Pharmacy Technician (Outpatient)

Pharmacy Technician

Medication Distribution System:

• Fill and prepare prescriptions with appropriate medications and or medical supplies for pharmacist verification.
• Assure drugs and supplies are appropriately stored and secured according to USP and VA guidelines, including the storage of high-risk, look a-like, sound a-like, hazardous, controlled substances, corrosive chemical, flammable liquids, and refrigerated items.
• Receive, check, rotate, and place in stock all items received from pharmacy procurement section and identify and reconcile any discrepancies to assure correct items have been received.
• Record expiration dates in the automatic prescription dispensing system.
• Compound and/or reconstitute oral or external medications (non-sterile).
• Identify basic therapeutic problems, such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class and alert the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention.
• Assist in training and orientation of new staff technicians, interns, and students.
• Participate in performance improvement initiatives for pharmacy.
• Comply with all VHA, Medical Center, and Pharmacy regulations, directives, policies, and procedures.

Window Pick-Up:

• Verify the patient's identification following the Medical Center's policies (i.e., double patient identifiers).
• Verify the patient receives the correct prescriptions by using VA software (i.e., VISTA and barcode scanning).
• Verify the patient received all prescriptions (i.e., refrigerated, controlled substances, bulk medications, etc.).

Mail Packaging:

• Utilize and comprehend mail shipping programs used by the facility (i.e., USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.) for overnight delivery of non-controlled and controlled prescriptions.
• Perform searches, update patient information, and generate shipping reports as requested by the supervisor.
• Call patients to arrange delivery of refrigerated prescriptions and verify patients' address.
• Package prescriptions appropriately to ensure packages are not damaged within transit.

Pharmacy Phone System:

• Maintain appropriate phone etiquette and professionalism.
• Accurately collect and clarify patient information.
• Understand when to alert pharmacists for issues.
• Communicate information accurately in electronic health records.

Controlled Substance Activities:

• These functions will be supported in the absence of the controlled substance technician (i.e., after hours, weekends, and leave).
• Interpret, fill, and ready prescriptions with appropriate medications for pharmacist verification.
• Document all controlled substance related transactions as indicated by VA and DEA guidelines.
• Ensure proper handoff occurs when receiving or delivering controlled substances, always assuring these medications are never left unsecured.

Unit Dose Medication Management:

• Prepare unit dose medications using pharmacy provided software.
• Inspect packaged items for accuracy and suitability before submitting for final check, prior to distribution.
• Trouble-shoot minor mechanical problems of all automated systems as they occur and coordinate resolution of more involved mechanical or software problems with Supervisor, vendor help desk, ADPAC, etc. as appropriate.

Automatic Replenishment/Ward Stock:

• Inventory, assess, and determine the need for floor stock and external medication.
• Inspect and document assigned hospital areas for medication storage.
• Remove all expired and deteriorated drugs from the automated dispensing stations, stock shelves, and the unit dose automated dispensing systems.
• Assure each inspected area meets established standards for appropriate drug storage conditions, including drug security for inspection and accreditation.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Work Schedule: Mon - Fri, 8:00am to 4:30pm with occasional night, weekend, and holidays.

Compressed/Flexible: Possible after training.

Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: 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).

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 #: 50415-F.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.