Pharmacy Technician (Outpatient Pharmacy)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; West Palm Beach (FL); On-site; USD 40,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System, seeks a Pharmacy Technician (Outpatient) to support the delivery of high-quality pharmaceutical care under pharmacist supervision.

Responsibilities include preparing, dispensing, and distributing medications and managing pharmaceutical supplies with a focus on accuracy and safety. Qualified candidates typically have outpatient or retail pharmacy experience, familiarity with VistA or similar systems, and may hold a

Qualifications

• Two years of experience in a retail/outpatient pharmacy is preferred.
• Current PTCB certification is preferred.
• Ability to operate pharmacy information systems and dispensing equipment.

Responsibilities

• Process outpatient prescriptions under pharmacist supervision in accordance with policy.
• Dispense medications and supplies after final verification by a pharmacist.
• Deliver prescriptions to patients and caregivers with proper ID procedures.
• Package and prepare prescriptions for mailing and distribution.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of the pharmacy work areas.
• Assist in inventory management and resolve equipment or workflow issues.
• Support training of junior staff and students in the outpatient pharmacy.

Skills

Retail pharmacy experience

Customer service

Pharmacy software familiarity

Education

PTCB certification (preferred)

Tools

VistA

Pharmacy information systems

Job description

Summary

The Pharmacy Technician (Outpatient) serves as an integral member of the Pharmacy Service at the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System - supporting the delivery of high-quality pharmaceutical care to Veterans. Working under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist - the incumbent performs a broad range of technical pharmacy duties involving the preparation - dispensing - distribution - and management of medications and pharmaceutical supplies.

Summary

The Pharmacy Technician (Outpatient) serves as an integral member of the Pharmacy Service at the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System - supporting the delivery of high-quality pharmaceutical care to Veterans. Working under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist - the incumbent performs a broad range of technical pharmacy duties involving the preparation - dispensing - distribution - and management of medications and pharmaceutical supplies.

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

• Citizenship
• Be a citizen of the United States
• Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with38 U.S.C.
• 7407(a)
• Education or Experience
• None required
• For all grade levels and positions that accept both education and experience to qualify - equivalent combinations of qualifying education and experience that total at least 100% are qualifying
• The combined percentage is determined by adding total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level to the education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level
• Foreign Education
• To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials
• Grandfathering Provision
• Pharmacy technicians employed in VHA on the effective date (11/07/23) 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: In addition to the basic requirements for appointment in paragraph 5 - VA HR staff must use the following criteria to determine the appropriate grade assignment of candidates
• Pharmacy Technician - GS-06
• Education or Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower level
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition - 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
• Assignments
• Pharmacy technicians at the full performance level may fill orders - dispense/deliver medications using automated systems or provide technical customer service to Veterans related to prescription needs
• Duties will include delivery of medications to floors/patients - filling medications for the pharmacist to review - checking for expired medications - answering phones with appropriate disposition - preparing sterile products (when applicable) and assisting with basic inventory management such as putting up stock and identifying when medications need to be ordered
• Preferred Experience: Minimum of two (2) years of experience in a retail pharmacy - and outpatient pharmacy
• Current Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) certification preferred
• 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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Duties

• VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Major Duties Reviews - interprets - and processes outpatient prescriptions received from authorized healthcare providers in accordance with established pharmacy policies and procedures
• Dispenses medications and supplies after final verification by a pharmacist - ensuring proper patient identification and compliance with all applicable regulations
• Delivers finished prescriptions to patients and/or caregivers using established patient identification procedures and customer service standards
• Correctly packages and prepares prescriptions and pharmaceutical products for mailing and distribution
• Assists with receiving - unpacking - stocking - rotating - and organizing medications and pharmaceutical supplies
• Maintains cleanliness - organization - and operational readiness of assigned pharmacy work areas
• Identifies - reports - and assists in resolving equipment malfunctions - automation issues - and workflow concerns
• Fills prescriptions utilizing robotics - prescription packaging systems - automated dispensing equipment - and other pharmacy technology resources when assigned
• Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications that do not require pharmacist review and performs calculations and conversions necessary to prepare medications accurately
• Answers routine pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical inquiries regarding medication availability - prescription status - and pharmacy services - referring clinical questions to a pharmacist when appropriate
• Responds to patient telephone inquiries and prescription-related questions using established pharmacy procedures and customer service practices
• Assists in training and orienting lower-graded pharmacy technicians - students - and new staff members within the outpatient pharmacy
• Processes prescription refill requests utilizing VistA and other VA pharmacy information systems while ensuring data accuracy and completeness
• Files - retrieves - and maintains prescription records and related pharmacy documentation in accordance with record management requirements
• Performs duties associated with inventory management - including receipt - storage - stocking - rotation - and monitoring of pharmaceutical inventory levels
• Communicates stock shortages - backorders - and inventory concerns to procurement personnel and pharmacy leadership to minimize interruptions in patient care
• Receives and stores pharmaceuticals in accordance with manufacturer requirements - federal regulations - and VA policy
• Removes unusable - expired - recalled - or deteriorated stock from active inventory and coordinates appropriate disposition procedures
• Conducts and documents monthly inventory inspections - including stock rotation - outdate reviews - and inventory control activities
• Utilizes automated pharmacy systems and pharmacy software applications to support prescription processing - inventory management - reporting - and workload documentation
• Protects sensitive patient information and maintains compliance with privacy - information security - and confidentiality requirements
• Ensures compliance with all applicable VA policies - Pharmacy Service procedures - federal and state regulations - Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements - DEA regulations - and medication safety standards
• Participates in quality improvement initiatives - patient safety activities - and pharmacy service performance improvement efforts designed to enhance medication management and customer service outcomes
• Performs other duties as assigned in support of pharmacy operations and the mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs
• Work Schedule: Rotating shifts that may include Monday through Friday - weekends - and holidays based on the needs of the service
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 41217F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized