Pharmacy Technician - Quality Assurance
Summary
Performs quality assurance for pharmacy operations, including audits, compliance checks, and medication safety monitoring in a government healthcare setting.
Pharmacy Technician - Quality Assurance is a specialized position responsible for supporting quality program within Pharmacy Service. Primary responsibilities involve support of the Integrated quality program in compliance with audits, administrative duties, patient safety activities, and quality/performance improvement initiatives.
Collects data, analyzes, prepares reports, and presents results for routine safety, performance, and regulatory compliance monitoring or as needed for the plan-do-study-act cycle of ongoing quality improvement initiatives and medication use evaluations. Coordinates gathering of information from subject matter experts to support real or mock reviews by regulatory and accrediting organizations. Conducts unannounced and scheduled inspections of pharmacy and medical center drug storage, preparation, or dispensing areas to assess continuous readiness, including compliance with environment of care, infection control, medication security/storage standards, and national directives, local policies, procedures, and standards of work. Monitors for potential issues related to medication safety and compliance, particularly involving high-risk, look-alike/sound-alike, or high-cost medications, including controlled substances, and communicates identified concerns to appropriate Pharmacy Service leadership Maintains awareness of and properly shares organization's official guidance, including directives, policies, and procedures particularly those related to medication handling. Attends routine meetings related to quality management in Pharmacy Service, including for the Pharmacy Performance Improvement (PI) Committee, Interdisciplinary Medication Safety Committee, VISN 22 Medication Safety Team, National Center for Patient Safety (NCPS) Collaborative, or other committee/workgroup meetings as identified by the Chief, Associate Chief(s), or Integrated Quality Program Manager Develops agendas, collates meeting materials, then records and distributes meeting minutes for the Pharmacy Performance Improvement (PI) Committee, Interdisciplinary Medication Safety Committee meeting, and for other quality-related committee/workgroup meetings. Sustains Pharmacy Service-owned forms and documents posted electronically on the network drive/SharePoint and/or printed and posted in the pharmacy or other medication storage areas Manages electronic communication, including via instant message or email, efficiently and professionally Researches medication-related errors and/or close calls reported through the Joint Patient Safety Reporting (JPSR) system Actively participates in root cause analysis (RCA) or healthcare failure mode and effect analysis (HFMEA) activities as assigned by the Chief, Associate Chief(s), or Integrated Quality Program Manager Assists with implementation of risk mitigation strategies identified through review of medication errors or participation in RCA/HFMEA activities Facilities lean projects appropriate for the scope of a pharmacy technician Actively participates in Gemba huddles and quality/performance improvement projects as assigned by the Chief, Associate Chief(s), or Integrated Quality Program Manager Assists with implementation of rapid experiments in the plan-do-study-act cycle of ongoing initiatives Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00AM - 4:30PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
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.