The VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), Pharmacy Service is looking for a specialized technician to prepare sterile products handled by the pharmacy, ensuring timely and accurate patient care while complying with all regulatory requirements.
Requirements
- Knowledgeable in United States Pharmacopeia (USP) 797/800/795, Pharmacy Law, VHA Directives, and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) regulations as they relate to practice within the VA Healthcare System and its organizational elements.
- Technical working knowledge of equipment and supplies used in compounding sterile products including but not limited to admixing pumps, needles, syringes, and various compounding supplies, etc.
- Working knowledge of position specific equipment including vertical and horizontal laminar flow hoods and all disposable supplies needed to compound sterile products.
- 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)
- 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.)
- Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures.
- Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy.
Responsibilities
- Using aseptic technique, compounds both complicated and uncomplicated parenteral admixtures in the form of large volume, small volume, infusion syringe or another modality as required.
- Prepares sterile ophthalmic preparations and other complex sterile pharmaceuticals such as total parenteral nutrition solutions.
- Correctly interprets orders, selects, and measures appropriate ingredients, mixes ingredients in an aseptic and effective manner, inspects the final product for accuracy, suitability, and elegance, labels the product, maintains records of the manufacturing process, and supplies the product for delivery.
- Consistently displays competence with good aseptic technique manufacturing practices through demonstration and/or actual work performance.
- Technical working knowledge of equipment and supplies used in compounding sterile products including but not limited to admixing pumps, needles, syringes, and various compounding supplies, etc.
- Operates and maintains complicated pharmacy equipment including but not limited to Omnicell™/Pyxis™, laminar flow hoods, total parental nutrition (TPN) compounder, repeater pumps, etc.)
- Ensures that the IV cleanrooms are cleaned daily, and appropriate logs are completed for daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning.
Other
- The incumbent is a highly specialized technician, who, under the authority of the Compound Sterile Products (CSP) program manager or designee, and responsible for the preparation of sterile products handled by pharmacy.
- The CSP pharmacy technician will perform sterile compounding functions to ensure timely and accurate patient care is provided.
- In addition, will comply with all regulatory requirements associated with sterile compounding.
- Expected to maintain a high degree of accurate productivity and performance while being extremely sensitive to specific contribution to total patient care.
- Knowledgeable with VA policy and regulatory requirements for handling and checking in shipments of drugs and supplies, as well as verifying accuracy of shipments, rotating stock and assures the proper storage of all items.
