Clarification from the agency

Open to current, permanent federal employees of the Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Videos

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Routinely review computer medication profile for prescription duplication, therapeutic duplication, prescription noncompliance, and allergies/adverse drug reactions. Report identified patients to assigned Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner (CPP) for evaluation.
• Review clinical dashboard or laboratory monitoring reports and identify patients that require intervention. Report identified patients to assigned CPP for evaluation.
• Provide supplemental reinforcement education for patients concerning operational issues and need for therapy compliance.
• Document clinical and operational activities as assigned.
• Contact patients to remind them of labs, appointments, or other clinical reminders as assigned.
• Inform patients of lab results and CPP recommendations.
• Contact new patients enrolled in Clinical Pharmacy Clinics to conduct an initial medication reconciliation prior to first visit with CPP or primary care/specialty clinics.
• Conduct routine patient follow-up via telephone to obtain and assess information regarding medication compliance, allergies, adverse events, medication and dietary changes, recent illness, alcohol and tobacco use, medication refills/renewals, and upcoming procedures.
• Schedule in-person, telephone, and video conference appointments for CPPs.
• Assist with consult triage to appropriate specialty clinics.
• Triage patient messages in a timely manner.
• Complete accurate and timely documentation of patient interaction in CPRS via templated note, in compliance with business rules.
• Utilize clinical dashboards to assist CPPs with patient recruitment for disease state expansion based upon facility/specialty service line needs.
• Review specific patient data from dashboard and determine appropriateness of patient for management with the CPP.
• Identify target number of recruited patients per CPP clinic.
• Contact patients for recruitment utilizing dashboard and tracks progress.
• Maintain the medication inventory of the Ambulatory Clinics and order medications through the pharmacy Inventory Management Specialists or procurement technicians.
• Maintain clinic Omnicells by troubleshooting errors, resolving discrepancies and reporting malfunctions to appropriate pharmacy staff.
• Monitor and adjust par levels based on real time medication usage.
• Remove and properly dispose of expired medications.
• Check and maintain medication refrigerate temperatures if applicable.
• Perform Omnicell usage audits and report discrepancies to the CPP or appropriate pharmacy staff.
• Assists with triaging issues with Omnicell user accounts.
• Monitor for drug shortages of clinic medications and report shortages to the CPP in a timely manner.
• Participate in educational programs as assigned. Lectures and programs may include journal club, noon lecture series and staff development lectures.
• Maintain competence by participating in staff development programs.
• Provide in-service programs for the appropriate clinic personnel and pharmacy technicians as assigned.
• Successfully complete annual competency certifications based on specific clinical functions and assigned activities.
• Employee ensures productivity is maintained at the established level for the program for which he/she is responsible.
• Coordinate and/or conduct orientation and training for staff, technicians and/or trainees as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday from 8:am-4:30pm; tour may be adjusted to meet medical center and patient care needs.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000/Clinical Pharmacy Technician

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

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:

• 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: Pharmacy Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education or Experience:
  • None required.
  • For all grade levels and positions that accept both education and experience to qualify, equivalent combinations of qualifying education and experience that total at least 100% are qualifying. The combined percentage is determined by adding total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level to the education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level.
• 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). Pharmacy technicians employed in VHA on 11/7/2023, the effective date of this qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

• Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
• Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/ registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/ certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels.
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
• Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

Grade Determinations:
GS-08
Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-07.

AND

Certification: Must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either:

• PTCB as a CPhT. OR
• NHA as a ExCPT.

AND

Applicant must meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below:
1. Comprehensive knowledge of concepts, principles, methodology and policies in a specialized area or section of pharmacy (such as sterile compounding, controlled substances, automation, clinical pharmacy, contact center, etc.) Note: See Specialized Area.in the Definitions Section.
2. Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures.
3. Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy.


Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. VA Handbook Part II Appendix G28 Pharmacy Technician GS-0661-8.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08.

Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time, typing, walking distances within the medical center, lifting/ carrying (up to 40 pounds) of pharmaceutical supplies, and bending/stooping/stretching.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.