Clinical Pharmacy Specialist

Summary The CPS is a fully license pharmacist that is eligible for credentialing as a licensed independent provider with prescribing privileges as outlined in their individual scope of practice.

The primary responsibility of the CPS is the provision of evidence-based pharmaceutical care services through care of patients and consultation with other providers on their team, when needed.

The CPS functions at the highest level of clinical practice and primarily works independently.

Responsibilities VA Careers - Pharmacy: Clinical - Direct Patient Care Activities - Core functions include face-to-face, video and telephone encounters with referred patients, for comprehensive medication management in practice areas identified in their individual scope of practice.

- Functions as a mid-level provider to design, implement, and monitor therapeutic drug plans to achieve definite outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned areas.

- Orders, performs, reviews, and analyzes appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor and support the patient's drug therapy.

- Follows-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.

- Performs physical assessment and medication reconciliation in alignment with established policies or procedures - Ordering, monitoring, and interpreting laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor and support the patient's drug therapy.

- Responsible for providing evidence-based pharmaceutical care and consultation - Prescribing, monitoring, and adjusting non-controlled adjunct medications as needed Coordinating, encouraging and monitoring involvement and participation in psychosocial and psychotherapy as indicated.

- Communicating with team for next steps and coordination of care which may include ensuring needed appointments are scheduled, triaging unscheduled visits and facilitating urgent appointments with provider team members when necessary.

- Accepts urgent or same day patient visits including, but not limited to, patient medication review for polypharmacy, recent hospital or emergency department discharges, and co-managed care patients.

- Reviews patient medication regimens for clinical effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, potential drug interactions, and therapeutic outcomes as required.

- Interviews patients and or review patient medical record to identify or validate drug allergy information and is responsible for documentation into electronic health record allergy field.

Clinical - Indirect Patient Care Activities - Identify patients who may benefit from comprehensive Medication management through population management reports and during team huddles or meetings - Reviews and completes clinic consults - Review patient medication regimens for clinical effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, potential drug interactions, and therapeutic outcomes as required.

- Monitor and report drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues. Documents findings per facility procedures.

- Reviews and evaluates requests for non-formulary and restricted drugs for appropriateness and compliance - Promotes and monitors compliance for established drug therapy policies.

- Works with providers to ensure compliance with national, VISN, and local initiatives.

- Assist with recommending, prescribing, or providing alternative therapy in presence of drug shortages or local/national drug conversions, when needed - Participates in the training and in-servicing of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy students, pharmacy residents, and other staff on assigned teams.

- Assists in new employee orientation, competency assessments, and mentoring as required Drug Information - Serves as an authority on drug usage, interactions, over-dosages, and compliance, to medical staff, nursing staff, technicians and students.

Uses appropriate references to research drug information. - Has a good working knowledge of information resources, both written and electronic. - Maintains a current knowledge of therapeutics and disease management. - Provides timely and accurate responses to drug information inquiries from all customers. - Effectively instructs patients and family members in the appropriate use of medications and medical devices. Program Management - Serves on medical center and/or VISN committees as requested. - Adheres to all medical center and department policies and regulations.

- Manages information security within areas of responsibility to assure that 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.

Work Schedule:
8:00am-4:30pm, Monday - Friday, Saturdays for clinic assignment Telework:

Not Available Virtual:
This is not a virtual position

Functional Statement #:

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives:
Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS):

Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.

All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.

Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination.

Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications 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 ; phone:
, or through their Web site at: (

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.

Grade Determinations:
GS-13 CLINICAL PHARMACY SPECIALIST (a)

Experience:

In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

Examples of GS-12 level equivalent experience 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; 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.

(b)

Assignment:

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 knowledge, skills and abilities (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.

Preferred

Experience:
PGY2 Ambulatory Care residency training or equivalent Experience in managing patients independently with a scope of practice Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Specialty Certification (BCACP)

References:
VA Handbook 5005/55 Part II Appendix G15 Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Standard GS-660 Veterans Health Administration June 7, 2012.

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.

Education IMPORTANT:
A transcript (official or unofficial) must be submitted with your application.

A screenshot of your classes or a copy of your diploma are not an acceptable substitute for your transcript and will not be used in qualifying.

Note:
Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment.

You can verify your education here:
If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education

For further information, visit:
Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive , VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio, Indiana and Michigan (VISN 10) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being."

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