Career Center

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship
• Citizen of the United States
• (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g - this part.) 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
• GRADE DETERMINATIONS
• GS-13 Experience
• In addition to the GS-12 requirements - must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
• The clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) functions at the highest level of clinical practice - works independently under their scope of practice as defined by the individual medical center to directly care for patients
• A CPS plays a defined role in budgetary execution and serves as a mid-level provider who functions to initiate - modify or discontinue medication therapy and as a consultant for intensive medication therapy management services
• This includes - but is not limited to - the following: designing - implementing - assessing - monitoring and documenting therapeutic plans utilizing the most effective - least toxic and most economical medication treatments
• helping achieve positive patient centric outcomes through direct and indirect interactions with patients - providers - and interdisciplinary teams in assigned areas
• performing physical assessments
• and ordering laboratory and other tests to help determine efficacy and toxicity of medication therapy
• Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs: a
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions
• b
• Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area
• c
• Ability to solve problems - coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise
• d
• Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy
• e
• Advanced 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-13
• Physical Requirements: The work requires moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds pounds)
• reaching above the shoulder
• use of fingers
• both hands required
• standing (up to 8 hours)
• the ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• and near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to4
• There may be exposure to dry atmospheric conditions and constant noise
• You must be able to work alone and closely with others.

Duties

• A RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE IS AUTHORIZED The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) is assigned to the Anticoagulation Clinic
• The CPS will be consulted by the Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACTs) in the primary care clinics for anticoagulation management of complex patients with chronic diseases commonly seen in the primary care setting
• Functions of the position include: Customer Service
• Treat patient - team members - other facility employees - and visitors with respect
• Respond to the needs of the Veteran and staff in a courteous and timely manner
• Demonstrate appropriate and proactive interpersonal skills to achieve the goals of the service
• Act as a team member and is always supportive of the group's efforts
• Demonstrate an ability to work under a variety of circumstances to maximize group productivity and quality
• Clinical - Direct Patient Care Activities that require a scope of practice
• Face-to-face - video - and telephone encounters with referred patients for comprehensive medication management
• Function as a mid-level provider to design - implement - and monitor therapeutic drug plans to achieve definite outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers
• Order - perform - review - and analyze appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor and support the patient's drug therapy
• Follow-up with patients on lab or test results to discuss the plan of therapy - i.e
• changes in medication therapy - monitoring - and additional testing requirements
• Determine if a referral to the physician is necessary when disease progression occurs - or adverse drug events require treatment interventions outside of the CPS scope of practice
• Clinical - Indirect Patient Care Activities
• Identify patients who may benefit from comprehensive medication management through population management reports and during team huddles
• Review patient medication regimens for clinical effectiveness - drug selection - dosing - contraindications - side effects - potential drug interactions - and therapeutic outcomes as required
• Communicate findings with prescribers and provide appropriate alternatives to current treatment plans as needed
• Monitor and report drug errors - adverse drug reactions - allergies - and patient compliance issues
• Document findings per facility procedures
• Review and evaluate requests for non-formulary and restricted drugs for appropriateness and compliance with established criteria where applicable
• Education and Research
• Participate in training and in-service of pharmacists - pharmacy technicians - pharmacy students - pharmacy residents - and other staff on assigned teams
• Serve as preceptor for pharmacy students and pharmacy residents in accordance with established policies
• Assist in new employee orientation - competency assessments - and mentoring as required
• Drug Information
• Serve as an authority on drug usage - interactions - over-dosages - and compliance to medical staff - nursing staff - technicians - residents - and students
• Maintain current knowledge of therapeutics and disease management
• Provide timely and accurate responses to drug information inquiries from all customers
• Effectively instruct patients and family members in the appropriate use of medications and medical devices
• Program Management
• Coordinate and supervise all Anticoagulation Clinic activities
• Participate in the appropriate - effective - and safe use of pharmaceuticals by contributing to criteria development - data collection - and drug use evaluation and other quality improvement activities as assigned
• Adhere to all medical center and department policies and regulations
• Manage information security within areas of responsibility to assure computer system security and confidentiality of sensitive information is maintained - and that employee access to sensitive information is limited only to that which the employee requires to perform their duties
• Report and address violations of information security
• Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacy Champion
• Serve as the ASP co-leader with the ASP Provider Champion to provide clinical pharmacy antimicrobial stewardship subject matter expertise in the design - implementation - advancement - management - and function of the ASP
• Collaborate with the facility ASP provider champion to co-lead the implementation of facility-wide ASP activities based on nationally recognized guidelines and optimizing the facility's antimicrobial use and other metrics needed to identify areas for stewardship interventions
• Work Schedule: Mon - Fri - 8:00am to 4:30pm
• Telework: Not Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.