The clinical pharmacist is a licensed professional with knowledge and proficiency in pharmacy practice. A pharmacist in this assignment supports a dual role, with primary functions aligned in support of outpatient clinical pharmacist duties and secondary functions aligned in support of inpatient clinical pharmacist duties.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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) TRANSCRIPTS WITH CONFER DATE ARE 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. 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. Exception. 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. Failure to Obtain License. In all cases, pharmacists must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure starting from the date of their appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the unlicensed pharmacist with the written requirement to obtain licensure, the date by which the license must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline. Failure to become licensed within 2 years from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0660 Pharmacist series and may result in termination of employment. COPY OF CURRENT LICENSURE REQUIRED, IF LICENSED. 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-11, Pharmacist Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Assignment. Pharmacists at this grade level serve in a developmental capacity. GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist (Full Performance Level) Experience or Education. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet one of the following: 1. 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, or 2. Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program. In addition to the above, 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. Preferred Experience: CERNER (Oracle Health EHR) trained, 2 years' experience post licensure, inpatient and outpatient 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: light lifting (under 15 lbs), walking (4 hrs), standing (4 hrs), both eyes required, ability to distinguish basic colors, hearing (aid may be permitted), working closely with others, working alone.
Duties will vary by grade. At the GS-12 full performance level of this position, the incumbent is responsible for analyzing real and potential drug related medical problems and implementing corrective action to ensure that patients receive optimal drug therapy. The clinical pharmacist also applies standards relating to all aspects of distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs. Duties will include: .Finishing and Dispensing Overall Reviews all medication orders for appropriateness, drug selection, dosage, route of administration and the amount, prior to dispensing. Ensures all medication orders are entered into the electronic patient medical record. Finishes prescriptions while screening all patient profiles for therapeutic duplication, formulary compliance, allergies, drug-drug, and drug disease and drug-nutrient interactions with assessment for clinical relevance. Oversees and checks the completed work of technical and non-professional personnel and provides guidance when needed. Ensures drugs dispensed are completely and correctly labeled and packaged in full compliance with Federal rules and regulations. Provides medication counseling to patients, or patient's representatives. Maintains a working knowledge of inpatient and applicable outpatient pharmacy automation programs (e.g. Omnicell, TCG, ScriptPro) as needed. Selects, compounds, dispenses and fills a range of drugs including extemporaneous preparations, special formulations, ophthalmics (subconjunctivals and intravitreal injections), narcotics, investigational drugs, oncolytic agents, etc., in both outpatient and inpatient areas - adequate quality assurance procedures shall be followed as applicable. Maintains adequate drug stock, inspects drug storage areas, supervises prepacking and the operation of automated dispensing equipment. Outpatient Specific Enters and process Choice and Fee basis prescriptions timely, accurately, and completely. Inpatient Specific Implements the unit dose medication management systems in the medical center and CLC as required for after hours and weekends. Rotates as needed to the IV section and assumes all duties of that position as required, including the compounding of chemotherapy and hyper alimentation. Manages various actions, as appropriate, for medication orders to include: flagging prescriptions; managing view alerts; using the "Hold Medication" function; and generating unsigned discontinuation orders using the "Service Reject" function. Fills all orders within the expected timeframe for each order type: Routine Orders - 2 hours; Now Orders - 1 hour; STAT Orders - 30 minutes. Clinical Overall Serves as a drug information resource by providing up-to-date drug information to prescribers, other health care professionals, patients and caregivers. Reviews medication profiles and monitors for compliance or potential abuse; pursues mediation and resolution when problems are identified. Reports adverse drug events (ADE), near misses, and medication errors in alignment with VA ADERS reporting program and CQI reporting functions. Executes resource stewardship through application of formulary alternative guidance, non-formulary consult review and completion, and restricted medication review and guidance for use. Manages recalls and medication shortage situations by substituting alternate dosage strengths and instructions of the same medication to equal the prescribed dose and schedule, as approved by the PT&N Committee and ECMS. Implements PT&N Committee policies regarding therapeutic interchanges and automatic substitutions, including appropriate patient and provider education. Provides information and assistance, both clinical and technological, to a wide variety of individuals including prescribers, nurses, pharmacists, administrators, students, patients and families, external review bodies and national vendors, as related to pharmaceutical care. Competent in accessing patient information, documenting interventions and overall knowledge of the Federal Electronic Health Record (FEHR). Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm, occasional weekends and holidays Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized