Pharmacy Technician- Anticoagulation

Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent Miami VA facility employees only. The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. Allied Health Professionals

The primary functions of the Clinical Pharmacy Technician include laboratory value monitoring, medical chart/pharmacy profile poly-pharmacy reviews, medication use evaluation monitoring, pharmacoeconomic reviews, telephone logistical support, supplemental patient education communication, and prescription order entry (with pharmacist verification). This technician, functions under the matrix of an Anticoagulation Clinic Service (ACS), directly reports to the PACT Pharmacy Supervisor.

• Provides and supports clinical and pharmacoeconomic activities as assigned.
• Reviews the computer medication profile for prescription duplication, therapeutic duplication, prescription noncompliance, and allergies/adverse drug reactions.
• Review's laboratory monitoring reports for selected disease states and identifies patients with values outside of the normal limits.
• Performs patient medical chart and medication profile reviews to identify poly­ pharmacy problems.
• Reports identified problems to the assigned clinical pharmacist practitioner for evaluation.
• Completes clinical pharmacy medication utilization evaluations and protocol-driven clinical pharmacist practitioner peer review.
• Provides supplemental reinforcement education for patients concerning operational issues or the need for compliance with therapy.
• Documents clinical and operational activities as assigned.
• Provides pertinent documentation on patient's medical record, as appropriate.
• Participates in Performance Improvement processes and programs as assigned.
• Conducts patient interviews, including medication history, anticoagulation history, and effectiveness of anticoagulation, need for medication refills, and investigates causes of therapeutic irregularities.
• Performs all the duties of lower graded technicians, if assigned.
• Performs technician functionality utilizing electronic software (i.e., Vista and CPRS) to provide patient care.
• Notifies anticoagulation Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner (CPP) 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.
• Inputs refills for window or mail prescriptions into the computer system after the prescriptions have been reviewed for appropriateness by a pharmacist.
• Provides secondary review for the pharmacist by reviewing the order for allergies, eligibility, dosage, schedule, duration, and instructions.
• Provides a secondary back-up review for any potential drug-drug, drug-disease, drug nutrient interactions, and therapeutic duplications as well as identifying any potential patient compliance problems.
• Consults with the clinical pharmacist as appropriate concerning operational or compliance-related issues.
• Reports all potential patient or pharmacy distribution problems verbally and/or in writing as requested by the clinical pharmacy specialist in the assigned area.
• Assists in maintenance of clinic supplies needed for clinic operation.
• Checks daily for missed check-outs and no shows.
• Troubleshoots and attempts to resolve patient discrepancies and judge adherence to appointment schedules.
• Enters orders for lab tests (signature by clinical pharmacist practitioner required).
• Assists the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in reporting Adverse Drug Reactions, Medication Errors, and Close calls.
• Provides in-service programs for appropriate clinic personnel and pharmacy technicians as assigned.
• Participates in clinical pharmacy lectures and educational programs as assigned.
• Participates in peer review.
• Assist with precepting the anticoagulation rotation offered to student and resident trainees from other affiliated programs.
• Assists in conducting and reporting internal audits as required.
• Maintains all pertinent professional and administrative records as necessary.
• Assists in data collection for drug utilization evaluation and participates in quality assurance.
• Acts as liaison between Pharmacy Service and other health care providers.
• Ensures that VA policies relating to investigational drugs are being followed.
• Participates and supports research projects conducted by Medicine Service Line and/or Pharmacy Service Clinical Section.

Work Schedule:

Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

(Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor. The incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs).

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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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. 7402(d), and 7407(d)
• Certification: You must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either:
  • Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).
  • National Health career Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).

GS-8 Grade Determination:

Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level and demonstrate the KSAs below.

Certification.For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: (a) PTCB as a CPhT. OR (b) NHA as a ExCPT

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate the following technical KSAs:
a. 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.)
b. Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures.
c. Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy.

References: Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. GS-8.

Physical Requirements: 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 50 pounds) of pharmaceutical supplies, and bending/stooping/stretching.

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.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

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.

NOTE:

Incomplete packets will not be considered. Failure to submit the required documentation may make you ineligible for this position.
The following documents are required from all applicants:

• Résumé / CV: For each job/position listed, you must include a job title, detailed duties, month and year for each start/end date and if full-time or part-time status with the number of hours worked each week.
• Responses to the questionnaire
• Certification: Must provide a copy of your certification(s) as listed above for this position.
• Transcript(s): Must provide a copy of all education transcripts if you are using education to qualify for this position.
• SF-50: All VA/Federal employees should submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (that is not an award SF-50) that shows you're a current, permanent VA/Federal employee. You may get your SF-50 directly from your eOPF. VA employees may go to:https://eopf.opm.gov/va/. Other Federal employees must contact your current HR Office for assistance assessing your eOPF/personnel folder.

Next steps