Clinical Pharmacy Specialist

Summary

The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist is a resource on mental health psychopharmacology for VANIHCS. The primary responsibility is coordination and provision of evidence-based pharmaceutical care services to patients of the Mental Health Clinic. The incumbent will play 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.

Qualifications

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
• 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
• (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
• 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)
• Preferred Experience: PGY-2 Residency Training in Psychiatric Pharmacy Grade Determinations: GS-13 Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - In addition to the basic requirements listed above, you must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12) and have completed of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D
• program
• Experience
• Must demonstrate 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12)
• This experience may include, but is 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
• In addition, Pharmacists assigned to this position must also demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs): 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
• References: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G15 Pharmacist Qualification Standard
• This can be found in the local Human Resources Office
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13
• Physical Requirements: Work requires moderate lifting, walking, bending, stooping, standing, pushing, and pulling
• Ability to lift/push/pull light loads, carts weighing 40 pounds or more
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination
• Normal range for hearing and vision
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

"VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf PLEASE NOTE: This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2024.
Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available.
Major duties and responsibilities include: The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist will be a resource on mental health psychopharmacology for VANIHCS.
Incumbent serves as a provider with prescribing privileges as outlined in the individual's Scope of Practice for CPS.
The pharmacist monitors and manages drug therapy for patients referred with psychiatric illness as well as chronic disease states (diabetes, hyperlipidemia, etc.).
The incumbent provides pharmaceutical care utilizing an advanced in-depth knowledge of current literature and contemporary practice of medications.
This pharmacist promotes and manages drug therapy based on current clinical knowledge that is consistent with policies established at the national, VISN, and local levels.
The scope of this practice includes patient teaching, quality assurance, staff education and consultation, and is often in association with or in support of pharmacists, providers, nurses, dietitians, and other health care practitioners.
Provides pharmaceutical services to focus on therapeutic drug monitoring.
Analyzes medication regimens to ensure the most effective, least toxic, and most economical treatment plan.
Works collaboratively with clinic providers to provide pharmaceutical care to patients (e.g., hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, etc.) as outlined by best evidence, VANIHCS procedures, and scope of practice.
Monitors, titrates, and/or alters medications per all applicable pharmacy policies and procedures per scope of practice.
Prescribes under scope of practice to aid in access to MH providers.
Is directly involved in the design, implementation, and monitoring of therapeutic drug plans to achieve outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers.
Obtains medication histories from patients.
Reviews medication profiles of patients as requested by other health care providers.
Indicates alternative drug therapies designed to reduce the cost of medications in cooperation with the attending provider.
Assesses the stability of chronic disease states as it relates to drug therapy.
Monitors drug therapy for purposes of assuring intended response and avoiding side effects or interactions.
Orders and monitors laboratory results for therapeutic response and side effects.
Refers patients needing attention to the appropriate service or specialist.
Conducts drug utilization reviews, quality assurance activities, and utilization reviews as required.
Prepares pharmacokinetic drug consults and relates critical findings to the attending provider.
Monitors for and reports drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues.
Reviews and evaluates requests for non-formulary and restricted drugs for appropriateness and compliance.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM.
Schedule subject to change based on the needs of the Agency.
Telework: May be available to at the discretion of supervisor 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: May be available to at the discretion of supervisor Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 91736-0 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"