Pharmacy Technician

Veterans Health Administration • Cleveland, OH

13d • Onsite

About The Position

The Outpatient Automation Pharmacy Technicians perform the technical functions required in the operation of an outpatient dispensing pharmacy. This includes providing first line support, maintenance, and basic repair of all Pharmacy Service automation. The employee works under the direct supervision of the Pharmacy Technician Supervisor and observes the chain of command at all times as outlined in the Pharmacy Service organizational chart.

Duties include, but are not limited to:
Ensures proper storage of supply items. Maintains items on shelves in an organized, logical manner so that needed items can be retrieved quickly. Visually examines items for damage, deterioration, or imperfections prior to dispensing or mailing. Specifies items damaged, outdated, or imperfect to be returned for credit. Responsible for putting prosthetics stock away in its proper storage areas. Communicates stock shortages to the prosthetic technician or supervisory employees to help prevent shortages and minimize patient inconvenience. Responsible for receiving, storing, and ordering prosthetics items. Assess usage, establishes reorder points, and order quantifies of general pharmacy supply items and coordinates with procurement technician to order. Provide outpatients and/or caregivers with medication and supplies, as ordered by the provider, Assists patients and/or caregivers, other medical center personnel and outpatient pharmacists as necessary. Knowledge of the electronic medical record computer system and applicable pharmacy packages, especially those outpatient packages used to control and document the prescription filling process. Performs technical support work in the pharmacy under supervision of a registered. Fills prescriptions utilizing the robotics, Packages, compounds, or assembles drugs and supplies that are not stocked in the automated robotics. Maintains and repairs the automation robotics allowing each technician maximum filling capabilities Delivers finished prescriptions to correct patient and/or caregiver using proper patient identifiers, Responsible for daily metering of mail out packages. Provides individual training and guidance to lower level technicians/students in Outpatient Pharmacy section. Responsible for handling returned mail packages. Answers phone calls from patients and doctors. Assists in the discharge process in collaboration with registered pharmacists. Responsible for putting stock away in its proper storage areas. Communicates stock shortages to the procurement technician or supervisory employees to help prevent shortages and minimize patient inconvenience. Responsible for receiving, storing, and ordering pharmaceuticals. Removes unusable products from active stock, coordinates disposition of unusable stock with Pharmacy Supply Coordinator and documents all actions. Requests and obtains stock from inpatient when needed. Enters all required quality control information on outpatient filling documents. Conducts and properly documents all assigned inspections and inventories. Enters notes in electronic medical record.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• 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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable forms of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.
• Driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment (Effective May 7, 2025).
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• Will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period.
• Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
• 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.
• 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).
• Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• 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).
• 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 years of Pharmacy Technician experience.

Responsibilities

• Ensures proper storage of supply items.
• Maintains items on shelves in an organized, logical manner so that needed items can be retrieved quickly.
• Visually examines items for damage, deterioration, or imperfections prior to dispensing or mailing.
• Specifies items damaged, outdated, or imperfect to be returned for credit.
• Responsible for putting prosthetics stock away in its proper storage areas.
• Communicates stock shortages to the prosthetic technician or supervisory employees to help prevent shortages and minimize patient inconvenience.
• Responsible for receiving, storing, and ordering prosthetics items.
• Assess usage, establishes reorder points, and order quantifies of general pharmacy supply items and coordinates with procurement technician to order.
• Provide outpatients and/or caregivers with medication and supplies, as ordered by the provider.
• Assists patients and/or caregivers, other medical center personnel and outpatient pharmacists as necessary.
• Performs technical support work in the pharmacy under supervision of a registered.
• Fills prescriptions utilizing the robotics, Packages, compounds, or assembles drugs and supplies that are not stocked in the automated robotics.
• Maintains and repairs the automation robotics allowing each technician maximum filling capabilities
• Delivers finished prescriptions to correct patient and/or caregiver using proper patient identifiers.
• Responsible for daily metering of mail out packages.
• Provides individual training and guidance to lower level technicians/students in Outpatient Pharmacy section.
• Responsible for handling returned mail packages.
• Answers phone calls from patients and doctors.
• Assists in the discharge process in collaboration with registered pharmacists.
• Responsible for putting stock away in its proper storage areas.
• Communicates stock shortages to the procurement technician or supervisory employees to help prevent shortages and minimize patient inconvenience.
• Responsible for receiving, storing, and ordering pharmaceuticals.
• Removes unusable products from active stock, coordinates disposition of unusable stock with Pharmacy Supply Coordinator and documents all actions.
• Requests and obtains stock from inpatient when needed.
• Enters all required quality control information on outpatient filling documents.
• Conducts and properly documents all assigned inspections and inventories.
• Enters notes in electronic medical record.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.
• Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed