This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center (HVAMC), under the Pharmacy Service Line. This position will be assigned to the outpatient pharmacy and must be available to work rotating shifts. Basic Requirements Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Regulations. 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. English Language Proficiency. Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Regulations. Grade Requirements, Pharmacy Technician, GS-6 Experience. One year experience at the next lower level 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 assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk. Certification. PTCB certification is required at this grade level and above. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Ability to solve problems and make recommendations, e.g., troubleshoot operational problems and refer for appropriate action; Knowledge of the operation and care of automated equipment; Knowledge of, and ability to follow, written instructions for compounding with aseptic technique for hazardous materials such as oncology agents; Knowledge, and ability to perform, compounding with aseptic technique for routine sterile products; Knowledge of policies and procedures for inventory management in specialized areas such as emergency carts; Knowledge of the computerized prescription process demonstrated by the ability to input prescriptions and medication orders. Assignments. Pharmacy technicians may be assigned to any area of the pharmacy including expanded distributive function assignments; for example, assignment as team leaders for specific process improvement teams involving technical areas or performing more highly complex duties including preparation of oncology agents for clinical pharmacy specialists. 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. Reference: VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G28, Pharmacy Technician Qualification Standard. Available in the Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: Pre-placement and periodic physical examinations are required for hybrid occupations to ensure workers are placed in positions where they can perform the essential functions of their job including their physical, mental and emotional capacities, without endangering their health or the health of their co-workers. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. ["Pharmacy technicians provide various technical support services within the pharmacy department. This position involves providing services related to inpatient and /or ambulatory patients. GS-6 Pharmacy Technicians typically carry out the full range of technical support functions described below. These include but are not limited to; processing and filling outpatient for scheduled and nonscheduled federal legend drugs and medical devices, over-the-counter products and supply items; inpatient and distribution of unit dose medications and ward stock items and intravenous admixtures including cytotoxic chemotherapy; stock management; operation, maintenance, re-stocking and troubleshooting of automated dispensing equipment; patient and customer relations; and preparation and maintenance of various logs, records and reports. The incumbent may be required to perform some or all of the functions, however, the relative percentages of time spent performing each specific function varies with the area of administrative assignment. Work Schedule: Must be available for variable tours: days, afternoons, nights, weekends and holidays as needed. Subject to change based on the needs of the agency. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a remote or virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
