Pharmacy Technician (Inpatient Oncology)

Veterans Health Administration•Long Beach, CA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Long Beach VA Health Care System is recruiting for two Pharmacy Technician positions specializing in inpatient oncology. The incumbent performs complex technical functions involving hazardous sterile compounding and applies knowledge of VA, USP-800, Joint Commission, and OSHA requirements for hazardous medication handling. The role requires comprehensive knowledge of oncology medications, hazardous medication safety, compounding procedures, sterile technique, and related monitoring parameters. The technician completes required competencies and certifications for hazardous sterile compounding, gowning, and cleaning procedures. The technician manages hazardous medication deliveries, storage, inventory, stock levels, documentation, and waste. The role includes reviewing medication profiles for potential issues and communicating relevant medication, diet, and laboratory changes to oncology pharmacy staff. The incumbent coordinates with procurement staff, manufacturers, and wholesalers; addresses purchasing, backorder, recall, return, and emergency procurement issues; and maintains pharmacy stock levels. The position also involves delivering medications and sterile preparations to clinical areas, removing discontinued or expired products, filling automated medication dispensing systems, maintaining inventory and reports, and participating in audits and quality assurance. The technician communicates with healthcare team members and Veterans, supports daily management and performance improvement activities, maintains pharmacy equipment and work areas, and may support or substitute for other inpatient technicians during staffing shortages. The incumbent maintains knowledge of hematology/oncology clinic and infusion center operations and helps evaluate and coordinate workflow in those areas.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under applicable law.
Proficiency in written and spoken English.
For the GS-08 grade, one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
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.
Comprehensive knowledge of concepts, principles, methodology, and policies in a specialized pharmacy area.
Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy employees and students on policies and procedures.
Ability to evaluate, analyze, and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized pharmacy area.
Ability to perform the specialized duties independently, including hazardous sterile compounding and oncology-related pharmacy functions.
Compliance with pre-employment screening, background/security investigation, onboarding, influenza vaccination, and the required trial period.
Ability to meet the physical demands of prolonged standing or sitting, lifting and carrying pharmaceutical supplies up to 40 pounds, bending and stooping, and repetitive wrist movements when handling syringes, removing vial caps, and typing.

Nice To Haves

Experience handling and sterile-compounding hazardous medications.
Experience with direct patient care.

Responsibilities

Perform complex technical functions for hazardous sterile preparations in accordance with USP-800 guidelines.
Maintain knowledge of oncology medications, safety regulations, and required monitoring parameters.
Demonstrate competency in hazardous medication handling, compounding procedures, and sterile technique; complete required competencies and certifications for compounding, gowning, and cleaning.
Handle hazardous waste according to federal and state regulations and VA requirements, using personal protective equipment when necessary.
Receive and stock hazardous medications and other inpatient pharmacy deliveries.
Maintain records and documentation, and manage inventory and supplies used for hazardous sterile compounding.
Review hazardous medication usage patterns to identify potential cost-containment opportunities.
Review computer medication profiles for prescription duplication, therapeutic duplication, noncompliance, polypharmacy concerns, and allergies or adverse drug reactions; report identified concerns to the assigned clinical pharmacy specialist.
Communicate medication or diet changes and abnormal laboratory findings to the hematology/oncology pharmacist.
Ensure drugs and chemicals are stored correctly, maintain appropriate storage areas, and rotate stock.
Consult with pharmacy procurement staff, manufacturers, and wholesalers about product selection, availability, changes, contracts, pricing, returns or exchanges, and backorders.
Resolve medication supply issues involving backorders, delinquencies, returns, recalls, purchasing errors, and emergency procurement.
Independently maintain stock levels and initiate and transact purchase requests through the prime vendor with pharmacy procurement.
Deliver medications and sterile preparations promptly to wards and clinics; ensure appropriate receipt and storage, and remove discontinued or expired products for return or disposal.
Fill automated medication dispensing units and participate in quality assurance activities and audits, including recalls, expiration dates, quantity corrections, and bin assignment changes.
Pull medications from central pharmacy, maintain accurate inventory, complete and file reports, load dispensing units in patient care areas and clinics, and troubleshoot automation problems.
Participate in the Daily Management System, report performance-improvement progress, monitor metrics, and attend departmental meetings.
Communicate with healthcare team members and Veterans as a first-line contact for pharmacy and medication issues, in person or through communication devices.
Assist with cleaning pharmacy equipment, shelving, and work areas; operate pharmaceutical equipment prudently and assist with routine maintenance.
Support or substitute for other inpatient technicians during staffing shortages as needed.
Maintain knowledge of hematology/oncology clinic and infusion center operations and evaluate, analyze, and coordinate workflow and work activities in these areas.