At Western Colorado Health Care System (WCHCS) the incumbents' primary functions involve the timely and accurate preparation and dispensing of medications to both inpatients and outpatients, using professional judgment for appropriate dosing and therapeutic regimes. The role rotates through various Pharmacy Service areas (Outpatient, Inpatient IV Admixture and Unit Dose, Clinical) with the main goal of ensuring appropriate, safe, and cost-effective drug therapy for patients.
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/. (NOTE: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program. Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy.) OR 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). OR A current or former intern/Resident/Fellow for the Office of Affiliated Academics (OAA) program at a VA facility? 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. OR A 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. Grandfathering Provision: All licensed pharmacists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard 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, the following provisions apply: (1) Employees grandfathered into the GS-660 occupational series may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration, that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (3) If a licensed pharmacist who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). Grade Determinations: GS-11 Pharmacist Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist (Full Performance Level) 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. OR Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities (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. Assignment: A pharmacist in this assignment handles routine medication-related activities in accordance with local, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and national policies and regulations. These 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; 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; providing oversight of technical staff in all aspects of medication distribution. Preferred Experience: Inpatient/Outpatient Pharmacy Experience 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: The physical requirements for this position include light lifting and carrying (15-25 pounds) with occasional heavier lifting and carrying, straight pulling, pushing, reaching above the shoulder, using fingers, repeated bending, walking, and standing (up to 8 hours), with the ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as needed. The job also necessitates adherence to department and VHA policies, and involves sitting, climbing stairs, shelf stocking, lifting up to 50 pounds, and requires dexterity of the hand and wrist, as well as arm strength. Activities align with caring for Veterans and ensuring personal safety and security. Duties involve moderate lifting, walking, bending, stooping, standing, pushing, and pulling.
Inpatient a. Evaluates physician orders and patient treatment for appropriateness of therapy, patients response to therapy, adverse drug effects, pertinent laboratory monitoring, polypharmacy, cost containment issues and prescribing compliance with established protocols and criteria. b. Identified problems are communicated to patients physician c. Verifies and processes inpatient unit dose medication orders in the VISTA Inpatient Medication package accurately. d. Ensures inpatients medications are labeled appropriately (i.e.: inhalers). e. Processes and interprets IV orders and enters them into VISTA IV Admixture package. f. Ensures IV medications (IV admixtures, IV piggybacks, TPN, etc.) are prepared accurately using aseptic technique. Checks IVs prepared by Pharmacy Technicians or prepares accurately using aseptic technique. g. Provides medications to wards via Omnicell. h. Enters controlled substances dispensed or returned accurately and timely into the VISTA i. Controlled Substances package and Omnicell. j. Oversees inpatient Pharmacy Technicians in all aspects of Unit Dose and/or IV Admixture areas. k. Accurately checks all manually prepackaged medications using Prepackage Logbook, and checks automated packaging steps appropriately. l. Responds to Pharmacokinetic Consult and appropriately orders labs and antibiotics. m. Appropriately follows up on labs and follows protocol. 2. Outpatient a. Interprets new outpatient prescriptions and enters them into the VISTA Outpatient Pharmacy package appropriately, using professional judgment and VA guidelines. b. Processes prescription refill requests via the VISTA Outpatient Pharmacy package appropriately c. Evaluates physician orders and patient treatment for appropriateness of therapy, patient's response to therapy, adverse drug effects, pertinent laboratory monitoring, polypharmcy, cost containment issues and prescribing compliance with established protocols. Identified problems are communicated to the patient's physician. response to therapy, adverse drug effects, pertinent laboratory monitoring, polypharmacy, cost containment issues and prescribing compliance with established protocols. Identified problems d. Fills prescriptions timely, accurately, and appropriately using ScriptPro. e. Checks prescriptions filled by Pharmacy Technicians using ScriptPro. f. Dispenses prescriptions using ScriptPro, including asking patient to show Veteran ID Card (VIC). If no VIC, patient must have 2 other forms of identification (complete name and social security number). g. Oversees Pharmacy Technicians when filling, mailing and/or dispensing prescriptions, and compounding products. 3. Clinical a. Renews outpatient prescriptions when appropriate in CPRS. b. Upon request, evaluates restricted and non-formulary requests, and applies national and local guidelines to arrive at an informed decision to approve or disapprove. Follows through with physician regarding appropriate Formulary alternatives and dosages. c. Consults with patients regarding how to take new medication appropriately, side effects and precautions. d. Provides written drug information. e. Consults with nurses concerning drug dosage, availability, and order changes. f. Provides medication information to nurses, physicians, and other health personnels. g. Provides inhaler patient information upon consult request. Enters CPRS note upon consult completion. h. Upon request, provides direct patient care activities via a variety of pharmacist run clinics (examples include anticoagulation clinic and new patient pharmacy consults). 4. General a. Is responsible for controlled substance accountability. b. Upon request, represents Pharmacy Service at various committee meetings. c. Upon request, is responsible for various Pharmacy related projects. d. Provides the highest level of professional and ethical behavior. Work Schedule: Weekdays, Weekends, Holidays, Rotating Shifts as determined by Service Needs. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 53079A/53080A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized