Career Center

Summary

The Clinical Pharmacists is a licensed professional with knowledge and proficiency in pharmacy practice including pharmaceutics - pharmacokinetics - pharmacodynamics and pharmacotherapeutics. The incumbent is responsible for analyzing real and potential drug-related medical problems and implementing corrective action to ensure that patients receive optimal drug therapy.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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.) 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
• 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: GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist (Full Performance Level) Experience or Education
• In addition to the basic requirements - candidates must 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
• Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs): 1
• Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice
• 2
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff
• 3
• Knowledge of laws - regulations - and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security
• 4
• Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies - including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters
• Preferred Experience: Outpatient or retail pharmacy experience
• 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-12
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-12
• Physical Requirements: Light lifting and carrying (under 15 lbs.) - reaching above shoulder - use of fingers - both hands - walking - standing - repeated bending - and hearing (aid my be permitted).

Duties

• NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series
• For more information - refer to Required Documents below
• Clinical: Provides patient-specific therapeutic drug monitoring and communicates relevant findings and/or recommendations to other health care providers in charge of the patient both orally and in writing
• Recommends alternative therapeutic options in cases where drug therapies have failed to produce desired results
• Performs continuous evaluation of prescribed medications to assure optimal drug therapy
• Provides consultation and recommendations to providers concerning therapeutic management of individual patients
• Serves as a drug information resource by providing up-to-date drug information to prescribers - other health care professionals - patients - and caregivers
• Participates in chart reviews - evaluates pertinent laboratory data - drug interactions - monitors for adverse drug effects and screens for allergies
• Participates in the provision of pharmaceutical services for patients receiving outpatient prescriptions - unit-dose - and other complex therapies within the medical center
• Works closely with the provider - the patient and others to ensure an appropriate level of care is provided for patients
• makes suggestions to the provider for change - as appropriate
• Performs medication reconciliation during transitions of care - including updating the medication profile to reflect an accurate - active list of VA and non-VA medications
• Assess drug safety and efficacy - including evaluation of physical symptoms
• Reports adverse drug events (ADE) - near misses - and medication errors in alignment with reporting programs
• Participates in pharmacy and medical center quality assurance activities and medication use evaluation (MUE) program
• Completes Prior Authorization Drug Requests (PADR) as assigned and recommends formulary alternatives when appropriate
• Provides pharmacokinetic consultation - including adjustment of doses on the basis of renal function
• Maintains effective interdepartmental relationships by committee membership - active problem resolution skills and close cooperation with other services in accomplishing the medical center mission and goals
• Manages recalls and medication shortage situations by substituting alternate dosage strengths and instructions of the same medication to equal the prescribed dose and schedule
• Serves as a role model to pharmacy technicians and as a preceptor to pharmacy trainees
• Assumes an active role in staff development of peers and provides educational in-services to nursing - medical staff or to other ancillary services as assigned
• Keeps abreast of new developments in pharmacy practice and drug therapy by reading pharmacy and medical literature and participating in continuing education programs
• Dispensing: Interprets and verifies doctors' orders - performs patient medication profile review and provides drug and policy information to patients and medical center staff
• Consults with patients and medical center staff whenever there are questions concerning therapeutic or policy matters regarding outpatient prescriptions or inpatient orders
• Reviews all medication orders for appropriateness - drug selection - dosage - route of administration and the amount - prior to dispensing
• Ensures all medication orders are entered into the electronic patient medical record appropriately
• Reviews the patient's history of allergies and drug-drug - drug-nutrient - drug-laboratory and drug-disease state interactions
• Assures the accuracy of drug dispensing and medication profile review based on the patient history - good clinical practice - and other pertinent factors
• Reviews medication profiles and monitors for compliance or potential abuse
• Selects - re-constitutes - fills - and dispenses a range of drugs and supply items including controlled and non-controlled substances - special medication formulations - oncolytic agents - ward or clinic stock orders in both outpatient and residential treatment areas
• Maintains adequate drug stock - inspects drug storage areas - supervises prepacking and the operation of automated dispensing equipment
• Provides oversight of the professional activities of support personnel and checks all completed work for accuracy to assure the quality of the end product dispensed
• Ensures drugs dispensed are complete and correctly labeled and packaged in full compliance with Federal rules and regulations
• Maintains proper records for all transactions in a manner that is in compliance with medical center policies and federal regulations
• Works under general guidance and direction of the Associate Service Chief of Outpatient Pharmacy Operations
• Work Schedule: 8AM - 4:30PM - Monday - Friday 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