[Hiring] Pharmacy Technician @VA Western Colorado Health Care System

Role Description

Employees serve as a Pharmacy Technician in the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) Clinical Contact Center as part of an interdisciplinary healthcare team. The incumbent is efficient, motivated, and focused on customer satisfaction. This position is performed above the full performance level and includes a range of higher-level duties.

• Works collaboratively with VISN programs, services, and interdisciplinary team members to provide access to care and meet the needs of Veterans, their family members, and/or legal representatives via various available contact modalities including telephone calls, secure messaging, chat, text messaging, and video.
• Routinely reviews computer medication profiles for therapeutic duplication, prescription noncompliance, allergies, and drug reactions. Seeks assistance with identified individuals from a Clinical Pharmacist or supervisor for further evaluation, if needed.
• Processes and submits patient requests for new prescription orders and renewal requests, including controlled substances, into the computer accurately, thoroughly, and in a timely manner.
• Consistently documents patient contact and resolution in VISN CCC software and/or the Electronic Health Record (HER).
• Assists in the documentation of medication variances.
• Assists in training for lower graded technicians and technician students.
• Assists in the completion of workload for other VISN CCC Pharmacy Services in the event of natural disasters, low staffing, or other contingency needs.
• Performs all duties of lower graded technicians, if required.
• Actively and diligently treats all Veterans with respect and utmost dignity. Seeks to solve Veteran's concerns at first contact.
• Stays abreast of and consistently follows regulations, policies, and directives to ensure safe medication distribution.
• Actively supports VISN VA Health Connect team members in troubleshooting issues with CCC software systems, telephone software, and databases.
• Seeks assistance from designated Lead Technician, a pharmacist, or supervisor when responding to unusual questions or when reasonable attempts to satisfy a caller have been unsuccessful.
• Follows applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files.
• Participates in continuous daily improvement and VISN VA Health Connect initiatives.
• Completes additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Certification: Must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either:
  • Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).
  • National Health Career Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).
• Grandfathering Provision: A Pharmacy Technician employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (11/7/2023) is considered to have met all qualification requirements.

Requirements

• One year (1) of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-06).
• 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.

Benefits

• Part-Time 30 hours per week between 9:00am-5:30pm MST Monday-Friday.
• This position is eligible for Remote work and is exempted from return to office requirements.
• Remote employees are expected to provide a secure, distraction-free home-based worksite with reliable high-speed internet connectivity.
• Employees will be required to travel to the closest VA Medical Center or VA Outpatient Clinic for issuance of equipment, and as needed for technical support.