Summary This position is located within the Miami VA Healthcare System within the Pharmacy Service. This position 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 other area as assigned by the supervisor. The position includes independent judgment and team assignments as they relate to pharmacy services and the care of the Veteran. Responsibilities The position includes independent judgment and team assignments as they relate to pharmacy services and the care of the Veteran. Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: Medication Distribution System 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 with regard to drug, strength, quantity, or appropriate supply item. Dispenses medications 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. Maintains highly sophisticated pharmacy equipment. This includes cleaning procedures and maintenance of ADM's and other counting machines. Troubleshoots equipment and databases when needed. Assists with automated or manual inventory processes that include but are not limited to inventory counts, medication ordering, stocking, checking for outdates, pulling outdates, pulling recalled medications, inspections or any other activity related to the supply of VA medications. Accurately interprets EHRM patient medication profiles. Is able to confirm prescription information in the Pharmacy computer packages. Able to execute refills or other technician duties within the pharmacy software. Accurately or updates patient information in the many pharmacy software packages such as ADM's and EHRM. Comprehends and participates in procurement activities, inventory management, narcotic dispensing, secure messaging, overnight mail, partial fills, window dispensing, administrative reports, prescription review, and incident reports as delegated by supervisor. Prioritizes workload to complete assignments on time. Pharmacy Phone System Maintains appropriate phone etiquette and professionalism. Able to work independently in phone center locations. Accurately collects and clarifies patient information. Capable of synthesizing patient information to identify basic therapeutic, distributive, or medication related problems. Communicates information accurately in the electronic health record or other formats. Completes calls and as needed follow up in a timely manner. Mail Packing Understands and uses the mail shipping programs used by the facility (i.e., USPS, FedEx, UPS) for priority shipping of non-controlled and controlled prescriptions. Performs searches, updates patient information, and generates shipping reports as requested by the supervisor. Contacts patients to arrange shipment of refrigerated prescriptions and verifies patient's address for accuracy. Packages prescriptions appropriately, to assure that packages are not damaged during transit (i.e., use of bubble wrap, sufficient ice blocks, insulated containers). Medication Management System 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. This includes being ready for their tour of duty at the start of their shift, and being on time as they return from lunch, breaks, or other assigned meetings and activities. Controlled Substances (CS) Accurately maintains a rolling inventory in automation and performs a complete inventory every 72 hours per VA guidelines. Matches hardcopy prescriptions to prescription labels according to current federal and state requirements in a timely fashion. Monitors prescription orders for dispensing accuracy and communicates potential problems to supervisor. Performs equipment maintenance on automation as directed. Complies with all laws, regulations, directives, policies, and procedures that apply to the dispensing, storage, transfer, inventory, and accountability of controlled substances. Automation Knows the basic procedures to run the automated prescription filling machines. Uses handheld scanner and/or scale to load and re-stock canister with correct medication using NDC and barcodes. Uses equipment specialized software programs including but not limited to exceptions manager, inventory, and reports to assure proper utilization and resolve operational issues. Provides equipment maintenance to include cleaning and archiving data. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, between 8:00 am - 8:00 pm, with rotating shifts, weekends, holidays & evenings. Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 30958F Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a trial period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Qualifications 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 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 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). 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). Grandfathering Provision. Pharmacy technicians employed in VHA 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 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. Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials GRADE REQUIREMENTS Pharmacy Technician, GS-07 Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower (GS-6) grade level. Certification. For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board as a CPhT. Or, The National Healthcareer Association as a ExCPT. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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. Preferred Experience. Previous pharmacy technician experience in an outpatient setting. This position is above Full Performance Level. Reference. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements. The work requires some physical exertion such as long periods of standing, walking, stooping, stretching, and lifting moderately heavy items. Standing and walking could include periods of up to 60 minutes which can include escorting patients throughout the facility. Lifting could include items up to 40 pounds. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
