Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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
• 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.(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 .Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)
• 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 level
• Clinical Pharmacy Specialist: The clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) functions at the highest level of clinical practice - works independently under their scope of practice as defined by the individual medical center to directly care for patients
• A CPS plays 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
• This includes - but is not limited to - the following: designing - implementing - assessing - monitoring and documenting therapeutic plans utilizing the most effective - least toxic and most economical medication treatments
• helping achieve positive patient centric outcomes through direct and indirect interactions with patients - providers - and interdisciplinary teams in assigned areas
• performing physical assessments
• and ordering laboratory and other tests to help determine efficacy and toxicity of medication therapy
• Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs: a
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions
• b
• Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area
• c
• Ability to solve problems - coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise
• d
• Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy
• e
• Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies - including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters
• Preferred Experience: Minimum of 2 years experience in the field of expertise Experience with comprehensive medication or disease state management Experience with multidisciplinary environments Experience working with geriatric population Experience in home care or working with homebound patients 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-13
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13
• Physical Requirements: The position will require light lifting (under 15 pounds) - light carrying (under 15 pounds) - reaching above shoulder - use of finger - walking (2 hours) - standing (2 hours) - repeated bending (1 hour) - ability to distinguish basic colors - ability to distinguish shades of colors.

Duties

• Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order: 1
• Current permanent VA employees of the facility
• 2
• All other VA employees
• 3
• Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies
• 4
• All other applicants
• Note: Veterans' Preference is not applicable to VA employees or employees of other Federal agencies
• VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Administrative Assists the HBPC Program manager in the identification and development of new clinical responsibilities for HBPC Clinical Pharmacists and in the planning to meet their staff development requirements
• Performs other administrative duties as assigned by the Chief - Pharmacy Service and the Program Manager - HBPC
• Clinical Interfaces with HBPC providers and staff in the design of the veteran's treatment regimen
• Independently works in the assigned area as a mid-level provider designing medication therapy management (MTM) for patients and providing Comprehensive Medication Management (CMM) for appropriate HBPC patients
• Serves as an authoritative information source on drugs and their utilization in therapy
• Evaluates the drug literature by analysis of experimental design and methodology - in order to compare and contrast therapeutic regimens and roles for new drugs
• Attends weekly interdisciplinary meetings to review patient care plans - provide patient specific recommendations - and conduct timely follow up on discussed issues
• Conducts comprehensive medication counseling and education for patients and family members on complicated medication regimens or for those having difficultywith their medication regimens
• Determines length of treatment and discontinue treatment in unresponsive patients per treatment guidelines
• Monitors outcomes and follow-up of patients until treatment is completed
• Designs a therapeutic regimen or plan - based on patient-specific information that includes establishing a therapeutic endpoint - selecting an appropriate drug and related therapy and establishing an appropriate dosage regimen
• Evaluation of non-formulary consults in accordance with VA criteria for use of Non-formulary medications
• Monitors use of non-formulary medications and offers alternatives to medical staff
• Processes pharmacy interventions regarding medication changes in therapy - drug-interactions - drug allergy processing - dosage errors - and other pharmacy interventions
• Notifies providers of appropriate changes to medication orders and makes appropriate recommendations
• Records pharmacy interventions in appropriate intervention software to track and trend interventions for quality assurance purposes
• Education and Training Serves as a preceptor to students of Affiliated Schools of Pharmacy
• Serves as a preceptor to pharmacy residents
• Assists in the training of new pharmacy staff
• Research Independently conducts clinical research within the scope of Geriatric Care/ HBPC
• Actively collaborates with the Ambulatory Care Section in the design and implementation of research protocols - collection of data and participates in the analysis and interpretation of the results
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:45pm Telework: Ad-hoc Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 55716-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized