Clinical Pharmacy Specialist position is located within Pharmacy Service at the Richmond, IN CBOC and supports Clinical services as assigned, utilizing education, experience and expertise. The primary responsibility of the CPS is the provision of evidence-based pharmaceutical care services through both direct and indirect interaction with patients and providers. 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. 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.) 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. 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. Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. The clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) functions at the highest level of clinical experience, works independently under their scope of practice as defined by the individual medical center to directly care for patients. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities: Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy. Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. Preferred Experience: PGY1 and/or Board Certification Ambulatory Care Experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Some of the work involves extended periods of time standing, sitting or doing computer work. This position requires average agility and dexterity. Professional appearances per pharmacy dress code, attitude and demeanor are required. ["VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Pharmacy Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf PRINCIPLE DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES Customer Service Treats patient, team members, other facility employees and visitors with respect. Responds to the needs of the service in a courteous and timely manner; demonstrates appropriate and proactive interpersonal skills to achieve the goals of the service; acts as a team member and is supportive of the group's efforts at all times; demonstrates an ability to work under a variety of circumstances to maximize group productivity and quality. Clinical Practice (Direct Patient Care) The CPS is directly involved in the independent design, implementation and monitoring of therapeutic drug plans to achieve definite outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned areas; obtains medication histories from patients and summarizes significant findings in the medical record and/or to the provider as appropriate; is actively involved in reviewing 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; monitors for and reports drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues; documents findings per facility procedures; able to apply a knowledge of normal laboratory values in the evaluation of patient care and recognizes significant abnormalities; has expertise in the principles of clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and is knowledgeable and able to make dose adjustment recommendations based on objective laboratory findings. Reviews and evaluates requests for non-formulary and restricted drugs for appropriateness and compliance with established criteria where applicable; assists with medication use evaluations and other Pharmacy and Therapeutics activities; documents clinical interventions in CPRS in a timely and professional manner as appropriate; promotes and monitors compliance for established drug therapy policies; works with providers to ensure compliance with national, VISN, and local initiatives. is familiar with and participates in the drug use evaluation process as needed; serves on Medical Center and/or VISN committees as requested; reviews and verifies medication orders in assigned areas as appropriate, prior to administration, for accuracy and to reduce potential risk of adverse drug events; primary provider to document information into VA Adverse Drug Event Reporting System (VA ADERS). Local medical centers may designate a single pharmacist to follow-up on unique cases, but all clinical pharmacists share the responsibility to ensure reporting of adverse drug events is completed by clinicians. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Thursday 0700-1630; alt Fridays 0700-1530 Compressed/Flexible: Available Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay, higher or unique qualifications, or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PD916490 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
