Pharmacy Technician - Multiple Inpatient Specialties

Description:

Join us in shaping the future at the brand-new James Mountain Inhofe VA Medical Center! We're seeking talented Allied Health professional to make a difference in Veteran care. In 2021, Congress approved federal funding for a new Veterans Hospital in Tulsa which will be the first hospital to be built under the Communities Helping Invest through Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act of 2016.

Requirements:

Specialty Specific Job Duties and Responsibilities:

Sterile Compounding Tech Duties:

• Preparation of sterile intravenous (IV) medications following strict aseptic techniques and guidelines.
• Adherence to protocols and safety standards, including United States Pharmacopeia (USP) guidelines such as USP <797> and USP <800> , while maintaining cleanroom conditions and using proper personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Regular cleaning and disinfecting of compounding areas, such as laminar airflow workbenches and biological safety cabinets, and ensuring proper maintenance and calibration of all equipment used in sterile compounding.
• Accurate documentation of all compounding activities, including batch records, preparation logs, quality control checks, and inventory management, in compliance with regulatory requirements and organizational policies.
• Participation in quality assurance activities, such as environmental monitoring, process validation, and periodic competency assessments, to ensure adherence to high standards of safety and efficacy.

Controlled Substance Technician Duties:

• Inventory management: Maintain accurate records of all controlled substances, including receiving, dispensing, and tracking inventory to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and to prevent diversion or theft.
• Security and access control: Ensure the secure storage of controlled substances in the vault, limiting access to authorized personnel only and following all security protocols to safeguard the medications.
• Dispensing controlled substances: Accurately fill and dispense controlled substance prescriptions and orders, ensuring proper documentation and adherence to all applicable laws, regulations, and organizational policies.
• Regulatory compliance: Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) guidelines, by performing regular audits, reconciliations, and reporting any discrepancies or incidents promptly.
• Collaboration and communication: Work closely with pharmacists, healthcare providers, and other regulatory staff to coordinate the proper use, storage, and documentation of controlled substances, and to address any issues or concerns related to controlled substances management.

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.
  • Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English.
• Certification: For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either
  • Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).

OR

• 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).


GS 9- Grade Determinations: (Above the Full Performance Level) GS 9

Experience:

• In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must possess at least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-08).

GS 9 Knowledge Skills and Abilities-

• In addition to meeting the to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment, if indicated:
  • Expert knowledge serving as a key resource advising others in their particular specialty area or section of the pharmacy (such as procurement, sterile compounding (USP compounding standards), controlled substances DEA, automation, clinical pharmacy, lead tech, contact center, etc.).
  • Skill in analyzing data for self-driven (independent) performance improvement projects, workload analysis and statistical reports.
  • Skill in solving problems and implementing corrective actions to maximize outcomes in their program area.
  • Ability to maintain special accreditations and prepare for national reviews/inspections (e.g., The Joint Commission, Inspector General, American Society of Health System Pharmacists®, controlled substance inspections).
  • Ability to develop training programs and material for orientation, competency development and educational needs for regulatory requirements within the specialized pharmacy program area

Preferred Experience:

• Sterile Compounding Technician - 1 year of Sterile Compounding experience
• Controlled Substance Pharmacy Technician - 1 year of pharmacy tech experience with duties that demonstrate an understanding of the rules and regulations governing handling of controlled substances including security, inventory requirements, and documentation.

Reference : For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ .

This vacancy is being announced Above the Full Performance Level GS-9.

Physical Requirements: Moderate or extended periods of sitting, standing, walking, bending, stooping, stretching, reaching, lifting, pushing, and pulling. This occasionally involves lifting moderately heavy items (30 pounds). The employee must possess average agility and dexterity