Pharmacy Technician

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Springfield (MA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Springfield, MA, Pharmacy Service seeks a Pharmacy Technician GS-7 to support inpatient wards, clinics, and outpatient pickups. The technician prepares medications and collaborates with pharmacists and staff to ensure safe distribution.

Candidates must be nationally certified (CPhT or ExCPT), proficient in English, and able to work with VA computer systems and automated dispensing equipment. VA experience is a plus.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles and theories.
• Experience with prescription processing and healthcare documents.
• Ability to work with a healthcare team to resolve medication issues.

Responsibilities

• Prepare medications by counting, pouring, weighing and measuring.
• Assist in distributing meds to inpatient wards, clinics and outpatients.
• Collaborate with pharmacists and supervise staff to ensure safety.

Skills

Pharmacy principles

Computerized prescriptions

Team collaboration

Customer service

Policy compliance

Medical terminology

Tools

Vista CPRS

ScriptPro

Endicia

Microsoft Office

Job description

This position is located in Pharmacy Service. Pharmacy technicians prepare medications by counting, pouring, weighing, measuring, and mixing or compounding oral and intravenous medications. The pharmacy technician may also prepare medications for distribution to inpatient wards and clinics and outpatients for pickup and mailing. The pharmacy technician works in collaboration with other pharmacy technicians and responds to requests of pharmacists and other pharmacy supervisory staff. 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.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• Certification: For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either:
  • Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).
    • OR
  • National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).

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:

Pharmacy Technician GS-0661-07

Experience:

Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

Certification:

• PTCB as a CPhT.
• NHA as a ExCPT.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):

• Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work.
• Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent.
• Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers.
• Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students.
• Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution.
• Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases.

Assignment:

Pharmacy technicians at the GS-07 level are nationally certified and can work autonomously using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties. These pharmacy technicians mentor and train lower graded pharmacy technicians in the practice setting. They assist advanced/ specialized pharmacy technicians and participate in performance improvement initiatives. At this level, pharmacy technicians use independent judgement to perform the full range of duties in the pharmacy. They also function as staff pharmacy technicians in various locations of the pharmacy, including pharmacy contact centers and other non-traditional pharmacy locations, with minimal oversight.

Preferred Experience:

• Preferred candidates will posses both a state pharmacy technician license and national certification through either Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
• Preferred candidates will have at least 1 year of pharmacy technician experience in a retail, outpatient, and/or hospital setting.
• Preferred candidates will have experience with VA computer systems including Vista, CPRS, Microsoft Office, ScriptPro and/or Endicia.

Reference:

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/

Physical Requirements:

Principal duties of this position require repetitive use of hands and fingers (e.g., preparing prescriptions, use of a computer keyboard, etc.). May require lifting and carrying light loads (up to 44lbs.), including boxes, equipment, medical supplies, stock boxes etc.; stooping or kneeling (e.g., to pick up items from the floor, remove and replace items on lower shelves, and to file documents in lower file drawers, etc.); sitting, walking, or standing for long periods of time (4-8 hours). Ability to operate automation. Normal ranges of hearing and vision are required to perform work and communicate effectively. An ability to perform tasks.