The Pharmacy Technician is responsible for assisting in providing and coordinating complete pharmaceutical care activities in the Inpatient Pharmacy, Operating Room and Procedure suites, Outpatient Pharmacy, Infusion Clinic, and/or various medication-related areas in agreement with the mission, vision, and goals of the VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System. The technician works to support the pharmacist, VA and VHA mission, and Veterans in our system. 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. Certification. Certification by the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is required at grades GS-6 and above. Loss of Credential. An employee in this occupation who fails to obtain licensure/certification/registration within the required time frame, or who fails to maintain the required licensure/certification/registration must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment. For occupations which require an active credential (licensure/certification/registration) at all grade levels, at the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation for which he/she qualifies if a placement opportunity exists. For occupations which require an active credential (licensure/certification/registration) in assignments above the full-performance level only. at the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may remain at an appropriate lower grade level in the occupation when both of the following apply: the credential is not a requirement and a placement opportunity exists." Grandfathering Provision. The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all Title 38 hybrid qualification standards. Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/registration requirements that apply to this occupation. All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard 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 required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation. Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance Journey level, or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Such 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 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. If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Physical Requirements. Required to undergo and pass a pre-employment physical. English Language Proficiency. Pharmacy technicians appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA policy. Grade Determinations: GS-7 Experience. One year experience at the next lower level and must fully meet the KSAs at the next lower level. Certification. PTCB certification is required at this grade level and above. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): (*1) Ability to evaluate, analyze workflow, and coordinate work activities. (2) Ability to independently gather, evaluate, and analyze data to generate reports and/or for other projects/statistical purposes. (3) Knowledge of pharmacy policies and procedures sufficient to train and orient new employees and other staff. (4) Comprehensive knowledge of the operation and care of specialized pharmaceutical equipment. (5) Comprehensive knowledge of the procurement and formulary process. (6) Comprehensive knowledge of investigational drug policies and procedures. (7) Comprehensive knowledge of controlled substance policies and procedures, and the ability to identify and investigate discrepancies in these policies and procedures. (8) Comprehensive knowledge of, and ability to, analyze data in VA information systems. Assignments. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Pharmacy technicians at this grade level may be assigned as a supervisor; lead technician in a particular area of the pharmacy; a controlled substance technician; an investigational drug technician; a procurement / inventory management technician; a clinical pharmacy technician; or similar assignment with this level of complexity. The GS-7 level is for select, complex pharmacy technician positions, as established by each health care facility. To be advanced, employees must meet all of the following standards, provided the standard is part of their assignment. Preferred Experience: Experience working in an inpatient setting. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/15, PART II, APPENDIX G28. PHARMACY TECHNICIAN QUALFICATION STANDARD, GS-661, Veterans Health Administration, MARCH 17, 2006. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-07. Physical Requirements: Employees are typically expected to work varying work schedules. This may include nights, weekends and/or holidays as assigned. Principle duties require repetitive use of hands and fingers (e.g., preparing IV admixtures, use of a computer keyboard, etc.). May require lifting and carrying light loads (up to 44lbs.), including boxes, equipment, unit dose-cassettes, and IV solutions; stooping or kneeling (e.g., to pick up items from the floor, remove and replace items on lower shelves, sitting, walking, or standing for long periods of time (4-8 hours). Normal ranges of hearing and vision are required to perform work and communicate effectively; must have the visual ability to distinguish between basic colors and shades of color. An ability to perform tasks requiring rapid mental and muscular coordination functions simultaneously is necessary. Must be physically capable of operating various types of equipment used for the job. ["Medication Reconciliation (1) Clinical Activities i. Working with assigned patients, routinely reviews outpatient medication profile on admission to ED and/or hospital and verifies over-the-counter (OTC) and herbal medications with patients. ii. Contacting non-VA facilities to collect or confirm medication lists iii. Interviewing patients and/or caregivers regarding medication use and medication allergies and ADRs iv. Reviewing electronic patient admission lists for medication reconciliation and triaging based on priority. (2) Computer Data Entry: i. Assess a list of patients in the emergency department and inpatient setting who have not had an admission medication reconciliation performed. ii. Enter progress notes into the patient medical record, using information obtained directly from the patient. Forward each completed note to the appropriate pharmacist for co-signature. iii. Track pending and completed medication reconciliations in the appropriate pharmacy database. iv. Report all potential patient or pharmacy distribution problems verbally and/or in writing as requested by the pharmacist in the area assigned. Assist the pharmacist in reporting Adverse Drug Reactions, Medication Errors and 'Near Misses'. (3) Education & Personal Competence: i. Maintain competence by participating in staff development programs. ii. Provide in-service programs for the appropriate acute care personnel and pharmacy technicians as assigned. iii. Successfully complete annual competency certifications based on specific clinical functions/activities assigned. Confidentiality, Security, and Infection Control (1) Comply with all hospital patient and service confidentiality guidelines and policies. (2) Comply with all hospital infection control guidelines and policies. (3) Follow applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files, release of access codes, etc., as delineated in the computer access agreement and VA policy. (4) Protect patient information from unauthorized release or from loss, alteration, or unauthorized deletion. Accurate Medication Orders (1) Medication orders (unit dose, ward stock, parenteral products) are processed and filled accurately in accordance with all laws, rules, regulations, and policies as observed by supervisor and reports of incidents received by the supervisor. (2) Medications (unit dose, ward stock, parenteral products) are delivered to the customer or patient care area in a timely manner to ensure standards for turnaround time are met, as evidenced by supervisor review and reports of incidents received by the supervisor. (3) Medications deemed unnecessary or unusable by nursing staff and placed in the Return to Pharmacy bins are returned to pharmacy in a timely manner and assessed for appropriateness of reuse, as evidenced by supervisor review and reports of incidents received by the supervisor. (4) Patient medications brought into the hospital upon admission that are confiscated by nursing staff for turn in to Pharmacy are processed accurately and efficiently according to policy, as evidenced by supervisor review and reports of incidents received by the supervisor. (5) Potential medication order problems are brought to the attention of the pharmacist for assistance with resolution as observed by the supervisor and reports of incidents received by the supervisor. General Performance (1) Compliance with the Joint Commission, VHA, VA and other program review criteria that govern service is exhibited and documented as evidenced by both internal and external reviews. Employee demonstrates high ethical standards and prevents violations of the law. (2) Proficiency in the operation of the relevant VISTA computer packages (to include CPRS, Controlled Substance, Outpatient, Inpatient, Progress Note, Hospital Information, Laboratory, Time and Attendance, etc) is consistently demonstrated as assessed by the supervisor. (3) Maintains proficiency in the operation of the relevant pharmacy automation and equipment as assessed by the supervisor including cleaning, restocking, replenishing, and troubleshooting. (4) Patient sensitive materials are consistently disposed of in sensitive waste receptacles as required by Federal rules and regulations / HIPAA. Faxes, messages, written orders and other communications are handled appropriately without deviation from the patient confidentiality requirements as evidenced by supervisor observation and reports of incidents to the supervisor. (5) Pharmaceutical waste is consistently handled and disposed of according to health care system policy as evidenced by supervisor observation and reports of incidents to the supervisor. Work Schedule: Various shifts to include weekends and holidays. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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