Pharmacy Technician- Outpatient

Veterans Health Administration•Hampton, VA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is assigned to the outpatient pharmacy in Pharmacy Service at the Hampton VA Medical Center, part of the VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6). The technician performs duties related to stocking, delivery, inventory, inspections, assembling ward orders and prescriptions, controlled-substance distribution, unit-dose drug packaging, dispensing, and other pharmaceutical practices. The technician accurately interprets, fills, and packages outpatient prescriptions for window pickup and mail delivery, preparing medications and medical supplies for pharmacist verification. The role also includes maintaining clean and orderly work areas; storing drugs and supplies according to USP and VA guidelines; entering expiration dates in the automatic prescription dispensing system; inspecting assigned areas monthly and documenting findings; reconstituting non-sterile medications; and dispensing medications or sterile products. The technician serves as a first-line telephone contact for healthcare team members, Veterans, and external customers, responding courteously and promptly and referring matters beyond the technician’s scope to a pharmacist or supervisor. The position supports training and orientation for new technicians, interns, students, and other pharmacy personnel; completes required education, competency assessments, and mandatory training; operates and troubleshoots automated dispensing equipment and other assigned technology; participates in quality improvement activities; and complies with applicable VHA, Medical Center, and Pharmacy regulations and procedures. Outpatient duties include assembling prescriptions with the correct drug, strength, quantity, and labels; using barcode scanning and VA software; supporting automated dispensing processes; verifying patient identity and prescription completeness at window pickup; and resolving delivery issues using VA software. The work schedule consists of eight-hour rotating tours, including days, evenings, and weekends. Telework is not available. The position is not virtual. The full performance level is GS-7. A sign-on bonus and relocation assistance are not authorized.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for appointments when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
Proficiency in written and spoken English.
For the GS-07 grade determination, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to GS-06.
For positions above the full performance level, an active national certification through either PTCB as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) or NHA as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT), unless covered by the stated grandfathering provision.
Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts, and theories sufficient to perform sound independent work.
Skill in training and orienting pharmacy facility employees and students on policies and procedures.
Knowledge of computerized prescription processing and entering prescriptions and medication orders, or the electronic equivalent.
Ability to resolve pharmacy or medication issues with healthcare team members, Veterans, and external customers.
Ability to train new pharmacy technicians and students.
Ability to dispense medications or sterile products in accordance with regulations, policies, and procedures for safe medication distribution.
Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment or technology platforms and databases.
Must pass the required pre-employment physical evaluation or examination and, if selected, applicable background/security and drug-screening requirements.
Must complete required onboarding and application documentation and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.

Nice To Haves

Outpatient pharmacy technician experience.
Strong work ethic.
Great customer service skills.

Responsibilities

Accurately interpret, fill, and package outpatient prescriptions for window pickup and mail delivery, meeting stated turnaround goals.
Prepare prescriptions with appropriate medications or medical supplies for pharmacist verification.
Maintain clean, orderly work areas and ensure stock and equipment are properly located.
Store drugs and supplies securely and appropriately under USP and VA guidelines, including high-risk, look-alike/sound-alike, hazardous, controlled, corrosive, flammable, and refrigerated items.
Record medication expiration dates in the automatic prescription dispensing system upon receipt.
Inspect assigned areas monthly for proper medication storage and remove soon-to-expire drugs; complete inspection reports as required.
Reconstitute non-sterile oral or external medications and dispense medications or sterile products.
Respond courteously and promptly to telephone requests from healthcare team members, Veterans, and external customers; process requests such as refills and refer matters outside the technician’s scope.
Attend orientation, education, and training; review pharmacy-practice materials; complete mandatory training and competency assessments on time.
Assist with training and orienting new staff technicians, interns, and students, and participate in the pharmacy training program.
Operate assigned equipment and troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment and other technology platforms or databases.
Work under varied circumstances to support group productivity and quality; participate in assigned quality-improvement activities and assist higher-level technicians as needed.
Maintain national certification with PTCB or ExCPT and comply with VHA, Medical Center, and Pharmacy requirements.
Assemble prescriptions with the correct drug, strength, quantity, auxiliary labels, and prescription labels for window dispensing and mail delivery.
Use barcode scanning on stock bottles to confirm the correct medication and manually complete prescriptions not processed through automation.
Verify patient identity using the Medical Center’s identification policies and confirm prescriptions using VA software and barcode scanning at pickup.
Confirm that patients receive all prescriptions, including refrigerated, controlled, and bulk medications.
Use VA software to review narratives and resolve delivery issues for patients without a physical address.