Pharmacy Technician - Outpatient

Veterans Health Administration • Hot Springs, SD

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Outpatient Pharmacy Technician supports the outpatient pharmacy’s distribution of acute and chronic medications, supplies, and other direct patient care services within the VA health care model. The role requires knowledge of laws, regulations, and official policies governing drug distribution, procurement, and security to meet legal and professional pharmacy-practice requirements.

The technician interprets and processes prescriptions, prepares and dispenses medications, operates and maintains automated pharmacy equipment, supports inventory and procurement activities, and updates patient information in pharmacy systems and the electronic health record (EHR). The position also handles pharmacy phone calls, helps identify and triage medication-related concerns, assists pharmacists with patient-care and medication issues, and contributes to quality-improvement work.

This is a full-time position scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. The full-performance level is GS-7. A one- or two-year trial period is required. Recruitment or relocation incentives and permanent-change-of-station relocation assistance are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• For the GS-7 grade, one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-6.
• For positions above the full-performance level, an active national certification through either the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) or the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).
• Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts, and theories sufficient to perform sound independent work.
• Knowledge of computerized prescription processing and prescription or medication-order input, or the electronic equivalent.
• Ability to resolve pharmacy or medication issues with healthcare-team members, Veterans, and external customers.
• Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students.
• Ability to dispense medications or sterile products according to regulations, policies, and procedures for safe medication distribution.
• Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment or technology platforms and databases.
• Compliance with pre-employment urinalysis for illegal drug use, background/security investigation, onboarding and identification requirements, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Successful completion of a required pre-employment examination or evaluation.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, with continued employment subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.

Responsibilities

• Read and interpret prescriptions from the Veteran EHR or in written form, and review orders for technical accuracy.
• Prepare medications and verify that the dispensed item matches the order in drug, strength, quantity, or supply item.
• Dispense medications in accordance with applicable regulations, policies, and procedures for safe medication distribution.
• Use pharmacy automation, including ScriptPro, to fill, label, and batch medications; execute contingency plans during outages.
• Maintain, clean, and troubleshoot ScriptPro, ScriptCenter, counting machines, databases, and other sophisticated pharmacy equipment.
• Assist with inventory counts, medication ordering and stocking, management of expired or near-expiry medications, and removal of recalled medications.
• Fill ward prescription items accurately using Automatic Replenishment reports.
• Serve as a ScriptCenter subject matter expert, troubleshoot technical issues, and verify that batched medications are linked correctly.
• Verify timely patient pickup of medications; contact patients when packages have been in ScriptCenter for more than three days and coordinate alternatives such as mail-out or return to stock.
• Interpret patient medication profiles, confirm prescription information in pharmacy computer systems, and perform refills or other technician duties in pharmacy software.
• Update patient information in pharmacy software packages and accurately enter notes in the EHR using templates or blank forms.
• Communicate with procurement staff to facilitate medication acquisition and assist pharmacy management with assigned data tracking and reporting.
• Prioritize work, complete assignments on time, and maintain a safe, orderly, and clean work environment.
• Store look-alike, sound-alike, high-alert, and refrigerated medications according to manufacturer recommendations and NIOSH requirements.
• Adapt to emerging medication-distribution roles, new equipment, assignments, and workflow changes; accurately mail medications according to pharmacy procedures.
• Perform other medication-distribution activities as directed by a pharmacist or supervisor or assigned as part of the shift.
• Use the facility phone system professionally, collect and clarify patient information, and communicate information accurately in the EHR or other formats.
• Triage patient information for basic therapeutic, distributive, or medication-related problems and alert pharmacists when appropriate.
• Complete calls and necessary follow-up in a timely manner.
• Assist pharmacists in resolving patient-care or medication issues and participate individually or on assigned teams in quality-improvement projects.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits depend on position eligibility and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.
• Selected applicants may request consideration for annual-leave accrual credit based on prior federal service, work experience, or military service; approval is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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