The clinical pharmacy practitioner (CPP) functions at the highest level of clinical practice, works independently under their scope of practice to directly care for patients. This position will function as a member of the outpatient substance use clinic team and serves as a midlevel provider to initiate, modify or discontinue medication therapy and as a consultant for medication therapy management services under the confines of their scope of practice. 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 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. 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: Substance Use Disorder (SUD) work experience PGY2 Psychiatry Pharmacy Residency from an ASHP accredited program Board Certification in Psychiatry or Ambulatory Care with experience in Psychiatry 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. ["VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Clinical: i. 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. ii. Interviews and/or evaluates patients during clinic for appropriateness of pharmacological therapy and makes a pharmaceutical care plan for each patient that will be documented in Electronic Medical Record (EMR) within a progress note. Documentation will be professional and timely. iii. Provides drug information, observations on patient response to therapy, and appropriate recommendations regarding treatment alternatives or additional interventions to maximize patient outcomes, taking into consideration, choice of therapy, safety, efficacy, and formulary issues. iv. Perform and document medication reconciliations on outpatient substance use disorder (SUD) patients, with a focus on patient's medication history regarding substance use, and other medications that may influence or have the potential to interact with the prescribed medication regimen. Queries the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) for controlled substances as necessary and documents findings in the EMR. v. Provide real time drug information, medication/dispensing histories, dosing, toxicity, drug-drug interactions, etc., to assist providers in making clinical decisions. vi. 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. This includes assisting with identify patients who are candidates for nicotine replacement therapy, naloxone, and medication assisted treatment (i.e.: naltrexone, acamprosate) vii. Orders, performs, reviews, and analyzes appropriate laboratory tests, pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic data, 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 including changes in medication therapy, referral to primary care or specialty provider. viii. Provide education to providers and staff regarding various mental health and SUD topics, including CBOC providers, as requested. ix. Lead outpatient group education classes for veterans regarding substance use disorder including pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic education. x. Reviews and evaluates requests for non-formulary and restricted drugs for appropriateness and compliance with established criteria where applicable and as assigned. This includes supporting effective drug usage criteria approved by the national VHA PBM, VISN PBM, and local Pharmacy & Therapeutic (P&T) Committee to ensure quality patient care in a cost effective manner. Ensures appropriate utilization of the VHA formulary by health care providers. Education and Research: i. Provides education and training to all health care providers including physicians, nurses, and pharmacists and all others involved with the prescribing, administering and dispensing of medications to patients. ii. Provides education to patients for the purpose of fostering compliance with medication regimens. Identifies areas of concern and corrects those potential problem areas using appropriate educational techniques. Assists the Clinical Pharmacy Manager in development and implementation of programs which assure and enhance patient care. iii. Keep abreast of new developments in the field of drug therapy by completing required and relevant continuing education programs, reading and understanding publications of studies and investigations as related to our current practice. iv. Supervises and trains pharmacy residents, graduate and undergraduate students as assigned. Program Management: i. Assists in the development and implementation of proposals or programs for improved and/or new clinical pharmacy services. ii. Participates in the appropriate, effective and safe use of pharmaceuticals by contributing to criteria development, protocol development, guideline development, drug use evaluations, data collection and other quality improvement activities as assigned. iii. Willing to serve on medical center and/or VISN committees as requested, which may include the Opioid Safety Review Board Committee. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 93765-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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