Pharmacy Technician

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Aurora (CO); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Part time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Pharmacy Technician at the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center to support pharmacists in both inpatient and outpatient medication tasks. This role is at the full performance level GS-6 with emphasis on accuracy, safety, and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities include interpreting prescriptions, maintaining inventory, using dispensing systems, and assisting in unit-dose management. Part-time schedule; on-site at ECHCS in Colorado.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Certification by the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) required at GS-6 and above
• English language proficiency for direct patient care positions
• Experience and KSAs related to pharmacy laws, preparation, storage and distribution
• Ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate dispensing equipment

Responsibilities

• Accurately interpret, fill, and prepare prescriptions for pharmacist verification
• Maintain clean, organized work areas and proper stock levels
• Store and secure drugs per USP and VA guidelines, including hazardous items
• Receive, check, rotate, and stock items from procurement; reconcile discrepancies
• Operate automation dispensing equipment and report malfunctions promptly
• Record expirations in the dispensing system and perform monthly inspections
• Compound and reconstitute non-sterile medications and verify accuracy
• Manage unit-dose medication processes and ensure accurate dispensing records
• Coordinate orders and pick lists to ensure proper dosages and timely deliveries
• Conduct monthly ward inspections and maintain proper labeling in wards and clinics

Skills

Communication with patients and staff

Pharmacy workflows

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

3 months experience in pharmacy

Job description

Summary

This is the full performance level for Pharmacy technicians at ECHCS. Employees at the full performance level will assist pharmacists in inpatient and outpatient medication related tasks. This position will be at the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center.

This is the full performance level for Pharmacy technicians at ECHCS. Employees at the full performance level will assist pharmacists in inpatient and outpatient medication related tasks. This position will be at the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education or Experience: A high school diploma or equivalent
• or at least 3 months experience
• Certification by the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is required at grades GS-6 and above
• English Language Proficiency: Pharmacy technicians appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English
• Grade Determinations: GS-6 To qualify - applicants must have one year experience at the next lower level - and must fully meet the KSAs at the next lower level
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs: (a) Knowledge of Federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice
• (b) Knowledge of preparation - storage and distribution of medication products including those requiring special handling and documentation
• (c) Ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate pharmacy dispensing equipment
• (d) Knowledge of basic inventory procedures
• (e) Ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel VA experience preferred - inpatient and outpatient experience preferred
• Minimum of 3 years of pharmacy experience
• References: VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Appendix 28 - Pharmacy Technician - GS-661 - Qualification Standard http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/Directives-Handbooks/Documents/5005.pdf
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-6. Physical Requirements: Principle duties require repetitive use of hands and fingers
• May require lifting and carrying light loads (up to 44lbs.) - e.g. - to pick up items from the floor - remove and replace items on lower shelves - sitting - walking - or standing for long periods of time
• Normal ranges of hearing and vision are required to perform work and communicate effectively
• must have the visual ability to distinguish between basic colors and shades of color
• An ability to perform tasks requiring rapid mental and muscular coordination functions simultaneously is necessary
• Must be physically capable of operating various types of equipment used for the job
• Selected applicants may be required to complete an online onboarding process.

Duties

• Accurately interpret - fills - and prepares prescriptions with appropriate medications and or medical supplies for pharmacist verification
• Maintains work areas in a clean and orderly condition by assuring that all stock and equipment are in assigned places and all shelves and counters are free of dust and debris in order to create optional work areas
• Assures drugs and supplies are appropriately stored and secured according to USP and VA guidelines - including the storage of high-risk - look a-like sound a-like - hazardous - controlled substances - corrosive chemicals - flammable liquids - and refrigerated items
• Receives - checks - rotates - and places in stock all items received from pharmacy procurement section and identifies and reconciles any discrepancies to assure correct items have been received
• Utilizes automation dispensing equipment available to the pharmacy staff following all safety and QA procedures
• Reports automation malfunctions timely the supervisor as appropriate
• Records expiration dates in the automatic prescription dispensing system upon receipt
• Perform monthly inspections to assigned areas to ensure proper storage of medications and soon to expired drugs are removed
• Completes inspection reports in compliance with regulatory requirements
• Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile)
• This includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the amount of drug or solution to be used for final pharmacist verification
• a
• Manufactures products requiring compounding - whether made in large batches for more than one patient or in small batches to fill a single prescription or drug order
• b
• Correctly interprets physician orders - selects - and measures appropriate ingredients - mixes ingredients in a safe and effective manner - inspects the final product for accuracy
• Unit Dose Medication Management: The incumbent fills patient specific medication independently utilizing order copies or pick lists
• Reviews and coordinates orders and pick lists to provide proper dosage making corrections as required
• Inputs - updates and edits pick list to provide accurate and timely dispensing record
• The incumbent maintains unit dose inventories
• Conducts monthly ward inspections
• Provides proper labeling of stock in wards and clinics
• Routinely monitors expiration dates of all stock and reports shortages and out-of stock conditions as they are discovered
• The incumbent determines prepackaging needs for unit dose medications and ward stock products for use in clinics
• Properly packages - labels - documents and verifies accuracy of finished product
• Assures deliveries to inpatient areas and clinics are made timely
• Operates and maintains complicated pharmacy equipment including robotic dispensing - automated counting - and bar code re-labeling equipment Maintains inventory for the unit dose packaging system
• Documents all medications used in the unit dose packaging system and verifies work of other technicians/students
• Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications
• This includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the amount of drug or solution to be used
• After orders are reviewed by a pharmacist for therapeutic propriety - the technician reviews orders for technical accuracy and converts the order - if necessary - so that the item dispensed corresponds to the drug and dose ordered
• Monitors inventory needs - relays this information to appropriate pharmacy personnel
• This also includes completing monthly storage inspections as assigned
• Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy staff regarding drug distribution
• Identifies basic therapeutic problems - such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class - and alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention
• Assists in total quality improvement activities by participating in medical center and service process assessment and action teams and continually seeks to improve services
• Work Schedule: Part Time: Sunday-Saturday rotational 8 hour tours 6:00AM-6:30PM
• Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.