The Pharmacy Compounding and Drug Distribution Specialist is a certified, highly specialized Technician, and is responsible for the first line management of all controlled substances. The incumbent is also responsible for the preparation of non-sterile and sterile compounded products handled by Pharmacy. Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf

Duties

Controlled Substances Accurately interprets, fills and readies controlled substance prescriptions with appropriate medications for Pharmacist verification. Effectively coordinates, manages, completes and documents the purchasing of prescription drug products by maintaining a comprehensive knowledge of the procurement and formulary process. Maintains, verifies, stocks and replaces outdated controlled medications from stock, including inpatient wards, storage cabinets and the Pharmacy vault. Maintains accurate electronic inventory through decrementing prescriptions, entering received inventory and transferring to automated dispensing cabinets. Monitors and analyzes orders and usage/distribution patterns for questionable circumstances or unusual trends and communicates potential problems to supervisor. Provides training for Pharmacists, interns, Technicians, inspectors, students and others in controlled substance accountability procedures. Prepares, operates, restocks, and maintains complex automated dispensing cabinets and all necessary equipment supporting pharmaceutical patient care functions. Resolves inventory discrepancies immediately when discovered by reviewing reports and contacting appropriate persons when needed. Reports discrepancies to supervisor, when appropriate. Ensures all controlled substance procedures abide by all local requirements, VISN, OIG and VHA handbook expectations and requirements, The Joint Commission (TJC) standards, VA Central Office directives, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) requirements, appropriate inventory management practices and other state and local requirements that apply. Compounding Is knowledgeable in United States Pharmacopeia (USP) , and standards, Pharmacy law, VHA directives and DEA regulations as they relate to practice within the VA Health Care System. Prepares sterile ophthalmic preparations and other complex sterile pharmaceutics as appropriate. Correctly interprets orders, selects, and measures appropriate ingredients, mixes ingredients in an aseptic manner, inspects the final product for accuracy, suitability and elegance, labels the product, maintains records of the manufacturing process and supplies the product for delivery. Maintains technical working knowledge of equipment and supplies used in compounding sterile products, including but not limited to admixing pumps, needles, syringes, and other compounding supplies. Operates and maintains complicated Pharmacy equipment, including but not limited to laminar flow hoods and compounding software. Ensures that the IV cleanrooms are cleaned daily and appropriate logs are completed for daily, weekly and monthly cleaning. Uses knowledge, skills, and abilities to resolve questionable orders or situations to ensure quality of care. Contacts Pharmacist to obtain clarification on prescriptions, orders or situations that present a possible hazard to patient care. Performs accurate product selection, dosage calculations and compounding of agents utilizing package literature, written procedural guidelines and application of specialized knowledge. Generates proper product identification labeling and assigns accurate stability and handling information, including appropriate auxiliary information to ensure safety and efficacy to the patient and other handlers of the product. Stocks and maintains the preparation areas, reviewing anticipated inventory needs, and effectively coordinates, manages, completes, and documents the purchasing of prescription drug products. Assists in airborne particulate and microbial testing and surface testing to ensure cleaning schedules are met. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday Rotating tours between 0630-1830 Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Ad Hoc only Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Pharmacy Technician Basic Requirements: To qualify for appointment to this position, all applicants must possess the following: Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d) Education or Experience: None required. 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. Certification (GS-07 and above): For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT). Grandfather Provision. A Pharmacy Technician employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (11/7/2023) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/ registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/ certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. Grade Determinations: Pharmacy Technician GS-8 Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience at or equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7), which includes, but know limited to: Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work; Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent; Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers; Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students; Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution; Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases. Certification: For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT). AND Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of 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.) Note: See Specialized Area in the Definitions Section. Specialized Area. Areas within pharmacy that require advanced knowledge, skills and abilities to ensure a high level of accountability for patient safety, quality of care and/or VHA or other regulatory requirements. Examples include, but are not limited to compounding sterile products, controlled substance dispensing, research, automation, clinical informatics, quality assurance, hazardous medication compounding/management, immunizations and clinical pharmacy assignments. 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. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/159 PART II APPENDIX G28 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address St Cloud VA Medical Center 4801 Veterans Drive St Cloud, MN 56303 US
• Name: Breeze Hennes
• Phone: (320) 252-1670 X5222
• Email: [email protected]