Clarification from the agency

AREA OF CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER: OPEN TO CURRENT PERMANENT JESSE BROWN VA MEDICAL CENTER AND CBOC EMPLOYES; VA NATIONWIDE EMPLOYEES AND OTHER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

This job is also open in another announcement to:

The public

FUNCTIONS OR SCOPES OF PRACTICE:

1. Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) Functions:

Third-Party Collections:

Ensures rejects are resolved so that patients receive appropriate medications in a timely manner, this should be done daily.

Review and monitor all pharmacy work ques alert other staff as needed

Assist informatics and ticket master in managing Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) tickets and investigation as needed to tickets entered.

2. Medication History:

Interviews patients, family members and/or caregivers, to develop and accurate list of medications, drug strengths, dosages, routes and instructions the patient has been taking.

Assesses patient compliance with prescribed therapy through patient/caregiver interview and review of refill dates.

Compares the complied list with the active medication profile in the computerized medical record of the patient.

3. Automation (Automated Dispensing, Outpatient, Inpatient):

Coordinates the technical aspects of pharmacy drug distribution activities to ensure standard operating procedures are in alignment with automation capabilities so that efficiencies are maximized.

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.

Resolves problems and complaints regarding all pharmacy and automated dispensing automation, troubleshooting problems with all automated dispensing equipment when production is compromised and alerts appropriate personnel.

Thoroughly understands VA Pharmacy procurement and formulary and uses this knowledge to appropriately manage Pharmacy automation equipment.

Thoroughly understands investigational drug policies and procedures, if applicable, as they relate to Pharmacy automation equipment.

Thoroughly understand controlled substance policies and procedures, including controlled substance inspection process, discrepancies and resolution.

4. Other Duties:

Assists as deemed necessary by the pharmacy supervisors, in any patient care area (including inpatient and outpatient pharmacy) to maintain the consistency of overall pharmacy services.

Ability to recognize and solve problems, makes recommendations to avoid potential problems, and refers appropriate concerns to Procurement Technician or supervising Pharmacist.

Uses knowledge of policies and procedures for inventory management to receive and inventory pharmacy stock, relay inventory information to the Procurement Technician.

5. Education:

Educates non-pharmacy personnel and patients regarding Pharmacy Service's procedures, policies and processes.

Serves as preceptor for pharmacy technician students.

Assists with and helps conduct the training, orientation, retraining, and documentation of training of employees to Pharmacy Service policies and procedures.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 00542F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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.
• 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• 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: Pharmacy Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Education or Experience:

(1) None required.

(2) For all grade levels and positions that accept both education and experience to qualify, equivalent combinations of qualifying education and experience that total at least 100% are qualifying. The combined percentage is determined by adding total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level to the education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level.

Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.

Certification: For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either:

(1) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).

OR,

(2) National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).

In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements listed above, you must meet the following:

Grade Determinations: GS-08 Pharmacy Technician (Medication History Technician)

Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07). Responsible 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; Ensures rejects are resolved so that patients receive appropriate medications in a timely manner, this should be done daily; Documents the compiled list in the electronic medical record, noting any discrepancies or omissions within 24 hours of the patient encounter; 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; Resolves problems and complaints regarding all pharmacy and automated dispensing automation, troubleshooting problems with all automated dispensing equipment when production is compromised and alerts appropriate personnel.

AND,

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA): In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

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.

Assignment: For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Pharmacy technicians at this level have a higher level of responsibility for specialized areas of pharmacy and are expected to independently carry out assigned tasks of considerable difficulty. Pharmacy technicians at this grade level may be appointed to one of the following assignments:

Pharmacy Technician: Pharmacy technicians in this assignment specialize in areas such as sterile compounding, oncology, controlled substances, medication history review, clinical specialist (anticoagulation, pain, infectious diseases), clinical informatics, automation, immunizations and any other specialized area in the advancement of the profession. The pharmacy technician will serve as a subject matter expert and key resource in the day-to-day technician duties of the specialized area. The technician will be performing assignments such as compounding sterile products, filling controlled substance prescriptions while maintaining compliance with Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) regulations, taking medication histories and counseling patients, managing automation, managing workflow and training and orienting staff in the specialized area.

Preferred Experience: Pharmacy Technician with at least 3 years of knowledgeable experience with Informatics/electronic health record or experience in pharmacy informatics.

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-08.

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 40 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.

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

• PTCB or NHA 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.

• PTCB or NHA CERTIFICATION
• Performance Appraisal
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

**** NOTE: Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees. ****

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