Clinical Pharmacy Specialist

DutiesVA Careers - Pharmacy:
The employee must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to complete the duties of the position, including the necessary skills to provide care appropriate to the population of the patients served.
FUNCTIONS:
Clinical - Direct Patient Care Activities (requires a scope of practice)
Participates in patient care rounds, complete patient chart reviews, evaluates laboratory data, drug-drug and drug-nutrient interactions, monitors for adverse drug effects, and screens for allergies.Core functions include medication management, medication reconciliation, pharmacokinetic monitoring, renal dose adjustments, anticoagulant therapy management, antimicrobial stewardship, and medication counseling.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.Utilizes motivational interview skills with patient, family, caregiver and other healthcare professionals to collect patient-specific data, conduct medication history taking to identify problems and individualize care to complement patient's medication therapy history, formulate a pharmaceutical care plan, and identify additional data needed for medication review assessment and medication reconciliation as part of component provider duties.Orders, performs, reviews, and analyzes appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor and support the patient's drug therapy.
Clinical - Indirect Patient Care Activities

Reviews patient medication regimens for clinical effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, potential drug interactions, and therapeutic outcomes as required. Communicates findings with prescribers and provides appropriate alternatives to current treatment plans as needed.Obtains medication histories (medication reconciliation) from patients and summarizes significant findings in the medical record and/or to the provider as appropriate.Monitors 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 prior authorization drugs for appropriateness and compliance with established criteria where applicable.Provides and promotes cost effective pharmacy services, offering reasonable and appropriate alternatives to high-cost drugs.
Medication Distribution (as applicable)

Responsible for the safe and appropriate distribution or dispensing of medicationReviews 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.Fills all orders in a timely fashion; review of the patient's allergy history, drug-drug, drug-nutrient, drug-laboratory and drug-disease state interactions and assessment for clinical relevance should be performed and dealt with appropriately.Reviews medication profiles and monitors for compliance or potential abuse; problems encountered shall be resolved.
Education and Research

Participates in the training, preceptorship, and in-services of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy students, pharmacy residents, and other staff on assigned teams.Provides education to health care providers regarding medication use.Maintains basic knowledge of pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics in the area of practice.Assists in new employee orientation, competency assessments, and mentoring as required.Keeps abreast of new developments in pharmacy practice and drug therapy by reading pharmacy and medical literature and participating in continuing education programs.
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. Is able to adjust communication and tracking methods based on age and developmental considerations.Work Schedule: 7 on/7 off 10-12 hr. shifts between 7a and 10p with rotating Weekend, Holiday, Evening and Night hoursTelework: AD-HOCVirtual: This is not a virtual position.Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not AuthorizedEDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn moreRequirements Conditions of EmploymentYou 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
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: Healthcare Engineer candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f).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 or Graduate of a foreign pharmacy degree program that meets the educational requirement and can 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. I have a 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.
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: In addition to the GS-13 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. The clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) functions at the highest level of practice, works independently under their scope of practice as defined by the individual medical center to directly care for patients. To be creditable, experience 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:Preferred candidates will have completed a PGY1 Residency and inpatient or acute care experience.Highly Qualified candidates will have completed a PGY2 Pharmacy Residency focused on acute care, and/or post-residency experience in medication management under a scope of practice, board certification, and/or clinical experience in a Women's Clinic.References: VA Handbook 5005/55, Part II, Appendix G-15 and FS 53229
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.Physical Requirements: Physical movements involve completion of routine pharmacy functions which include, but are not limited to: significant computer work/typing, prescription order entry and processing, contact of patients (both face to face and via phone). Certain tasks are repetitive in nature and require multiple steps performed in succession for success. Incumbent must be able to stand or sit in one place for considerable time during completion of complex tasks. Complexity of mental processes involved is extensive, demanding, and challenging.
EducationIMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.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 informationThis 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.
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. Help

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Review our benefitsEligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.How You Will Be EvaluatedYou will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
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It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.