Clinical Pharmacy Specialist- Outpatient Services - Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration

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. Responsibilities VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist will work within the Outpatient areas within VA SORCC. CPSs are employees of their medical center's Pharmacy Service, to ensure they receive all professional guidance, policy, and communications, along with department missions and goals, especially regarding the VA National Formulary, VISN and local medical center Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P& T) Committee objectives for formulary management activities and patient safety. This position will be assigned to the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) as a MH CPS. Functions of the Position: A. Clinical - Direct Patient Care Activities that require a scope of practice. i. Provide evidence-based pharmaceutical care services through both direct and indirect interaction with patients and providers in practice areas identified in their individual scope of practice. Practice sites may include but are not limited to: Anticoagulation Management Clinics Primary Care/PACT Clinics Specialty Care Clinics Mental Health ii. Functions as a mid-level provider to initiate, modify, or discontinue medication therapy and as a consultant for intensive medication therapy management services. iii. Orders, performs, reviews, and analyzes appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor and support the patient's drug therapy. iv. 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. v. CPS will 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. B. Clinical - Indirect Patient Care Activities i. Identify patients who may benefit from comprehensive Medication management through population management reports and during team huddles. ii. Review 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. 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. C. Education and Research i. Participates in the training and in-servicing of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy students, pharmacy residents, and other staff on assigned teams. ii. Is skilled at using both written and verbal communication techniques in teaching others. iii. Serves as preceptor or professional mentor for pharmacy students and pharmacy residents on rotation in practice setting. iv. Assists in new employee orientation, competency assessments, and mentoring as required. v. Complete all required TMS in a timely manner. D. Drug Information i. 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. ii. Has a good working knowledge of information resources, both written and electronic. iii. Maintains a current knowledge of therapeutics and disease management. iv. Provides timely and accurate responses to drug information inquiries from all customers. E. Program Management i. Responsible for coordination and supervision of all pharmacotherapy management activities of assigned patients of the CPS's assigned clinic(s). This includes management of a clinical practice within area of expertise including scheduling, reviewing consults, providing patient care, and assuring coverage of clinical services. ii. Serves as an active member of assigned committees. iii. Works with providers to ensure compliance with national, VISN, and local initiatives. iv. Serves on medical center and/or VISN committees as requested. v. Adheres to all medical center and department policies and regulations. vi. 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. Acts as necessary to report and address violations of information security. Work Schedule:Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Available on ad-hoc basis only. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. 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. 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: 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 at https://www.acpe-accredit.org/ (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) 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). (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) 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. (COPY OF LICENSE REQUIRED) 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: GS-13:Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the basic requirements and experience, pharmacist assigned to this position must also demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities: 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. References: VA Handbook, 5005/55, Part II, Appendix G15, June 7, 2012The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Preferred Experience: Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner experience. Completion of an ASHP accredited PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency or equivalent experience. Completion of a PGY-2 Mental Health Residency or equivalent experience. Board of Pharmacy Specialties certification in Mental Health (BCPP)Highly motivated graduating PGY-2s are encouraged to apply Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 lbs. and over), moderate lifting and carrying (15 -44 lbs.), light lifting (under 15 lbs.), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands, standing, repeated bending, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 to 20/40 in the other, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors, ability to distinguish shades of colors, hearing (aid may be permitted), and mental and emotional stability. Environmental factors include constant noise, dust, unusual fatigue factors (extensive keyboard mouse use), working closely with others, working alone, and protracted or irregular work hours. 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 Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. 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.