Summary

The John D. Dingell VAMC is recruiting for a Clinical Pharmacist. The Pharmacist will function in Pharmacy Service. The clinical pharmacist is an unrestricted - fully licensed professional with knowledge and proficiency in pharmacy practice including pharmaceutics - pharmacokinetics - pharmacodynamics and pharmacotherapeutics who demonstrates a personal commitment to professional growth.

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: (1) 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.) (2) 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: Clinical Pharmacist GS-12 (Full Performance Level): Experience or Education: In addition to the basic requirements - candidates must meet one of the following: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) - or Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program
• Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSA's): Pharmacists assigned to this position must also demonstrate the following KSA's: 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
• 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
• Preferred Experience: One year Pharmacist 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 GS-12
• Physical Requirements: This position may require light to moderate lifting and carrying
• up to 44 pounds
• Requires routine standing - bending and stooping/squatting
• As needed - pushing - walking - standing - reaching over shoulder - use of fingers - both hands and legs required - walking and standing up to two hours per tour - near vision correctable at 13' to 16' to Jaeer 1 to 4 - far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other - hearing (aid permitted)
• Valid driver's license is required
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

Duties

• Processing Acts in a timely manner to clarify medication order with the prescriber
• Review and updates patient medication profiles for allergy information - outpatient and or inpatient pharmacy narrative and monitors for compliance or potential abuse
• Problems encountered shall be resolved in a timely manner
• Documents clinical activities and interventions with respect to outcomes
• Successful processing rate to aid pharmacy to maintain VHA and VAMC metrics of processing prescriptions within 5 days of order entry with an average of 60 prescriptions per hour based on VISTA data when processing prescriptions is the only function performed and at normal computer speed
• Problem prescriptions are addressed by processing - putting order on hold and active follow up within two business days
• Enters supply orders as appropriate for patient care
• Extends refills until next scheduled appointment under the provider's name per facility policy
• Process partial prescriptions as needed
• Proactively assesses prescribing patterns to promote the safe use of appropriate medication therapy as defined by VHA guidelines and formulary
• Administrative Adhere to all VA National - VISN - local service level policies and procedures in all aspects to ensure that Pharmacy maintains a continual state of readiness for internal environment of care rounds and external reviews including ASHP - Joint Commission - OIG - DEA - and other regulatory agencies
• Work efforts directed at goals and objectives of the department - facility - and service - Completes all assigned/required documentation or other assignments without intentional leave work for others Reporting metrics and measures in an accurate and timely manner Complies with National - VISN - and service level cost-containment efforts - provides support for data gathering
• May report quarterly results of outpatient label reprint and address change reports to Service Chief or designee
• Actively applies VA initiatives such as I-Care - Population Health - Strategic Analytics for Improvement and Learning (SAIL) - AIDET - DVAMS - relationship based care - high reliability organization - etc
• Reviews VHA Directives or other regulatory guidelines and contributes to gap analysis
• Create and or reviews job instruction sheets
• Participates with collateral duties that benefit the operational success of the pharmacy
• Demonstrate willingness to perform duties as deemed necessary by the supervisor
• Prioritizes all duties appropriately to ensure efficiency
• Clinical Provides appropriate selection of drug therapy based upon the pharmaceutical principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics Monitors for efficacy - side effects - and clinical outcomes - and advices prescribers and nursing staff as appropriate
• Provides patient-specific therapeutic drug monitoring - and communicates relevant findings and or recommendations to other providers both orally and in writing
• Conduct prospective review and intervention to assess drug safety and efficacy
• Provide medication counseling to patients and educates them on pertinent information and outcome
• Documents interviews with complete medication histories
• Serves as a drug information resource
• Participates in virtual patient care rounds as assigned
• Review charts - evaluates pertinent laboratory data - drug interactions - monitors for adverse drug effects and screens for allergies
• Perform medication reconciliation at all transitions of care
• Reports adverse drug events - near misses - and medication errors
• Recommends formulary alternatives as needed or requested
• Handles medication shortage situations by substituting alternate dosage strengths and instructions of the same medication to equal the prescribed dose and schedule
• Provides leadership in identifying and developing cost avoidance strategies
• Ensure that medication related issues are resolved as soon as possible to provide optimal care
• Education Responsible for maintaining professional competency by keeping abreast of current medical and pharmaceutical literature - new developments in pharmacy practice and new drugs and treatment plans and applies knowledge in daily duties
• Provides education to health care providers and support staff regarding medication use and or preparation
• Conducts just in time and on the job training as needed
• Must complete required continuing education credits to maintain full - unrestricted licensure to retain employment
• Work Schedule: 11:30am-8pm - 9:30am-6pm - 6:30am-3pm
• Alternating holidays/weekends
• Schedule may be subject to change based on the needs of the Agency
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 91422-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized