Pharmacy Technician
The incumbent performs clinical, administrative and management duties for the PACT/Primary Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) clinics. These duties include, but are not limited to, scheduling support, triaging of electronic consults, telephone communication with patients about laboratory results and supplemental patient education, and use of informatics for population management. Assigned activities include but are not limited to:
Clinical Functions Use pharmacy protocol to conduct patient interviews, including medication history, anticoagulation history, and need for medication refills/renewals. Independently gather, evaluate, and analyze data of patients as per established protocols. Routinely review computer medication profile for prescription duplication, prescription non-compliance, and allergies or adverse drug reactions. Reports identified patients to assigned PACT/Primary Care CPSs for evaluation. Review INR results as assigned, per protocol, and makes needed referrals for CPS evaluation. Routinely review Next INR Report and contact patients who have not returned for laboratory monitoring. Uses Clinical Pharmacy non-encounter note to record all patient specific follow up in the electronic medical record for CPS to review. Notify PACT/Primary Care CPSs when complications related to anticoagulation therapy are identified, including bleeding or thromboembolic events or when a patient reports changes to medications or significant changes to diet or health status. Administrative:
Responsible for administrative activities of the PACT/Primary Care CPS clinics related to population management, electronic consult triaging, and documentation of such activities in the electronic patient medical record (CPRS). Receive and triage consults (e.g., Anticoagulation Therapy Management, Pharmacotherapy, PADRs, etc), reviewing patient information, triaging and facilitation appropriate action from PACT/Primary Care CPSs. Provides telephone management, triaging phone calls and facilitating appropriate action from PACT/Primary Care CPSs. Schedules all clinic appointments according to VA business rules and systems re engineering principles. Assures that all initial appointments are scheduled based on clinically indicated date of service and all follow-up appointments are schedule as needed. Mails letters and/or educational materials to unreachable patients and alerts CPSs for possible consult discontinuation when patients have not responded within an appropriate timeframe per policy. Provides coordination of care for home INR monitored patients and patient receiving home health care. Training/Education:
Comprehensive knowledge of medical center and pharmacy policies and procedures sufficient to train and orient new employees and other staff. Assist pharmacy management with development and updating of SVAHCS policies. Successfully complete annual competency certifications based on specific clinical function/assigned activities. Maintains licensure/certification/registration within the required time frame. Failure to maintain the required licensure/certification/registration will result in removal from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment. Performance Improvement, Quality Assurance and Systems Redesign:
Responsible for issues pertaining to continuing quality improvement, quality assurance and regulatory issues. Identify, initiate, and document patient safety initiatives. Independently gathers, evaluates, and analyzes data to generate workload reports and/or for other projects/statistical purposes. Works with the Program Manager to provide ongoing quality assurance monitoring and prepares quality reports at a minimum of quarterly. Provide status reports for the PACT/Primary Care CPS clinics at periodic intervals, as assigned. Customer Service and Teamwork Maintains excellent working relationship with PACT/Primary Care team members, Pharmacy staff, and providers. Is courteous and professional at all times. Effectively promotes teamwork among staff, residents and students. Provides prompt and personal attention to each patient. Demonstrates responsiveness to customer needs and is empathetic to their problems. Maintains clean surroundings and well-groomed appearance. Responds to request for assistance from patients, families, and staff in a friendly and cooperative manner. Work Schedule:
Monday - Friday; 8:
00 a.m. - 4:
30 p.m. Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required 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. A high school diploma or equivalent; or at least 3 months experience. Certification. Certification by the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is required at grades GS-6 and above. English Language Proficiency. Pharmacy technicians appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. 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). Preferred
Experience:
CLINICAL EXPERIENCE IS PREFERRED Grade Determinations:
GS-6 Experience. One year experience at the next lower level and must fully meet the KSAs at the next lower level. 1. Ability to operate and care for automated dispensing devices and equipment. 2. Knowledge of, and ability to perform, aseptic technique. 3. Knowledge of basic inventory procedures. 4. Knowledge of pharmacy information systems. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk ( ):
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Ability to solve problems and make recommendations, e.g., troubleshoot operational problems and refer for appropriate action. 2. Knowledge of the operation and care of automated equipment. 3. Knowledge of, and ability to follow, written instructions for compounding with aseptic technique for hazardous materials such as oncology agents. 4. Knowledge, and ability to perform, compounding with aseptic technique for routine sterile products. 5. Knowledge of policies and procedures for inventory management in specialized areas such as emergency carts. 6. Knowledge of the computerized prescription process demonstrated by the ability to input prescriptions and medication orders. Assignments. Pharmacy technicians may be assigned to any area of the pharmacy including expanded distributive function assignments; for example assignment as team leaders for specific process improvement teams involving technical areas or performing more highly complex duties including preparation of oncology agents for clinical pharmacy specialists. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. References:
VA HANDBOOK 5005/15 PART II APPENDIX G28 PHARMACY TECHNICIAN The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-6. Physical Requirements:
This position may involve potentially extended periods of sitting, standing, carrying of items weighting up to 20 pounds; i.e., files, medical records, and manuals. In general, the work does not require special physical demands.
