Pharmacy Technician (Unit Dose)
This position functions primarily in the Inpatient Section of Pharmacy Service, and more specifically, is directly involved in the unit dose management system, which requires extensive knowledge of Pharmaceuticals and Pharmacy Service. Performs final review of medication (prepared by another technician) to be dispensed to inpatient areas (unit dose carts), and/or fills unit dose carts independently. Additional duties and responsibilities includes but is not limited to the following:
Collects drug use evaluation data for quality improvement purposes. Operates and maintains complicated pharmacy equipment. Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile) independently. This includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the amount of drug or solution to be used. Performs verification of simple, non-sterile compounds prepared by lower level technicians. Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution. Identifies basic therapeutic problems, such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class, and alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention. Assists in total quality improvement activities by participating in medical center and service process assessment and action teams and continually seeks to improve services. Performs all the duties of lower graded technicians, if required. Inventories and replenishes emergency carts independently. Works independently to accomplish work objectives relying on the guidance and professional support of the pharmacist or technician supervisor assigned, to coordinate the area in which the technician is functioning. Delivers and picks-up items from all areas of the hospital as needed. Keeps all required records accurately and completely, manually or via competent, skilled use of appropriate computer programs. Prepackages medications, determining appropriate quantities, labels, requirements and packaging materials. Answers telephone, screens calls, and provides requested information in a courteous, professional manner to patients and other hospital personnel. Refers calls to the pharmacist when in-depth pharmaceutical knowledge is required. Trains new pharmacy technicians and students as needed. Reviews and records Pharmacy stock needs, using knowledge of usage trends. Notifies supply technician of low/out-of-stock situations, completes monthly out-date inspections as assigned. Utilizes, cleans and maintains a variety of complex Pharmacy equipment including tablet counters, laminar flow hoods, scales, pumps, unit dose packaging equipment, etc. Performs necessary calculations to compound intravenous solutions and prescriptions. Inputs, manipulates, view and prints data from the VISTA data-base as needed, to process workload. Correctly prepares labels for IV solutions, prescriptions prepackaging, etc., and other materials as needed. Communicates with other health care professionals to clarify orders and determine medication needs. Plans and organizes workload to meet demand. Restocks working areas, rotating stock to ensure the first products to expire are used first. Maintains work area in neat, orderly fashion. Performs other duties as needed to deliver quality pharmaceutical services to the Medical Center patients. Performs automatic replenishment functions for medication and IV solutions, generating computer lists, inventorying areas of use, and stocking these areas. Fills individual patient medication drawer using computer generated Medication Administration Records independently. Restocks and maintains pick stations used with the Unit Dose system. Prepares large volume intravenous solutions, mini bags, syringes, hyperalimentation solutions, irrigations, and other sterile solutions as required, using aseptic technique and properly labels same. Prepares and delivers medications, including narcotics, for the Pyxis machines as determined by daily Pyxis stock out, refill, and other various reports. Resolves narcotics discrepancies in Pyxis machines. Loads and unloads new medications into the Pyxis machine. Accurately and efficiently utilizes all automated pharmacy systems. Automated pharmacy systems include OSPAC, Fluidose, medication delivery robots, TPN compounder, and Pyxis. Work Schedule:
Mainly 2:
30p.m to 11:
00 p.m. with rotating shifts, weekends, Holidays and in-lieu days Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required 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. Education or Experience. A high school diploma or equivalent; or at least 3 months experience. English Language Proficiency. Pharmacy technicians appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English. 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:
Pharmacy Technician Grade Determinations:
Certification. Certification by the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is required at this grade level and above. GS-06 Experience. One-year experience at the next lower level, GS-05, and must fully meet the KSAs at the next lower level which are Ability to operate and care for automated dispensing devices and equipment; Knowledge of, and ability to perform, aseptic technique; Knowledge of basic inventory procedures; Knowledge of pharmacy information systems. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs:
Ability to solve problems and make recommendations, e.g., troubleshoot operational problems and refer for appropriate action. Knowledge of the operation and care of automated equipment. Knowledge of, and ability to follow, written instructions for compounding with aseptic technique for hazardous materials such as oncology agents. Knowledge, and ability to perform, compounding with aseptic technique for routine sterile products. Knowledge of policies and procedures for inventory management in specialized areas such as emergency carts. Knowledge of the computerized prescription process demonstrated by the ability to input prescriptions and medication orders. References:
VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G28, Pharmacy Technician Qualification Standard, GS-661 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-06 to GS-06 Physical Requirements:
The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving sitting and standing for prolonged periods of time, lifting/carrying of files and supplies weighing at least 50 lbs., and bending/stooping. Although the incumbent is assigned to a specific location, it must be understood that as an employee of the Cleveland VA Medical Center, the possibility exists for reassignment to a different unit in accordance with good management practices.
