Location: Charleston, South Carolina, South Carolina
Internal Number: 819988900
The Pharmacy Service is seeking multiple full-time Pharmacy Technicians for the VA Medical Center in Charleston South Carolina. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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 by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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). May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: GS-7 Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Certification. 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 the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work. (b) Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent. (c) Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers. (d) Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students. (e) Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution. (f) Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases. Reference: VA Handbook 5005 PART II APPENDIX G28. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements: The position requires frequent walking and standing; repeated bending; moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds); the ability to read handwritten or typed characters with or without glasses; ability to hear conversation voice with or without aid; and emotional and mental stability. ["Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Pharmacy Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf The Pharmacy Technician provides support to all pharmacy operations in a variety of settings. This includes patient care activities in the main outpatient dispensing pharmacy, phone center, outpatient clinic, administration area, or to other area as assigned by the supervisor. Typical duties may include but are not limited to: Reads and interprets prescriptions from the veteran electronic health record systems (EHRS) or in written format. Reviews prescription orders for technical accuracy. Prepares medications and ensures the orderable item matches the item being dispensed regarding drug, strength, quantity, or appropriate supply item supply item. Dispenses medications and sterile products following all regulations, policies, and procedures for safe medication distribution. Uses Automatic Dispensing machines (ADM) to batch and label medications. Ensure ScriptTalk labels are batched if needed. Understands when to use other prescription labels with computer outages. Able to use the current facility phone system. Maintains appropriate phone etiquette and professionalism. Able to work independently in phone centers locations. Accurately collects and clarifies patient information. Capable of synthesizing patient information to identify basic therapeutic, distributive, or medication related problems. Understands when to alert pharmacists for problems. Communicates information accurately u the electronic health record or other formats. Completes calls and as needed follow up in a timely manner. Seeks opportunity to support pharmacy operations when phone volume low. Fills medication \"to be mailed\" in accordance with description provided in the medication distribution section. Ensures prescription label matches mailing label and maintains accuracy in other software or paper systems. Able yo transport mail containers to pick up destinations, restock supplies, lift mail bags or containers. Assisted with other medication distribution activities as directed by pharmacist, supervisor or as delineated as part of the shift responsibility. Assists the pharmacist with problem solving patient care or medication issues. Assists in quality improvement projects as an individual or on assigned teams to improve pharmacy service. Assists to complete required pharmacy reporting obligations as directed. Maintains pharmacy security. This includes the physical security of the pharmacy and the security of electronic records. Maintains accountability for tour of duty. Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). 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) 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: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: FS 54951 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.