This position functions primarily in Pharmacy Service and the outpatient care areas within the VA Medical Center and the Community Based Outpatient Clinics. 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. Citizen of the United States. English Language Proficiency. Medical Technologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Policy Education. 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. Grade Requirements: GS-06: Experience. Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the full performance level (GS-5), which is directly related to the position to be filled. Your resume should demonstrate specialized experience that reflects your ability to complete the duties of GS-6 Pharmacy Technician. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to the following including receiving prescriptions from patients in writing or electronically from physicians; prepare prescriptions by counting, pouring, weighing, measuring, and mixing the medication if necessary; maintain patient profiles, prepare insurance claim forms, stock, and take inventory of medications; prepare medications for inpatients in various settings, including sterile product preparation. Certification. Certification by the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is required. Knowledge, Skill & Abilities (KSA). You must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs: 1.Ability to solve problems and make recommendations, e.g., troubleshoot operational problems and refer for appropriate action. 2.Knowledge of the operation and care of automated equipment. 3.Knowledge of, and ability to follow, written instructions for compounding with aseptic technique for hazardous materials such as oncology agents. 4.Knowledge, and ability to perform, compounding with aseptic technique for routine sterile products. 5.Knowledge of policies and procedures for inventory management in specialized areas such as emergency carts. 6.Knowledge of the computerized prescription process demonstrated by the ability to input prescriptions and medication orders. Preferred Experience: Minimum of one year Pharmacy Service experience. A current certification from the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is required. References: VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G-28 Pharmacy Technician Qualification Standard Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. ["Duties of this position include, but are not limited to: a. Reads and interprets prescriptions, obtains proper medication or material in the proper strength and dosage form; determines proper amount and counts, pours, or measures the medications; affixes proper label; and records required data on Pharmacy's copy of prescription/order. After a final check by a pharmacist, dispenses medication in ambulatory care or discharge situations. b. Assists with inventory management and ordering of medicines. c. Collects drug use evaluation data for quality improvement purposes as required. d. Operates and maintains complicated pharmacy equipment. e. After prescription/order(s) are reviewed by a pharmacist for therapeutic propriety, reviews orders for technical accuracy and converts the order, if necessary, so that the item dispensed corresponds to the drug and dose ordered. f. Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution. Identifies basic therapeutic problems such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class and alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention. g. Assists in total quality improvement activities by participating in medical center and service process assessment and action teams and continually seeks to improve services. h. Monitors inventory needs in outpatient pharmacy, relays this information to the appropriate Pharmacy personnel. This also includes placing stock in proper storage areas, rotating stock on shelves, and removing/replacing outdated items. i. Provides training to new or existing staff so that these competencies are maintained. j. Performs all the duties of lower graded technicians, as required. k. Assists patients with \"script talk\" prescription refills. l. Provides patient education on pharmacy topics such as the requesting refill process, drug information sheets, and relaying judgmental questions to the pharmacist. m. As deemed necessary by the pharmacy supervisor, assists in other patient care areas (including inpatient pharmacy services) to maintain the consistency of overall pharmacy services. However, primary assignments of work schedule and tours would involve outpatient pharmacy services. Outpatient services may include such areas outpatient prescription filling, pharmacy phone triage, window prescription dispensing, narcotic vault assignments, or other areas that may develop from patient pharmacy needs. n. Monitors refrigerator temperature on a daily basis. o. Assists Controlled Substance Training for technicians, pharmacists, controlled substance inspectors, students etc. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday: 0700-1530, 0800-1630, 0830-1700, 0930-1800 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans?Readying Warriors and Caring for Heroes! This position is located within Surgical Services at the CAPT James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) in North Chicago, IL. The FHCC is a first-of-its-kind partnership between the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), and Department of Navy (DoN)/Department of Defense (DoD). It is larger than just a single facility, but rather it is a fully-integrated medical care facility with a single combined VA and Navy mission. The combined mission of the FHCC means active duty military and their family members, military retirees, and eligible veterans receive health care at this facility.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. Join the FHCC team of energetic, career-minded professionals! For additional information, click onhttp://www.lovell.fhcc.va.gov/index.asp.