Pharmacy Technician

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Columbia Township (MO); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Harry S. Truman VA in Columbia, Missouri, is seeking a full-time Pharmacy Technician to support pharmacy operations under pharmacist supervision.

The role involves preparing and dispensing medications, maintaining accurate records, stocking supplies, and assisting with medication orders while adhering to VA policies and safety standards.

Qualifications

• 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: None required
• GS-3/GS-4/GS-5/GS-6 grade determinations require varying post-secondary education or experience

Responsibilities

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional
• Conducts patient consults and understanding of medication handling considerations
• Inspects storage environments and fills orders for dispensing pharmacist review
• Provides patient education on pharmacy topics and assists with inventory and restocking

Job description

Summary
This is a full-time Pharmacy Technician position at Harry S. Truman VA located in Columbia - Missouri.

Summary
This is a full-time Pharmacy Technician position at Harry S. Truman VA located in Columbia - Missouri.Qualifications
Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.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: None required
• For all grade levels that accept both education and experience to qualify - equivalent combinations of qualifying education and experience that total at least 100% are qualifying
• 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)
• All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• Grade Determinations: GS-3 Pharmacy Technician Experience and Education: One year of post-secondary education
• OR Six months of general experience
• OR Student Technician
• A student enrolled in an approved nationally accredited pharmacy technician program for an occupation identified in 38 U.S.C. 7405(a)(1)(A) or (B) may be appointed on a temporary full-time - part-time or intermittent basis under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. 7405(a)(1)(D) for a period not to exceed two years or the duration of the individual's program
• GS-4 Pharmacy Technician Experience and Education: Completion of two years of post-secondary coursework related to pharmacy (e.g. - 12 semester hours of science and mathematics courses)
• OR Completion of one of the following: Six months of experience - that demonstrated knowledge of medication or medical field practice
• OR - Successful completion of a military or nationally recognized pharmacy technician education/training program
• American Society of Health System Pharmacists® (ASHP) - American Pharmacist Association (APHA) - Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) - PTCB or NHA are examples of acceptable professional organizations recognizing such training programs
• NOTE: Training courses recognized by PTCB and NHA are not actual certifications
• OR - One year of experience equivalent to next lower grade level
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs): Ability to follow policies and procedures
• Ability to maintain appropriate files
• Ability to communicate with patients and other health professionals
• Ability to follow both written and verbal instructions
• Ability to operate office software/equipment to include - computers - software applications and printers
• GS-5 Pharmacy Technician Experience and Education: Successful completion of four years of post-secondary education with courses related to pharmacy (e.g. - 48 semester hours of science - mathematics - pharmacy) or a bachelor's degree
• OR - An associate's degree in pharmacy technician or technology (48 semester hours of concentrated pharmacy technician training)
• OR - In addition - must have one year of experience equivalent to next lower grade level and the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of basic pharmacy operations
• Knowledge of pharmaceuticals to perform duties in pharmacy functional areas
• Knowledge of pharmaceutical nomenclature (including generic - chemical and proprietary names of drug)
• Ability to fill prescriptions
• Ability to use pharmacy information systems or basic pharmacy dispensing equipment with oversight
• GS-6 Pharmacy Technician Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements - you must possess one year of experience equivalent to next lower grade level and the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of Federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice
• Knowledge of preparation - storage and distribution of medication products including those requiring special handling and documentation
• Ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate pharmacy dispensing equipment
• Knowledge of basic inventory procedures
• Ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel
• 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)
• 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)
• Grade Determinations: The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 6
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS 3 to GS 6 Preferred Experience: 2-5 years of pharmacy technician experience
• 3 years of experience with automated systems
• 3 years of experience with VA software
• currently working in pharmacy or other healthcare-related fields
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Conducts patient consults Understands specific handling considerations - storage - distribution and disposal of medications
• Routinely inspects storage environments such as refrigerators and freezers
• Reads and interprets orders - and pulls non-controlled medications and independently fills orders without supervision for dispensing pharmacist review
• Reconstitutes simple oral medications with secondary review by the dispensing pharmacist Provides patient education on pharmacy topic such as the refill process - relaying clinical questions to a pharmacist
• Serves as stock technician by accurately shelving non-controlled medications - packaging ward stock - etc
• Pulls outdates and properly disposes outdated medications and can assist in inventory counts with the exception of the narcotics vault
• Has technical knowledge of equipment and supplies used to pack and mail completed orders
• Hands off mail to UPS and USPS representatives picking up Pharmacy mail
• Uses VistA - CPRS - ScriptPro - Robot - Automated Dispensing Cabinets (ADC) and portals
• Can enter and access clinical patient information
• Cleans and restocks the ScriptPro and the Robot
• Can restock the ADCs
• Conducts point of care and ward stock inspections for WWVA clinics that stock medications
• Cleans counting trays and wipes down non-controlled dispensing counters at the end of each day
• Provides telephone support for patients - providers - and nursing staff
• Answers inquiries related to general - non-clinical/non-medical issues or procedures - and refers clinical/medical questions to a pharmacist
• Dispenses completed/verified medication orders to patients under the supervision of a pharmacist
• Delivers medication and supplies to non-Pharmacy clinical areas
• Completes daily reports as directed
• Opens mail and scans prescription orders before delivering the orders to the triage technician
• Performs pharmacy administrative duties such as filing filled orders and ward stock requests - copying medication guides - and verifying medications that fall under Safety Data Sheets are documented
• Delivers and discusses restock orders to the Purchasing Agent
• Notifies the GEMS Coordinator when the Hazardous Materials container needs to be emptied
• Consistently displays competence with best practice standards for the Pharmacy
• Complies with Medical Center Memorandums - including hand hygiene - appropriate personnel attire - and so forth
• Keeps up with TMS training requirements
• Work Schedule: Days with rotating holidays - 7:00 a.m
• to 3:30 p.m
• or 8:00 a.m
• to 4:40 p.m
• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 00000