Pharmacy Technician (Outpatient Pharmacy)

Veterans Health Administration • Chesapeake, VA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

This certified pharmacy technician position is assigned to the outpatient pharmacy at the Hampton VA Medical Center, part of the VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6). The role is above the GS-6 full-performance level and is classified at GS-7. Technicians at this level work autonomously and use independent judgment to perform a full range of pharmacy technician duties.

The technician prepares, fills, packages, and dispenses outpatient prescriptions for window and mail service, prepares prescriptions for pharmacist verification, maintains and inspects medication storage and work areas, and uses automated dispensing equipment. The position also provides first-line telephone support for medication and pharmacy matters, helps train technicians and students, completes required training and competency assessments, and participates in quality-improvement activities.

The work requires long periods of moving, standing, and pushing carts, as well as regular bending, stretching, and lifting. The schedule is rotating and primarily day shift; it may include weekends, evenings, and holidays based on Pharmacy Service needs. Compressed or flexible scheduling, telework, and virtual work are not available.

Requirements

• Active national pharmacy technician certification above the full-performance level 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); a grandfathering provision may apply to eligible current VHA employees.
• One year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-6 level.
• 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 entry of prescriptions and medication orders, or an 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 to ensure safe medication distribution.
• Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment or technology platforms and databases.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified U.S. citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Ability to meet applicable pre-employment conditions, including background/security investigation, drug screening if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position, and pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Ability to meet VA health care personnel seasonal influenza vaccination requirements and complete required onboarding and application documentation.
• Ability to serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• Physical ability to meet the position's demands, including prolonged moving, standing, and pushing carts, and regular bending, stretching, and lifting.
• The position requires a mature, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations and demonstrating cheerfulness, compassion, courtesy, and concern for staff and patients.

Nice To Haves

• Retail outpatient pharmacy experience.

Responsibilities

• Accurately interpret, fill, and package outpatient prescriptions for window and mail service while working toward a 20-minute window waiting time and two-day mail turnaround time.
• Prepare prescriptions with appropriate medications or medical supplies for pharmacist verification.
• Maintain clean and orderly work areas, with stock and equipment in assigned places and shelves and counters free of dust and debris.
• Store drugs and supplies appropriately and securely according to USP and VA guidelines, including high-risk, look-alike/sound-alike, hazardous, controlled, corrosive, flammable, and refrigerated items.
• Use automated dispensing equipment according to safety and quality-assurance procedures, report malfunctions promptly, and record expiration dates in the automated prescription dispensing system upon receipt.
• Inspect assigned areas monthly to ensure medications are stored properly and soon-to-expire drugs are removed, and complete inspection reports in compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Reconstitute non-sterile oral or external medications and dispense medications or sterile products.
• Resolve pharmacy and medication issues and serve as a first-line telephone contact for healthcare team members, veterans, and external customers; handle requests courteously and promptly and forward matters beyond the technician's scope to a pharmacist or supervisor.
• Attend orientation, education, and training programs; review relevant literature and materials; and complete required education, mandatory training, and competency or skills assessments within stipulated timeframes.
• Assist with training and orienting new staff technicians, interns, and students, and participate in the pharmacy training program for students, externs, interns, residents, and professional and non-professional staff.
• Operate equipment in assigned areas efficiently and assist with troubleshooting automated dispensing equipment, other equipment, and technology platforms or databases.
• Work under varied circumstances to maximize group productivity and quality, and participate in assigned quality-improvement assessment and action teams.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package for employees and their families; specific eligibility and benefits depend on position type.
• Eligible selected applicants may request credit for prior federal or military service toward annual leave accrual, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

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