Career Center

Summary

A Clinical Pharmacist (Quality Assurance) works in a VA Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy (CMOP) - a highly automated mail outpatient pharmacy that handles medication assessment and verification of prescription orders transmitted electronically from host sites and prepared for shipment in accordance with local and national CMOP policies and federal regulations. The primary function of this position is to support - assess - monitor and document the quality of services provided.

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
• 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
• Exception: Non-licensed pharmacists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment at the entry level as a Graduate Pharmacist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B)
• The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed 2 years for a pharmacist that provides care under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist
• For grade levels above the GS-11 - the candidate must be licensed
• Failure to Obtain License: In all cases - pharmacists must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure starting from the date of their appointment
• At the time of appointment - the supervisor will provide the unlicensed pharmacist with the written requirement to obtain licensure - the date by which the license must be acquired - and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline
• Failure to become licensed within 2 years from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0660 Pharmacist series and may result in termination of employment
• Grandfathering Provision: All licensed pharmacists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: Employees grandfathered into the GS-0660 occupational series may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level - or changed to lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration - that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• If a licensed pharmacist who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation - the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
• Grade Determinations:GS-11 Pharmacist Experience - Education - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• (NOTE: See exception to licensure requirement in subparagraph above.) Assignment
• Pharmacists at this grade level serve in a developmental capacity
• 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 and (b) possess a baccalaureate degree in pharmacy (BS Pharmacy) from an ACPE accredited institution - OR Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program
• Assignment: Assignment
• A pharmacist in this assignment handles 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
• taking 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
• Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs): Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff
• Knowledge of laws - regulations - and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security
• Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies - including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters
• 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
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Major Duties (include but are not limited to): Data Management Produces reports to CMOP management - local committees - host sites - and the National CMOP Program to support exceptional organizational performance
• Uses basic quality and analytical techniques to process internal and external data and make recommendations for improvement
• Develops and maintains a basic knowledge of databases and the pertinent CMOP local and central databases
• Works with established systems to effectively extract - analyze - store - and trend data and provide reports to management in a timely manner
• Patient Safety Assists in investigation of errors reported through the National CMOP Web Application - telephone reports from host sites - and internal error reporting systems
• Uses established systems for monitoring internal and external error data for trends
• Upon discovery - immediately reports to the Director through appropriate supervisory channels - any issues posing significant or imminent risks to patient safety
• Assist in preparing local - national quality assurance reports on a scheduled or ad hoc basis
• Produces reports for CMOP management which provides identification of trends to optimize medication dispensing safety
• Performance Improvement Demonstrates general understanding and ability to apply performance improvement methods such as Lean Six Sigma - Project Management - or others as indicated by local or national CMOP guidance
• Assists in implementing principles of established performance improvement methodologies support projects and accomplish organizational goals
• Automation Support Stays current regarding new pharmacy automated dispensing technology
• Monitors performance of the automated dispensing equipment - communicates issues - progress and status to Supervisory Pharmacist to ensure optimal performance - safety - and workflow
• Provides leadership and guidance to individuals working with the automated processing equipment - including establishing guidelines for performance - reviewing accuracy - quality and efficiency of general workflow
• Assists in developing policies - procedures - and training guidelines for the proper use and maintenance of automated dispensing systems
• Accreditation/ Regulatory Compliance Effectively interacts with accreditation and regulatory officials and reports data as required
• utilizes established data management tools to ensure continuous survey readiness
• Supports continuous survey readiness activities - including but not limited to: supporting alignment of local survey readiness with the national CMOP program - maintaining a working knowledge of The Joint Commission (TJC) standards which impact CMOP - and assisting in completion of all accreditation process requirements in a timely manner
• Effectively communicates with management and participates in development and implementation of appropriate organizational responses when indicated by current performance or changes in standards or regulations
• Inventory/Product Line Support/Liaison Stays current regarding new pharmaceutical therapies - developing standards of pharmacy practice and advances in information technology
• Identifies opportunities for increased dispensing efficiency related to product movement - viable pack sizes - re-distribution among systems and sub-systems and makes recommendations to the Supervisory Pharmacist or Logistics Manager
• Provides quality assurance guidance for replenishment activities of pharmacy technicians regarding automated dispensing equipment
• Participates in coordination of inventory management/procurement in an effort to meet CMOP initiatives
• Reviews backorder report and takes action to ensure timely processing Prepares CMOP shortage report for internal and external use
• Administrative/Program Support Performs the full range of Clinical Pharmacist (Production) duties as needed
• Assists in developing and maintaining local policies - procedures - and training tools to ensure compliance with current standards and regulations
• Develops and communicates understanding of laws - regulations - accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security
• Education Stays current regarding new pharmaceutical therapies - developing standards of pharmacy practice and advances in information technology
• Actively seeks educational advancement areas
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 2:30pm - 11:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 70070A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized