Pharmacy Technician- Anticoagulation

Description:

This position is located within the Veterans Affairs James A Haley Health Care System Pharmacy. The primary functions of the Clinical Pharmacy Technician include obtaining, performing, and monitoring laboratory values, medical chart/action profile reviews, telephone logistical support, scheduling, entering progress notes (signed/cosigned by clinical pharmacists), supplemental patient education communication, and other miscellaneous tasks.

Requirements:

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.
• 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 Health career Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).
• 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).
• Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

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-09.
(1) Experience. One year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the lower grade level.
(2) Certification. For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either:
(a)PTCB as a CPhT.
OR
(b)NHA as a ExCPT.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment, if indicated:
(a)Expert knowledge serving as a key resource advising others in their particular specialty area or section of the pharmacy (such as procurement, sterile compounding (USP compounding standards),controlled substances DEA, automation, clinical pharmacy, lead tech, contact center, etc.).
(b)Skill in analyzing data for self-driven (independent) performance improvement projects, workload analysis and statistical reports.
(c)Skill in solving problems and implementing corrective actions to maximize outcomes in their program area.
(d)Ability to maintain special accreditations and prepare for national reviews/inspections (e.g., The Joint Commission, Inspector General, American Society of Health System Pharmacists®, controlled substance inspections).
(e)Ability to develop training programs and material for orientation, competency development and educational needs for regulatory requirements within the specialized pharmacy program area.

Assignments. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Pharmacy technicians at this grade level may be appointed to one of the following assignments.

Pharmacy Technician. Pharmacy technician coordinators perform the full range of program coordination in their specialized area of pharmacy. These positions require independent technical judgement and expertise in complex areas of pharmacy practice that have specific laws, significant regulatory requirements and quality/safety standards. They organize, coordinate and manage single or multiple programs under the delegation of pharmacy supervisors or Associate Chiefs. Pharmacy technicians at this level must have expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for the complex program area and manage all aspects of compliance with these standards with limited input from pharmacy supervisor(s). Pharmacy technicians at this grade level may be assigned as a coordinator in areas requiring detailed regulatory oversight and record keeping including, but not limited, to the Controlled Substance Program, Research/Investigational Drug Program, Procurement, Automation & Informatics program, Quality/Patient Safety, Clinical or Call Center.

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

Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the duties of this position. The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time, typing, walking distances within the medical center, lifting/carrying (up to 50 pounds) of supplies, bending/stooping, pushing/pulling/stretching, and driving government vehicles.