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
Collects drug use evaluation data for quality improvement purposes. Operates and maintains complicated pharmacy equipment. Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile) independently. This includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the amount of drug or solution to be used. Performs verification of simple, non-sterile compounds prepared by lower level technicians. Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution. Identifies basic therapeutic problems, such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class, and alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention. Assists in total quality improvement activities by participating in medical center and service process assessment and action teams and continually seeks to improve services. Performs all the duties of lower graded technicians, if required. Inventories and replenishes emergency carts independently. Works independently to accomplish work objectives relying on the guidance and professional support of the pharmacist or technician supervisor assigned, to coordinate the area in which the technician is functioning. Delivers and picks-up items from all areas of the hospital as needed. Keeps all required records accurately and completely, manually or via competent, skilled use of appropriate computer programs. Prepackages medications, determining appropriate quantities, labels, requirements and packaging materials. Answers telephone, screens calls, and provides requested information in a courteous, professional manner to patients and other hospital personnel. Refers calls to the pharmacist when in-depth pharmaceutical knowledge is required. Trains new pharmacy technicians and students as needed. Reviews and records Pharmacy stock needs, using knowledge of usage trends. Notifies supply technician of low/out-of-stock situations, completes monthly out-date inspections as assigned. Utilizes, cleans and maintains a variety of complex Pharmacy equipment including tablet counters, laminar flow hoods, scales, pumps, unit dose packaging equipment, etc. Performs necessary calculations to compound intravenous solutions and prescriptions. Inputs, manipulates, view and prints data from the VISTA data-base as needed, to process workload. Correctly prepares labels for IV solutions, prescriptions prepackaging, etc., and other materials as needed. Communicates with other health care professionals to clarify orders and determine medication needs. Plans and organizes workload to meet demand. Restocks working areas, rotating stock to ensure the first products to expire are used first. Maintains work area in neat, orderly fashion. Performs other duties as needed to deliver quality pharmaceutical services to the Medical Center patients. Performs automatic replenishment functions for medication and IV solutions, generating computer lists, inventorying areas of use, and stocking these areas. Fills individual patient medication drawer using computer generated Medication Administration Records independently. Restocks and maintains pick stations used with the Unit Dose system. Prepares large volume intravenous solutions, mini bags, syringes, hyperalimentation solutions, irrigations, and other sterile solutions as required, using aseptic technique and properly labels same. Prepares and delivers medications, including narcotics, for the Pyxis machines as determined by daily Pyxis stock out, refill, and other various reports. Resolves narcotics discrepancies in Pyxis machines. Loads and unloads new medications into the Pyxis machine. Accurately and efficiently utilizes all automated pharmacy systems. Automated pharmacy systems include OSPAC, Fluidose, medication delivery robots, TPN compounder, and Pyxis. Work Schedule:
Mainly 2:
30p.m to 11:
00 p.m. with rotating shifts, weekends, Holidays and in-lieu days Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required 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. Education or Experience. A high school diploma or equivalent; or at least 3 months experience. English Language Proficiency. Pharmacy technicians appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English. 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:
Pharmacy Technician Grade Determinations:
Certification. Certification by the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is required at this grade level and above. GS-06 Experience. One-year experience at the next lower level, GS-05, and must fully meet the KSAs at the next lower level which are Ability to operate and care for automated dispensing devices and equipment; Knowledge of, and ability to perform, aseptic technique; Knowledge of basic inventory procedures; Knowledge of pharmacy information systems. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs:
Ability to solve problems and make recommendations, e.g., troubleshoot operational problems and refer for appropriate action. Knowledge of the operation and care of automated equipment. Knowledge of, and ability to follow, written instructions for compounding with aseptic technique for hazardous materials such as oncology agents. Knowledge, and ability to perform, compounding with aseptic technique for routine sterile products. Knowledge of policies and procedures for inventory management in specialized areas such as emergency carts. Knowledge of the computerized prescription process demonstrated by the ability to input prescriptions and medication orders. References:
VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G28, Pharmacy Technician Qualification Standard, GS-661 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-06 to GS-06 Physical Requirements:
The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving sitting and standing for prolonged periods of time, lifting/carrying of files and supplies weighing at least 50 lbs., and bending/stooping. Although the incumbent is assigned to a specific location, it must be understood that as an employee of the Cleveland VA Medical Center, the possibility exists for reassignment to a different unit in accordance with good management practices.
- Department:
0661 Pharmacy Technician - Salary Range:
$40,556 to $52,723 per year
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
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