Career Center

Summary

The Oncology Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) delivers comprehensive medication therapy management of both acute and ambulatory care cancer patients. Designs - monitors - and adjusts therapeutic drug plans - evaluates lab results - ensures appropriate medication use - and manages adverse reactions. Educates patients and staff - supports telehealth - conducts research - and contributes to policy - compliance - and formulary initiatives while promoting safety and regulatory adherence.

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
• Education
• Graduate of an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited College or School of Pharmacy with a baccalaureate degree in pharmacy (BS Pharmacy) and/or a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree
• Verification of approved degree programs may be obtained from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education - 20 North Clark Street - Suite 2500 - Chicago - Illinois 60602-5109
• phone: (312) 664-3575 - or through their Web site at: http://www.acpe-accredit.org/
• NOTE: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program
• Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy.) Graduates of foreign pharmacy degree programs meet the educational requirement if the graduate is able to provide proof of achieving the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Commission (FPGEC) Certification - which includes passing the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEE) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT)
• Licensure
• Full - current and unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a State - Territory - Commonwealth of the United States (i.e. - Puerto Rico) - or the District of Columbia
• The pharmacist must maintain current registration if this is a requirement for maintaining full - current - and unrestricted licensure
• A pharmacist who has - or has ever had - any license(s) revoked - suspended - denied - restricted - limited - or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - section B - paragraph 16
• NOTE: Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct - professional incompetence or substandard care - or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the State for professional misconduct - professional incompetence - or substandard care - are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C. 7402(f))
• Effective November 30 - 1999 - this is a requirement for employment
• This requirement does not apply to licensed pharmacists on VA rolls as of that date - provided they maintain continuous appointment and are not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license - registration or certification
• Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• English Language Proficiency
• Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)
• 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)
• GS -13 Grade Determinations: Experience
• In addition to the GS-12 requirements - must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12)
• Experience at the GS-12 level includes: handling routine medication-related activities in accordance with local - Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) - and national policies and regulations
• These include - but are not limited to: reviewing - interpreting - and verifying medication orders for appropriateness
• processing and filling medication orders
• interacting with and making recommendations to other clinical staff regarding medication therapy ordered to ensure safe and effective care
• reviewing the patient's medications - allergies - labs - and other pertinent information from the medical record to identify and solve medication-related problems
• contacting providers as appropriate
• documenting recommendations and interventions
• providing refill extensions and partial medication supplies
• trucing health and medication histories
• performing medication reconciliation
• providing drug information
• assisting in formulary management including therapeutic substitutions - nonformulary reviews and medication usage evaluations
• documenting and assessing adverse drug events (ADEs)
• assisting in medical emergencies
• providing oversight of technical staff in all aspects of medication distribution - OR Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program
• Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions
• Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area
• Ability to solve problems - coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise
• Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy
• Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies - including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters
• Preferred Experience: Education/Training: PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Education/Training: PGY2 Residency in Oncology Pharmacy or PGY1 + 3 years >50% clinical experience in Oncology Certification: BCOP Experience: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (Oncology) - direct patient care with scope of practice Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the GS -13
• Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting - 15-44 pounds
• Moderate carrying - 15-44 pounds
• Reaching above shoulder
• Use of fingers
• Both hands required
• Walking (8 hours)
• Standing (8 hours)
• Kneeling (1 hour)
• Repeated bending (4 hours)
• Both legs required
• Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4
• Specific visual requirement (DVA Correctable to 20/40)
• Both eyes required
• Ability to distinguish basic colors
• Hearing (aid may be permitted)

Duties

• VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Major duties include - but are not limited to: Monitors patients admitted to the Medical Oncology and Hematology Services on a routine basis - evaluating all drug usage to maximize efficiency of drug therapy and minimize toxicity in the most cost-effective manner Independently or collaboratively designs and conducts clinical research trials related to oncology practice
• Maintains complete patient monitoring records on all patients
• Provides pharmacokinetics consultation for all drugs - which require monitoring of serum concentrations to assess efficacy and toxicity risk Evaluates laboratory parameters - physical assessment - and other diagnostic tests of patients receiving chemotherapy and makes therapeutic recommendations to the multidisciplinary team
• Assists in the management of the supportive care of cancer patients - including pain control - nausea/vomiting - hypercalcemia and infection Reviews all chemotherapeutic and anticancer biologic orders prior to initiation of therapy for indication - dose - frequency and dose adjusting for baseline organ dysfunction or toxicities while on treatment
• Coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes for tele-health program including management of health emergencies at remote site
• As required - the CPS will provide tele-health assessments and treatment provided by tele-work
• Assists in the training of new pharmacy staff and provides specialized education and training (in services) to nursing - pharmacy and physicians - concerning chemotherapy and the ancillary care of the cancer patient Serves as a liaison between oncology pharmacy and nursing - pharmacy services - oncology - hematology and other supportive services related to the care of the cancer patient Comply with safety and environmental rules and regulations for safe job performance
• Notify supervisor of all unsafe or unhealthful conditions in the workplace and works to eliminate such conditions
• Maintains licensure in good standing
• Completes continuing professional education required to maintain licensure and keep current with state of the art professional knowledge Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Available - ad-hoc in accordance with agency policies Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 51669F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized