Summary

The CPS will be assigned to Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT) in the primary care clinics. Teams are located in the main hospital and associated community based outlying clinics. The CPS functions at the highest level of clinical pharmacy practice to provide evidence-based pharmaceutical care to patients. The incumbent serves as a key member of PACT, partnering with other healthcare professionals to provide healthcare that is patient-centered, data-driven, team-based, and continuously improving.

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 appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part
• 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/
• (NOTE: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program
• Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy.) 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: Experience
• In addition to the GS-12 requirements, which is Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program or 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, you must have 1 year of experience at or equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12)
• Equivalent experience includes: Handling routine medication-related activities including, but 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
• reviewing the patient's medications, allergies, labs, and other pertinent information from the medical record to identify and solve medication-related problems
• contacting providers as appropriate
• documenting recommendations and interventions
• providing refill extensions and partial medication supplies
• taking health and medication histories
• performing medication reconciliation
• providing drug information
• assisting in formulary management including therapeutic substitutions, nonformulary reviews and medication usage evaluations
• documenting and assessing adverse drug events (ADEs)
• assisting in medical emergencies
• and providing oversight of technical staff in all aspects of medication distribution
• AND Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• In addition to the GS-12 requirements, you 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: Candidates for the PACT Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) should possess the skills outlined above with specific experience in the area of primary care chronic disease management
• Candidates should have recent experience in a current or previous job (including residency training) that includes direct patient care and comprehensive medication management responsibilities
• Preferred candidates will have an advanced pharmacy degree (Pharm.D), board certification (BPS), PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency, or equivalent experience or mentorship
• All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package
• We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications
• Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification
• It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package
• References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/55 PART II APPENDIX G15 Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• **First consideration will be given to those willing to work at the Galesburg, IL CBOC
• Second consideration will be given to those willing to work at the Iowa City VA Medical Center
• Please select the location(s) you want to be considered for in the announcement questionnaire.** Duties include, but are not limited to: Clinical - Direct Patient Care Activities that require a scope of practice Functions as an advanced practice provider with a scope of practice to provide comprehensive medication managemeny
• Conducts encounters with patients (face to face, telephone, VA Video Connect, CVT) for CMM in practice areas identified within their individual scope of practice
• May support patient care through group forums such as group education and shared medical appointments for primary care disease states Provides drug information, observations on patient response to therapy, and develops appropriate treatment plans regarding treatment alternatives or additional interventions to maximize patient care outcomes taking into consideration choice of therapy, safety, efficacy, and pharmacoeconomics
• Follows up with patients in a timely manner and monitors for drug therapy response, potential adverse reactions, allergies, compliance, laboratory results, and other monitoring measures as appropriate
• treatment plan adjustments are made accordingly based on assessed measures
• Determines 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
• Clinical - Indirect Patient Care Activities Identify patients who may benefit from comprehensive medication management through population management reports and during team huddles
• 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
• Monitor and report drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues
• Documents findings per facility procedures
• Apply knowledge of normal laboratory values in the evaluation of patient care, recognizes significant abnormalities, and makes dose adjustment recommendations based on objective laboratory findings
• Assists Pharmacy and Therapeutics committee with medication use evaluations and other safety initiatives
• Promotes and monitors compliance for established drug therapy policies
• Works with providers to ensure compliance with national, VISN, and local initiatives
• 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
• 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
• Program Management Serves on medical center and/or VISN committees as requested
• Adheres to all VHA, medical center and departmental policies, procedures, and regulations
• 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
• Takes action as necessary to report and address violations of information security
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized