care within VAPAHCS 24 hours a day 7 days a week, nights, weekends, and holidays. The technician rotates through selected sections and is assigned to a rotating tour of duty schedule in the Inpatient Pharmacy Section. 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: Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7407(a). English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d) 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 (GS-07 and above): 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). 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: Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-07 you must possess at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-06). 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). Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs: 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. Assignments. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Pharmacy technicians at this level are nationally certified and can work autonomously using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties. These pharmacy technicians mentor and train lower graded pharmacy technicians in the practice setting. They assist advanced/ specialized pharmacy technicians and participate in performance improvement initiatives. At this level, pharmacy technicians use independent judgement to perform the full range of duties in the pharmacy. They also function as staff pharmacy technicians in various locations of the pharmacy, including pharmacy contact centers and other non-traditional pharmacy locations, with minimal oversight. Preferred Experience: Prior Inpatient Pharmacy Technician work experience in an acute care/hospital setting; that includes preparing sterile intravenous products (piggy backs, large volume, intrathecal, total peripheral nutrition, chemotherapy and other hazardous sterile compounds). Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary but may involve prolonged standing and/or walking. ["This technician works autonomously and uses independent judgement performing the assigned duties. This technician mentors and trains new (employee, trainee and contract) pharmacy technicians, assists advanced pharmacy technicians (e.g., procurement and controlled substances), and participates in performance improvement activities. In general, this technician works as a team player and independently within the guidelines of federal law. This technician must maintain PTCB or ExCPT certificate and follow all guidelines of USP 797, 795, 800, VA Handbook 5005, DEA regulations and all National Pharmacy and Facility Policies. This Pharmacy provides pharmaceutical care services to our 300-bed acute care hospital division (Intensive Care Units, OR/Recovery Room, Medicine, Surgery, Sub-Acute Medicine/Long Term Care, Hospice, Spinal Cord Injury, Polytrauma, Psychiatry, Emergency Department) with centralized operation for Unit Dose, Ward Stocking and Sterile Compounding medication preparation and dispensing. We have a fully integrated computer system including online provider order entry, documentation of medication administration using barcode technology, and automation of the unit dose distribution system. This technician will assist in providing distributive pharmacy services to patients at the Palo Alto Acute Care Division. 1) Unit Dose Responsibilities: filling and delivering new, STAT or missing medication orders; restocking point of care machines; utilizing cartless delivery system for patient medications; replenishing crash cart medications and emergency kits; repackaging bulk items (oral solids and liquids); replenishing pharmacy automation (Robot Rx, Med Carousel, PacMed, Omnicell and Anesthesia Works Stations); performing optimization of automation; and conducting monthly ward/clinic inspections. 2) Sterile Compounding Responsibilities: preparing IV admixtures, piggybacks, syringes, TPN, and chemotherapy doses based on patient specific orders using sterile technique in the laminar flow hood in accordance with USP <797> and USP <800>; performing all necessary pharmaceutical calculations; and cleaning and restocking the IV room. Work Schedule: Full-time / Various shifts, Weekdays, Evenings, Weekends, Holidays Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 0000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized"]
