Job Title: Pharmacy Technician
Specialty: Pharmacy Services
Site: Orlando VA Healthcare System (OVAHCS)
Location: 13800 Veterans Way, Orlando, Florida 32827 (also covers Lake Baldwin VA Clinic, Viera VA Clinic, and Daytona Beach VA Clinic as needed)
Duration: 1 year contract with the possibility of four 1-year extensions
Shift Schedule:
- Day Shift: 5:30 AM – 6:30 PM (various start times)
- Evening Shift: 12:00 PM – 11:30 PM (various start times)
- Night Shift: 8:30 PM – 6:30 AM (various start times)
- Shifts may be 4, 8, 10, or 12 hours depending on assignment; weekends and holidays included on a rotating basis
- PRN coverage as needed with a minimum 2-hour notice; on-call/standby duties not required
- How Many Shifts Needed Per Month: TBD (based on coverage needs)
Certifications:
- PTCB (Pharmacy Technician Certification Board) Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) required, AND/OR
- NHA (National Healthcareer Association) ExCPT Certified Pharmacy Technician required
- Continuing Education (CE) for maintaining certification must be kept current at all times
- Credentialing and privileging per VHA Directives 1100.20 and 1100.21 required prior to start
Education: Per VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G28 Pharmacy Technician Qualification Standard
Experience Needed: Sufficient experience to perform generalist pharmacy technician duties across outpatient, inpatient, controlled substances, and sterile compounding areas
Special Skills Needed:
- Proficiency in prescription assembly, filling, and dispensing using barcode scanning and VA software (VISTA)
- Knowledge of USP 797/800 guidelines for sterile compounding (required if assigned to sterile compounding area)
- Experience with automated dispensing equipment (e.g., Pyxis) and unit dose systems
- Knowledge of controlled substance handling, documentation, and DEA/VA guidelines
- Ability to perform non-sterile and sterile compounding including TPN, IV admixtures, and hazardous medications
- Familiarity with mail pharmacy operations (USPS, FedEx, UPS) and shipping programs
- Strong customer service skills and ability to communicate effectively with patients and staff
- Ability to speak, understand, read, and write English fluently
Responsibilities:
- Accurately interpret, fill, prepare, and package prescriptions and inpatient orders for pharmacist verification
- Perform prescription assembly using correct drug, strength, quantity, auxiliary labels, and prescription labels; utilize barcode scanning to verify correct medications
- Verify patient identification using double patient identifiers at window pick-up; interact with patients and caregivers professionally
- Package and ship mail-order prescriptions; call patients to arrange delivery of refrigerated medications and verify addresses
- Compound and/or reconstitute oral, external (non-sterile), and sterile medications per USP and VA guidelines
- Follow USP 797/800 guidelines for sterile compounding including IV admixtures, ophthalmic, TPN, hazardous, and PCA preparations
- Accurately handle, restock, document, and reconcile controlled substances per VA and DEA guidelines; report unresolvable discrepancies immediately to supervisor
- Perform ward/unit/area inspections to ensure proper medication storage; remove expired or deteriorated drugs from automated dispensing stations
- Operate and maintain automated dispensing and unit dose systems; troubleshoot minor mechanical or software issues
- Maintain all QA records, repackaging records, and manufacturing logs in accordance with regulatory requirements
- Assure drugs and supplies are stored and secured per USP and VA guidelines including high-risk, look‑alike/sound‑alike, hazardous, and refrigerated items
- Answer questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel; identify basic therapeutic problems such as duplicate therapy and alert pharmacist as needed
- Complete all National, VISN, local, and Pharmacy mandatory training in a timely manner
- Comply with all VHA, Medical Center, and Pharmacy regulations, directives, policies, and procedures