Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This announcement is open to internal to VHA only; First consideration will be given to current, permanent Birmingham employee's. (SF-50 required)

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

FUNCTIONS/SCOPE OF DUTIES:

1. Controlled Substance Management

• Ability to prepare, fill, and dispense controlled substance according to policies and procedures.
• Conducts regularly scheduled inventories every 72 hours and daily if needed according to regulations and policies.
• Assists the Controlled Substance Compliance Inspectors to complete the monthly inspections.
• Effectively coordinates, manages, completes, and documents the purchasing of all prescription and non-prescription drug products and supplies by maintaining a comprehensive knowledge of the procurement and formulary process.
• Maintains, verifies, stocks, and replaces outdated CS medications from stock including inpatient wards, inpatient/outpatient storage cabinets, vaults.
• Maintains accurate electronic inventory through decrementing prescriptions, entering received inventory, transferring to automated dispensing cabinets, dispensing on green sheets, and transferring to other dispensing vaults.
• Follows policies and procedures for handling the destruction and return of controlled substance medication.
• Works with pharmacy procurement personnel by providing information regarding medications and supplies needed from the warehouse or wholesaler based on items used.

2. Automation (Automated Dispensing)

• Coordinates the technical aspects of pharmacy drug distribution activities to ensure standard operating procedures are aligned with automation capabilities so that efficiencies are maximized. Incumbent is instrumental in recommending changes for the improvement of the workflow, work methods, and priorities involved within the drug distribution system.
• Evaluates and analyzes workflow and coordinates all work activities involved with Pharmacy automation. This will involve trouble shooting, regularly gathering data, analyzing, and interpreting VA data and formulating action plans.
• Ensures that automated dispensing data is archived within established guidelines for each type of equipment.
• Ability to participate in process actions teams to improve automation quality and safety, continually seeking ways to improve the service provided to patients and other customers.
• Resolves problems and complaints regarding all pharmacy and automated dispensing automation, troubleshoots problems with all automated dispensing equipment when production is compromised and alerts appropriate personnel.
• Has oversight responsibility of the user files of all automated dispensing systems.
• Has oversight responsibility for the addition of new items and deletion of obsolete items from all automated dispensing systems.
• Ensures that equipment is cleaned and maintained to minimize downtime.

3. Outpatient Pharmacy Activities (when assigned)

• Processes and fills outpatient prescriptions in compliance with regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Utilizes the automated dispensing machine (i.e., ScriptPro) for packaging and dispensing medications.
• Assembles prescriptions properly with the correct drug, strength, quantity, auxiliary labels, and prescription labels.
• Assures that the correct medication is filled by using bar code scanning on stock bottles.
• Appropriately assigns and prints label for completed prescriptions notating if it's window, mail, UPS, refrigerated or non-refrigerated item.
• Supports automation by manually completing prescriptions not processed through the automation dispensing machine.
• Assures the timely completion of all prescriptions.
• Verifies the patient's identification following the Medical Center's policies. Ensures two patient identifiers are utilized when dispensing medications.

4. Inpatient Pharmacy Activities (when assigned):

• Performs a review of medications prepared by another pharmacy employee to be dispensed to hospital areas.
• Inventories and replenishes emergency trays/carts/kits.
• Operates and maintains automated dispensing unit dose systems such as Pyxis and Parata.
• Inspects packaged items for accuracy and suitability before submitting for final check, prior to distribution to hospital areas.
• Utilizes the Parata Perl inspection system after medications are repackaged.
• Assures repackaged dosage forms are labeled according to USP and VA standards and attains a final review by a pharmacist.
• Maintains repackaging records that assures all regulatory and review standards are met.
• Trouble shoots minor mechanical problems of all automated systems as they occur and coordinates resolution of more involved mechanical or software problems with Supervisor, vendor help desk, ADPAC, etc. as appropriate.

Work Schedule: 8 hr. shift between 5:30a and 6p with rotating weekend, holiday, evening and night (WHEN) hours
Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: Not authorized
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

Qualifications

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. You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education or Experience. Candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent; or at least 3 months experience.
• Certification. Candidates must be certified by the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). Certification is required at grades GS-6 and above.

Grade Determinations:

GS-08

Experience. One year experience at the next lower level GS-07, and must fully meet the KSAs at the next lower level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assigned specific KSAs:

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 the following KSAs for all GS-08 assignments and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment, if indicated:

1. 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.) Note: See Specialized Area.in the Definitions Section.
2. Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures.
3. Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy.

Physical Demands

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 40 pounds) of pharmaceutical supplies, and bending/stooping/stretching.

References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/15 PART II APPENDIX G28

The full performance level of this position is GS-06. This vacancy is above the full performance level at GS-08.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Professional Certification
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.

Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• Other (1)
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Next steps