Summary

The Pharmacy Technician (Informatics/Automation) position functions as the informatics/automation specialist in all the patient care areas of pharmacy service with primary focus in both the inpatient and outpatient pharmacy service. Pharmacy technician is assigned to the informatics/automation specialized area as the technical subject matter expert.

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 by38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Certification: The employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: (a) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
• OR - (b) National Healthcareer Association (NHA) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• A COPY OF YOUR CERTIFICATION MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH YOUR APPLICATION
• Assignments: Pharmacy technicians at this level are nationally certified and can work autonomously using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties
• These pharmacy technicians mentor and train lower graded pharmacy technicians in the practice setting
• They assist advanced/ specialized pharmacy technicians and participate in performance improvement initiatives
• At this level - pharmacy technicians use independent judgement to perform the full range of duties in the pharmacy
• They also function as staff pharmacy technicians in various locations of the pharmacy - including pharmacy contact centers and other non-traditional pharmacy locations - with minimal oversight
• 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)
• In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements listed above - you must meet the following: GS-8 Pharmacy Technician Grade Determinations: Experience
• Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7)
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSA): In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Comprehensive knowledge of concepts - principles - methodology and policies in a specialized area or section of pharmacy (such as sterile compounding - controlled substances - automation - clinical pharmacy - contact center - etc.) Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures
• Ability to evaluate - analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy
• Basic knowledge of pharmacy procurement - distribution and storage requirements to maintain a safe working environment
• This includes not limited to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and DEA requirements and regulations
• Previous experience as a pharmacy technician - usually a minimum of 2 years in a health system or retail pharmacy setting
• Preferred Experience: - Experience with pharmacy automation such as Pyxis - ScriptPro - Parata - etc - Understanding of pharmacy software systems - Prior pharmacy technician management - lead technician - or role in training staff preferred - Prior experience with Cerner/Oracle Health preferred Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion - involving standing for prolonged periods of time - lifting or carrying of heavy pharmaceutical supplies or mail bags weighing up to 80 pounds - bending - and stopping.

Duties

• The incumbent must have expert understanding of the complexity of the Informatics/Automation program
• The incumbent has work leadership responsibility for the daily maintenance and oversight of all inpatient and outpatient pharmacy automated dispensing equipment in the pharmacy and the automated pharmaceutical dispensing equipment at the local facility level as well as maintenance and oversight of pharmacy computer systems/software and electronic health records
• The incumbent plans - designs - analyzes - acquires - documents - tests - implements - integrates - maintains - or modifies computer systems or software as assigned
• The incumbent will consistently demonstrate independent technical judgement and comprehensive and thorough working knowledge of associated VA policies and procedures
• Work Schedule: Monday- Friday - 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Suitable Relocation/Recruitment Expenses: Not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws