Career Center

Summary

This position functions primarily in the Inpatient/Outpatient Pharmacy sections within the VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS). This area serves adult and elderly Veterans needing care within VAPAHCS 24 hours a day 7 days a week - nights - weekends - and holidays. The technician rotates through selected sections and is assigned to a rotating tour of duty schedule in the Inpatient/Outpatient Pharmacy Section - including weekends and holidays.

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
• English Language Proficiency
• Pharmacy Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Education: None required
• 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-07 Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6) GS-6 level experience includes: 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
• Certification: For positions above the full performance level - the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: PTCB as a CPhT
• OR NHA as a ExCPT
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following 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
• Preferred Experience: Inpatient AND Outpatient pharmacy technician work experience
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07 Physical Requirements: Must pass physical examination and occupational health requirements
• Work requires sitting - walking - standing - bending and lifting/carrying of light items
• Extended Periods of working on a computer and being on the telephone.

Duties

• The VA Palo Alto Health Care System has an immediate opening for a full-time Inpatient/Outpatient Pharmacy Technician position
• This position serves as an All System Floating Technician - meaning he/she will be scheduled to work in Inpatient and Outpatient pharmacy settings at the Palo Alto and Menlo Park physical pharmacies - based on need
• The tour of duty will be determined based on the scheduled assignment
• Assignments include Inpatient unit dose filling - repackaging - delivery - and sterile IV preparation (including chemotherapy)
• Outpatient prescription filling
• Inpatient and Outpatient automation maintenance
• and controlled substance filling and delivery
• Major duties and responsibilities include - but not limited to: Inpatient/Unit Dose Responsibilities includes filling and delivering new - stat or missing medication orders
• restocking Omnicell point of care machines (XT cabinets and Anesthesia Work Stations)
• repackaging bulk items (oral solids and liquids)
• conducting monthly ward/clinic inspections
• and preparing sterile IV medications (including chemotherapy)
• Outpatient Prescription filling involves selecting medications/supplies from the shelf - filling prescriptions using the ScriptPro automated system - counting the correct number of medications or medical supplies - prepackaging - reconstituting and labeling as indicated to prepare prescriptions for pharmacist check prior to dispensing
• Inpatient/Outpatient automation maintenance includes replenishing - cleaning - auditing - and performing optimization of the central inpatient pharmacy automation (XR2 - Med Carousel - Yuyama - FluiDose) and outpatient pharmacy automation (ScriptPro)
• Controlled substance filling involves selecting controlled substance medications - counting the correct number of drugs - labeling as indicated to prepare prescriptions for dispensing - delivering controlled substance to the Omnicell machines - and assisting Nursing and Controlled Substance Inspectors with resolving any discrepancies
• This also includes conducting scheduled inventories and maintaining perpetual inventories of all controlled substances
• Work Schedule: Various tours - including holidays and weekends Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized 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) Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 10345F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional