Clinical Pharmacist Position

We are seeking a highly skilled Clinical Pharmacist to join our team at the Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration. As a Clinical Pharmacist, you will play a critical role in ensuring the optimal drug therapy for our patients.

• Analyze real and potential drug-related medical problems and implement corrective action.
• Apply standards relating to all aspects of distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs.
• Ensure efficient and timely workload management of the local prescription pending file.
• Act as a liaison, resolving problems as they arise.
• Responsible for cost-saving opportunities by actively being involved in formulary management activities.
• Evaluate medication orders and medication profiles for appropriateness of therapy.
• Ensure prescriptions coming from Non-VA providers are processed.
• Remain up to date about modern technology, management practices, and clinical practice by reading relevant material in reputable journals and resources.
• Participate in the training and in-servicing of pharmacists, pharmacy techs, residents, students, and other medical personnel as required.
• Verify electronic orders for accuracy while performing a prospective drug utilization evaluation taking into account drug-drug interactions, drug-allergy contraindications, drug-disease interactions, and dosage form.
• Assure doses are within acceptable limits.
• Ensure start and stop dates and times are entered appropriately.
• Ensure that special comments are taken into consideration and clarified, when needed.
• Ensure indication is listed on all medication orders for patients admitted to any unit of the Sheridan VA Medical Center.
• Ensure therapy duplication is minimized and instructions given to nurses for specific use when duplication is ordered.
• Ensure that information such as generic name of drug, manufacturer's name, lot number, control number, shipment number, etc., are properly entered into unit dose packaging machine and are recorded on log books and on labels.
• Ensure that technician packaged items are double-checked by a registered pharmacist prior to distribution to wards.
• Read and interpret prescriptions, obtain proper medication or material in the proper strength and dosage form; determine proper amount and counts, pours, or measures the medications; affix proper label; and record required data on Pharmacy's copy of prescription/order.
• Dispense medication to unit staff according to pharmacy policies and procedures.
• Perform final review of medication to be dispensed to inpatient areas, and/or fills automated drug cabinets independently without secondary review.
• Rounds with interdisciplinary team on inpatient medical ward, consults with medical providers on formulary alternatives, policies, and procedures.
• Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution to include issues with inpatient automation.
• Conducts comprehensive appraisals of patients' health status by completing medication histories including patient interviews.
• Completes medication reconciliation including updating the medication profile to reflect an accurate, active list of VA and non-VA medications.
• Provides oral and/or written communication with other health care professionals regarding drug therapy selection and management.
• Monitors and assesses drug therapy, communicating the findings and any recommendations for changes to appropriate providers, and documenting appropriately in CPRS.
• Provides patient and health care professional education and drug information.
• Utilizes all CPRS and pharmacy software functions including: order flags, view alerts, hold functions, and service reject.
• Enters supply orders to support medication compliance and accurate medication administration.
• Manages out-of-stock situations by substituting alternate dosage strengths and instructions of the same medication equal to the prescribed dose and schedule as approved by the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.
• Implements VA medical facility policies including therapeutic interchanges and automatic substitutions.
• Participates in medical emergencies including code teams and emergency management activities.
• Reports adverse drug events, near misses, and medication errors.
• Completes non-formulary and medication approval consults.
• Documents patient care activities in CPRS.
• Participates in clinical pharmacy education during shared medical appointments or group visits.
• Completes chart review activities and comprehensive medication management reviews for Community Living Centers, home-based primary care, and residential treatment facilities.
• Performs population management activities to identify high-risk patients and those in need of comprehensive medication management services.
• Ensures inventory discrepancies are resolved prior to dispensing, and notifies the Chief as soon as discrepancy is discovered.
• Fills controlled substances in both inpatient and outpatient pharmacy.
• Operates and maintains complicated pharmacy equipment including ScriptPro outpatient pharmacy automation, unit dose packaging machines, and inpatient pharmacy automation equipment.

Work Schedule: Varied - scheduling based upon department needs.

Telework: Not available.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 59973-O / 59974-O

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized at the GS-12 level only.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

Requirements:

• 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:

• *** This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until December 31, 2024. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be September 10, 2024. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until positions are filled.***
• 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.
• 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.
• 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/.
• 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.
• 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 the qualification standard (6/7/2012) 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, must meet one of the provisions listed in Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Standard, formerly Part II Appendix G15.

Grade Determinations:

• GS-11 Pharmacist Experience, Education, & Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.
• Assignment. Pharmacists at this grade level serve in a developmental capacity.
• GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist 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 (GS-11), or
• Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs:
• (1) Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice.
• (2) Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff.
• (3) Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security.
• (4) Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.

Preferred Experience:

• PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency completion
• Acute care/hospital & outpatient pharmacy experience
• BPS board certification

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 in the range of GS-11 to GS-12.

Physical Requirements:

This position provides services to patients and their families. Incumbents must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others.

Normal work of the position requires visual acuity (with the ability to read typewritten characters without strain, corrective lenses permitted), keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, manual dexterity.

This position may require reaching above shoulder-level height and requires potentially moderate levels of lifting and carrying {15-44 pounds).

This position requires long periods of sitting, standing, and walking.

The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs.

Education:

IMPORTANT: 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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional Information:

During the application process, you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions.

Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

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 1193.01, 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.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer.

For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.