Pharmacy Technician

Summary

Pharmacy Technician (Inpatient Pharmacy Technician) position is for a certified pharmacy technician above the full performance level GS-7 at the Hershel "Woody" Williams VA Medical Center. Pharmacy technicians at this grade level are nationally certified by PTCB or ExCPT and can work autonomously, using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties. Pharmacy technicians above the full performance level can mentor and train lower grade technicians in the practice setting.

Duties

VA Careers - Pharmacy:

Pharmacy Technician (Inpatient Pharmacy Technician)

Duties include but not limited to:

Unit Dose:

• Maintains a knowledge of regulations, policies, and procedures regarding medication dispensing and possesses the ability to follow them to ensure safe medication distribution.
• Maintains a thorough working knowledge of the unit dose packaging automation, including use of the automation equipment, general service issues, quality assurance, and appropriate cleaning and servicing requirements. Possesses the ability to troubleshoot and assists in resolving any identified problems.
• Manually prepackages and labels any medications not packaged by the unit dose automation with accuracy in preparation for the pharmacist's check.
• Ensures that all unit dosed liquids, tablets or dispense units are complete with Manufacturer, Lot #, Expiration date, and readable barcode, according to policies, and have been verified by a pharmacist prior to dispensing.
• Fills new orders for pre-exchange items, bulk items, and missing doses timely and with accuracy. Delivers pre-exchange doses to wards and clinics in a timely manner.
• Enters pick list and ward stock into VISTA computer system daily and additional doses sent as needed.
• Maintains a working knowledge of trade, chemical and generic names, drug formulations, pharmacy and medical terminology in order to accurately interpret physician's orders.
• Answers telephone calls in the inpatient area and answers questions/assists in resolving pharmacy /medication issues as appropriate, or directs the call to the pharmacist or other appropriate person.
• Assumes an active role in the unit-dose portion of experiential learning for students, externs, interns, and residents.
• Complies with USP 800 standards for Handling of

Hazardous Drugs.

IV Medications/Sterile Products:

• Maintains knowledge of appropriate aseptic technique and USP 797 regulation, policies and, procedures, and applies this knowledge when preparing and dispensing compounded sterile preparations.
• Fills IV orders with accuracy and in a timely manner.
• Performs cleaning of the IV hoods and other clean room areas as appropriate.
• Assigns appropriate beyond-use dates to all prepared products, in compliance with USP 797 and local policies.
• Maintains proper storage of sterile preparations and properly labels sterile products with appropriate auxiliary labels.
• Maintains a thorough working knowledge of the IV label printer.

Ward Stock:

• Maintains a thorough working knowledge of the Automated Dispensing Cabinets (ADCs) (i.e., Omnicell) located on the wards and clinics, including use of the automation and required policies and procedures for stocking the automation. Possesses the ability to troubleshoot and assists in resolving any identified problems.
• Responsible for restocking the correct item in the correct automated dispensing equipment location with the correct expiration date.
• Labels vials and IV bags accurately and with correct auxiliary stickers, e.g. High Alert, Do Not Use After, etc.
• Delivers ward-stocked medication items to the appropriate wards and clinics in a timely manner when needed or requested to maintain adequate stock for patient care.

Outpatient Prescriptions:

• Maintains a working knowledge of the ScriptPro system in order fill, label, and batch prescriptions.
• Fills and batches outpatient prescriptions for the pharmacist to check as needed when outpatient pharmacy is closed.

Emergency Carts:

• Maintains a working knowledge of the stocking of crash carts and emergency medication boxes.
• Utilizes approved crash cart list to fill crash cart trays to be checked by the pharmacist.
• Makes sure that filled crash cart medication trays are available at all times and crash carts are promptly restocked.

Miscellaneous

• Assists supervisor with assigned quality assurance and performance improvement projects and initiatives.
• Assists procurement clerk to ensure appropriate inventory and ordering as medications are used daily, including checking for expired medications as assigned.
• Trains and mentors new pharmacy technicians, as well as pharmacy students and pharmacy technician students.

Work Schedule: Varies based on the needs of the Service

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: F

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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