Pharmacy Technician (Clinical)

The clinical pharmacy technician (CPT) shall support clinical and administrative activities for the anticoagulation, primary care pharmacy clinics and the Office of Community Care (OCC) in accordance with medical center policy, clinical protocols, and departmental standard operating policy and procedures (SOPPs). 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. 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. 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). Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. English Language Proficiency: Pharmacy Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 § 7403(f). Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for appointment, there are grade requirements below that also need to be meet. Pharmacy Technician, GS-07 Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. 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: Experience with assisting PACT and Specialty Clinical Pharmacist Specialist staff regarding patients and administration functions; Knowledge of clinical operations and processes. References: VA Handbook 5005/159, Part II, Appendix G28; Pharmacy Technician Qualification Standards dated November 07, 2023 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements: Light lifting, 15-25 pounds with occasional heavier lifting. Light carrying, 15-25 pounds with occasional heavier carrying. Straight pulling (up to 2 hours). Pushing (up to 2 hours). Reaching above shoulder. Use of fingers. Repeated bending. Walking (up to 8 hours). Standing (up to 8 hours). Ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as needed. [" Pharmacy Technician: Hampton VA Medical Center, is situated on an attractive waterfront campus, serves a 15-county area in eastern Virginia and a 10-county area in northeastern North Carolina. This area, commonly referred to as the Tidewater Area, has a Veteran population of more than 220,000 Veterans. The Medical Center is geographically positioned among one of the largest DoD active duty and military retiree populations in the United States. All branches of the military are represented in this region including Norfolk Naval Base, which is the world's largest Naval Station. Hampton's proximity to many attractions and mild winters offers year round opportunities for your leisure time. Rich with history, the medical center is proud to be the health care provider of choice for Hampton Roads Veterans. The primary functions of the Clinical Pharmacy Technician include telephone and administrative logistical support, laboratory value monitoring, medication use evaluation, monitoring and documentation, quality assurance documentation and review, patient communication, prescription order entry (with pharmacist verification), and consult management (VA and Community Care). Judgment and skill are used to complete technical functions under the daily supervision of the Supervisor and the position functions under the matrix supervision of the Associate Chief of Pharmacy for Clinical Services. The CPT must have excellent verbal and written communication skills and works at the top of their licensing abilities. Routine review of laboratory reports for selected patient groups and identification of patients with lab values beyond normal limits or within certain parameters as specified by the clinical pharmacy specialist. The clinical pharmacy technician will identify patients to the assigned clinical pharmacy specialist for evaluation. Routine review of the computer medication profile for prescription duplication, therapeutic duplication, prescription noncompliance, and allergies/adverse drug reactions. Report identified problem patients to the assigned clinical pharmacy specialist for evaluation. Perform routine telephone communication with pharmacy clinic patients in conjunction with Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) and medication profile review to obtain pertinent information requested by the clinical pharmacy specialist. Document information appropriately in the medical record as well as in designated clinic logs or spreadsheets. Forward information appropriately to the clinic pharmacy specialists in a timely manner. Routinely review scheduling/appointment reports and computerized medical records to ensure appropriate consult management and patient follow-up. Coordinate administrative/clerical support for pharmacy clinics with Medical Support Assistants (MSAs) and other departments as assigned. (If applicable) Participate in quality assurance, internal audits, and performance improvement processes and programs as assigned and in a timely manner. Assist in data collection for drug utilization reviews as assigned in a timely manner. Input new, refill, and mail prescriptions into the computer system after the prescriptions have been reviewed for appropriateness by a pharmacist. Prescriptions entered by the clinical pharmacy technician shall be signed off by a clinical pharmacy specialist with prescribing privileges prior to final processing and verification. Process electronic prescriptions and assist with adjudication prior authorization requests from community care providers (if applicable). Work Schedule: 7a - 5:30p (Varies depending on service needs) Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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) 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 $ 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. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]