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
Clinical Functions Use pharmacy protocol to conduct patient interviews, including medication history, anticoagulation history, and need for medication refills/renewals. Independently gather, evaluate, and analyze data of patients as per established protocols. Routinely review computer medication profile for prescription duplication, prescription non-compliance, and allergies or adverse drug reactions. Reports identified patients to assigned PACT/Primary Care CPSs for evaluation. Review INR results as assigned, per protocol, and makes needed referrals for CPS evaluation. Routinely review Next INR Report and contact patients who have not returned for laboratory monitoring. Uses Clinical Pharmacy non-encounter note to record all patient specific follow up in the electronic medical record for CPS to review. Notify PACT/Primary Care CPSs when complications related to anticoagulation therapy are identified, including bleeding or thromboembolic events or when a patient reports changes to medications or significant changes to diet or health status. Administrative:
Responsible for administrative activities of the PACT/Primary Care CPS clinics related to population management, electronic consult triaging, and documentation of such activities in the electronic patient medical record (CPRS). Receive and triage consults (e.g., Anticoagulation Therapy Management, Pharmacotherapy, PADRs, etc), reviewing patient information, triaging and facilitation appropriate action from PACT/Primary Care CPSs. Provides telephone management, triaging phone calls and facilitating appropriate action from PACT/Primary Care CPSs. Schedules all clinic appointments according to VA business rules and systems re engineering principles. Assures that all initial appointments are scheduled based on clinically indicated date of service and all follow-up appointments are schedule as needed. Mails letters and/or educational materials to unreachable patients and alerts CPSs for possible consult discontinuation when patients have not responded within an appropriate timeframe per policy. Provides coordination of care for home INR monitored patients and patient receiving home health care. Training/Education:
Comprehensive knowledge of medical center and pharmacy policies and procedures sufficient to train and orient new employees and other staff. Assist pharmacy management with development and updating of SVAHCS policies. Successfully complete annual competency certifications based on specific clinical function/assigned activities. Maintains licensure/certification/registration within the required time frame. Failure to maintain the required licensure/certification/registration will result in removal from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment. Performance Improvement, Quality Assurance and Systems Redesign:
Responsible for issues pertaining to continuing quality improvement, quality assurance and regulatory issues. Identify, initiate, and document patient safety initiatives. Independently gathers, evaluates, and analyzes data to generate workload reports and/or for other projects/statistical purposes. Works with the Program Manager to provide ongoing quality assurance monitoring and prepares quality reports at a minimum of quarterly. Provide status reports for the PACT/Primary Care CPS clinics at periodic intervals, as assigned. Customer Service and Teamwork Maintains excellent working relationship with PACT/Primary Care team members, Pharmacy staff, and providers. Is courteous and professional at all times. Effectively promotes teamwork among staff, residents and students. Provides prompt and personal attention to each patient. Demonstrates responsiveness to customer needs and is empathetic to their problems. Maintains clean surroundings and well-groomed appearance. Responds to request for assistance from patients, families, and staff in a friendly and cooperative manner. Work Schedule:
Monday - Friday; 8:
00 a.m. - 4:
30 p.m. Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required 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. A high school diploma or equivalent; or at least 3 months experience. Certification. Certification by the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is required at grades GS-6 and above. English Language Proficiency. Pharmacy technicians appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. 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). Preferred
Experience:
CLINICAL EXPERIENCE IS PREFERRED Grade Determinations:
GS-6 Experience. One year experience at the next lower level and must fully meet the KSAs at the next lower level. 1. Ability to operate and care for automated dispensing devices and equipment. 2. Knowledge of, and ability to perform, aseptic technique. 3. Knowledge of basic inventory procedures. 4. Knowledge of pharmacy information systems. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk ( ):
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Ability to solve problems and make recommendations, e.g., troubleshoot operational problems and refer for appropriate action. 2. Knowledge of the operation and care of automated equipment. 3. Knowledge of, and ability to follow, written instructions for compounding with aseptic technique for hazardous materials such as oncology agents. 4. Knowledge, and ability to perform, compounding with aseptic technique for routine sterile products. 5. Knowledge of policies and procedures for inventory management in specialized areas such as emergency carts. 6. Knowledge of the computerized prescription process demonstrated by the ability to input prescriptions and medication orders. Assignments. Pharmacy technicians may be assigned to any area of the pharmacy including expanded distributive function assignments; for example assignment as team leaders for specific process improvement teams involving technical areas or performing more highly complex duties including preparation of oncology agents for clinical pharmacy specialists. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. References:
VA HANDBOOK 5005/15 PART II APPENDIX G28 PHARMACY TECHNICIAN The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-6. Physical Requirements:
This position may involve potentially extended periods of sitting, standing, carrying of items weighting up to 20 pounds; i.e., files, medical records, and manuals. In general, the work does not require special physical demands.
- Department:
0661 Pharmacy Technician - Salary Range:
$38,921 to $50,598 per year
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
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