Career Center

Summary

The facility - complexity level 1b - has a diverse teaching - research - medicine - and transplant hospital and an extensive - multisite Ambulatory Clinic Program. The duties of this position include the provision of clinical services for effective and rational drug therapy to improve patient outcomes in the ambulatory care and inpatient medical/surgical/mental health practice areas.

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: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)
• 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.) (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) OR Must be a graduate of a foreign pharmacy degree program that meets 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)
• (DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED) 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
• (MUST PROVIDE A COPY OF LICENSURE) 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).Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements above - applicants must meet the following grade requirements
• Clinical Pharmacy Specialist Experience - GS-12: You must have completed 1 year of current creditable experience at the next lower level (GS-11) or equivalent - which is directly related to the position to be filled? In addition to the basic requirements - candidates must also meet one of the following: 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level - or Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program
• AND In addition to the experience listed above - the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist must demonstrate the following KSAs: A
• Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice
• B
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff
• C
• Knowledge of laws - regulations - and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security
• D
• Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies - including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters
• Creditable Experience: To be creditable - the experience must have demonstrated the use of knowledge - skills - and abilities associated with professional pharmacy practice
• Professional practice means paid/non-paid employment as a professional or unlicensed graduate pharmacist as defined by the appropriate licensing board
• Residency and fellowship training programs in a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice may be substituted for creditable experience on a year-for-year basis
• The pharmacy residency program must be accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
• A fellowship program that is not accredited by the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) will need to have comparable standards for experience to be creditable (Professional Standards Board refers to the Deputy Chief Consultant for Professional Practice for the determination)
• Quality of Experience: Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to pharmacy experience at the next lower level
• Experience as a Graduate Pharmacist is creditable provided the candidate was used as a professional pharmacist (under supervision) and subsequently passed the appropriate licensure examination
• Part-time Experience: Part-time experience as a professional pharmacist is credited according to its relationship to the full-time workweek
• For example - a pharmacist employed 20 hours a week - or on a 1/2-time basis - would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13
• Physical Requirements: It is VA policy to ensure that all selected applicants and employed personnel are physically - cognitively - and emotionally fit to perform the duties of the position to which assigned
• It is also the policy of VA to assist employees through the EAP for biopsychosocial issues which affect employee performance and/or conduct as well as problems related to alcohol or drug abuse.

Duties

• VISN 12 is committed to fostering and sustaining an environment which celebrates diversity - provides equitable opportunities for employment and promotion - and supports inclusiveness in our culture
• Together - we strive to create and maintain working and learning environments that promote professional growth and teamwork - and are inclusive - equitable and welcoming
• We embrace our differences as individuals and unite as a team toward a common goal: to serve our nation's Veterans
• Functions of Position A
• Clinical Practice Evaluates orders for appropriateness and drug interactions - allergies - adverse reactions - and duplicate therapy
• Intervenes with physicians and other staff members for rational - safe - and effective drug therapy and documents interventions
• Knows and follows formulary guidelines and ensures therapeutic and cost-effective alternatives to non-formulary drugs
• Monitors drug therapy and provides information to other health professionals
• Accountable for medication reconciliation according to procedure
• Provides age-appropriate care to adult and/or geriatric patients
• B
• Distributive Functions Serves as a Pharmacy Service resource on inpatient and outpatient pharmacy services including CBOCs
• Oversees control and inventory of Controlled Substances
• Reviews service connection for appropriate costs and payment and applies VA local standards for appropriate dispensing and filling
• Assists with inventory control and appropriate purchasing practices
• Accurately compounds - dispenses medications and provides pharmaceutical care in accordance with departmental policies and procedures
• Participates in maintaining quality control of pharmacy products
• Follows all aseptic preparation standards for sterile and hazardous drugs and ensures technician follow same standards
• C
• Administrative Dispenses and provides pharmaceutical care accurately and efficiently
• Serves as a liaison with providers for formulary management issues and act as a liaison between Pharmacy Service and other health care providers
• Actively participate on intradepartmental committees and workgroups when requested
• Participates in and evaluates quality improvement programs in the pharmacy and related departments
• Ensures that VA - hospital and service policies are followed
• Participates and assists in educational programs for staff - nursing - medicine - employees - patients and the community
• VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Work Schedule: Full-time - primarily days with rotating off tour and weekend coverage Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 06556F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized