Pharmacy Technician (Clinical)

Overview

 

Pharmacy Technician (CLINICAL) (GS-0661-07) - Ft Cavazos, TX

 

Fort Cavazos is located in the beautiful 'hill and lake' country of Central Texas between Killeen and Copperas Cove and is approximately 60 miles north of the capital city of Austin, 50 miles south of Waco, 160 miles south of Dallas, and 150 miles north of San Antonio.

Founded in 1942, this 340-sq.-mile military base is the Army's Premier Installation to train and deploy heavy forces.

A 214,968 acre installation, Fort Cavazos is now the largest active duty armored post in the U.S. Armed Forces and the only post in the United States capable of stationing and training two Armored Divisions.

The rolling, semi-arid terrain is ideal for multifaceted training and testing of military units and individuals.  Additionally, the Killeen community is a model of support for Army families. There are lots of resources and networks available to assist you.

 

Working for the Department of Defense comes with an abundance of benefits and perks to include competitive compensation packages, paid-time off, medical benefits, student loan repayments, and retirement package with Thrift Savings Plan to include matching employer contributions.  For more information, please visit the following link: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/benefits/

 

Responsibilities

Serves as Clinical Pharmacy Technician in the Clinical Pharmacy Section performing duties as assigned by the Clinical Service Chief or designated clinical pharmacist. Also serves as a dispensing pharmacy technician in the Outpatient Pharmacy, Inpatient Pharmacy, and/or Refill Pharmacy performing final checks on medication orders, prescriptions presented for refilling and new prescriptions that have previously been reviewed by a pharmacist.

 

1. Receives and reviews prescriptions, using knowledge of general principles of pharmaceutical practices that include legal requirements, prescription restrictions, identification of controlled and non-controlled substances. Receives and reviews prescriptions for the full range of pharmaceuticals to include controlled drugs on the formulary. Determines type of substance, strength, dosage, and quantity to be dispensed in accordance with accepted practice and pharmacy standing operating procedures (SOPs). Performs final check on refilled prescriptions and new prescriptions that have been screened and verified by a pharmacist. Ensures correct medication is placed in a properly labeled container and dispensed to the correct customer. Consults with prescriber or pharmacist to clarify issues or problems with dosing, interactions, or instructions. Receives, reviews, fills, labels, and sets aside for a final check by a pharmacist when prescriptions have not been previously screened and verified. Provides information to patients on proper use of medications, referring questions requiring professional knowledge and experience to a registered pharmacist. Enters prescriptions into outpatient computer system, reviewing profile for allergies, drug/drug or drug/food interactions, and for duplicate orders.

2. Performs administrative requirements for clinical pharmacists including: managing daily appointment schedules for patients in anticoagulation clinic, PCMH and Wounded Warrior; manages consults generated by provider staff to ensure they are assigned to an appropriate clinical pharmacist as needed; gathers metrics data, then produce the monthly pharmacy metrics report, update clinical pharmacy announcements (via email, social media, etc.); coordinates peer review process. Assists on the preparation and scheduling of patients appointments by drafting a medication list of each patient. Performs medication reconciliation for patients in Emergency Department. Assists in the preparation of educational materials for patients and health care professionals. Incumbent uses a variety of computer programs, selecting the most appropriate type, to complete projects assigned. Uses word processing to help prepare newsletters for hospital staff, using knowledge of programs to enhance the presentation of the data (e.g. varying style and pitch of type within text and headings, adjusting size and shape of pages to fit publication, adding text boxes or using shading to highlight articles, adjusting columns to best fit information, etc.). Corrects grammar, spelling, and punctuation, referring questions regarding content to originator. Uses own judgment in preparation of patient education displays to provide appealing, educational material.

 

3. Assists clinical pharmacist in data collection for Drug Use Evaluations and for Medication Use Indicators for patients (drug level monitoring, serum creatinine monitoring, etc.) as assigned. Incumbent uses knowledge of medical terminology, laboratory analyses, and computer skills for the collection and analysis of data. Uses knowledge of computer programs for the creation of data collection forms, entry of data into database, and evaluation and analysis of data for the preparation of reports. Assists in the retrieval of medical records for review as necessary for task(s) assigned. Applies knowledge of the functional capabilities of different software types to select the most appropriate software for each project/report. Assists clinical pharmacist in clinic duties as assigned, including patient and health care professional contact via phone, entry of information into patient databases, chart review, laboratory collection and analysis, drug information. Exercises tact when dealing with professional staff and patients, using appropriate language. Answers routine inquiries from physicians, nurses and other staff on availability of specific items, stocked strengths and available forms of medications.

 

4. Receives, reviews, prepares, and fills physician orders for intravenous (I.V.) solutions, other parenterals, inpatient unit dose orders, prescriptions, controlled substances orders, and bulk drug orders. Performs final check for sterile products, unit dose orders, replenishment of emergency medication carts, controlled drug orders, and bulk drug orders to medication use areas within the facility. Reviews orders for compatibility and additives and converts instructions into proper units and measures. Prepares the full range of sterile products and performs pharmaceutical calculations for a wide variety of preparations. Calculates the quantity of solution required based on concentration, interaction, dosage, number of doses, loss in processing, etc. Ensures strict adherence to sterile procedures and correct operation and maintenance of equipment. Enters medication orders into inpatient computer system, reviews orders for allergies, drug/drug or drug/food interactions and duplicate orders. Responsible for the safe handling, preparation, storage, and disposal of cyto toxic and hazardous drugs. PERFORMS OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED

 

Conditions of Employment

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• A Personnel Security Investigation is required.
• Selectees will be required to sign a statement (Condition of Employment) consenting to seasonal influenza vaccinations or must provide a recognized exemption.
• This position is a Testing Designated Position subject to pre-employment screening and random drug testing. Selectees will be required to consent to participation in random drug urinalysis testing.
• A pre-placement medical examination is required.
• Moderate to heavy lifting up to 45 pounds may be required.
• Immunization screening is required. Hepatitis B immunization is required for all positions with direct patient contact. Applicants may be required to show proof of other immunizations depending on the type of position.
• This position may require rotating shifts (i.e. work schedule that requires employees to continuously rotate from one shift to another at predetermined intervals).
• This position may include shift work (evenings, weekends, holidays).
• This position may require the incumbent to work weekends and/or holidays.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens

 

In order to qualify, you must meet the  education and/or experience requirements described below. 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; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application.

 

Basic Requirements for Pharmacy Technician:

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes  filling prescriptions, distributing medications, and utilizing a pharmacy based computer system and specialized knowledge of principles related to controlled substances and the requirements of medical center policy and Federal and State regulations which apply to these drugs.    OR Education: One full year of graduate level education in a field directly related to the work of the position, such as pharmacology. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18. Add the two percentages.

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.