Pharmacy Technician

Summary

This is an Inpatient Pharmacy Technician position located at the Central Alabama Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHCS) in the Pharmacy service.

Duties

VA Careers - Pharmacy:

This position functions primarily in the inpatient care areas and the Pharmacy Service within the VA Medical Center. The incumbent practices as a Pharmacy Technician in the Inpatient Pharmacy of Central Alabama VA Medical Center. The incumbent is expected to know and perform the following duties:

1. 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.
2. For unit-dose medications, performs final review of medication when prepared by another technician, to be dispensed to inpatient areas (med-carts, ward stock), and/or fills unit-dose carts independently without secondary review when necessary.
3. Inventories and replenishes emergency carts with appropriate medications and supplies.
4. Collects drug use evaluation data for quality improvement purposes as required.
5. Operates and maintains complicated pharmacy equipment such as unit dose prepackaging machines, automatic dispensing machines, IV compounding machines and other pharmacy devices. Able to troubleshoot the equipment and the technology platforms/databases
6. Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile).
7. 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.
8. Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel with regard to drug distribution procedures and timeframes for delivery.
9. 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.
10. Conducts ward inspections of patient care areas.
11. Maintains, verifies, stocks, and replaces outdates in patient care areas and the areas' automated dispensing machines.
12. Ensures all look alike, sound alike, high alert, refrigerated medications are stored properly according to manufactures recommendations and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) requirement.
13. Monitors inventory needs in-patient care areas, relays this information to the appropriate Pharmacy personal. This also includes placing stock in proper storage areas, rotating stock on shelves and removing/replacing outdated items.
14. Maintains a training/education manual for the focus area assigned.
15. Provides training and mentorship to new or existing staff.
16. Monitors refrigerator temperature on a daily basis in pharmacy service.
17. Assists with inventory management and ordering of medicines and supplies.
18. Performs all the duties of lower graded technicians, if required.
19. Understands requirements of USP 795, USP 797, USP 800, disposal of hazardous materials, safe medication distribution and electronic prescription processing
20. Deliver medication stock to offsite Community Based Outpatient Clinics.
21. Perform all other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Rotating Monday-Friday, 7:00am-3:30pm, 8:00am-4:30pm, 10:30am-7:00pm, including weekends and holidays

Telework: Not eligible for Telework

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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