The inpatient clinical pharmacy specialist is a licensed professional with knowledge and proficiency in pharmacy practice including pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacotherapeutics.
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. 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. 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. Graduates of foreign pharmacy degree programs meet the educational requirement if the 2 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 InternetBased 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. 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 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 Experience: In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. GS:12 Requirement: 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. 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. Preferred Experience: Experience working as an inpatient pharmacist, providing pharmacy support for infusion clinic services, and is versed in completing non-formulary (NF) requests. Has abilities and interest in processing IV orders for infusion services and has experience in pharmacy program management for infusion services. Experience in providing anticoagulation management and pharmacokinetic management. Experience completing NFs request from both internal and external providers. Is flexible working weekends, evenings and holidays as needed. Experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities in support of direct patient care with prescriptive authority. 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: Light lifting, under 15 pounds; Working closely with others and alone;
Clinical Duties Responsible for the prescribing and monitoring of therapeutic agents under an approved scope of practice as approved by the Executive Committee of the Medical Staff (ECMS); areas include but are not limited to outpatient intravenous infusions, inpatient anticoagulation, renal dosing, inpatient kinetic medication management, and chronic disease state management. Involved in the design, implementation, and monitoring of therapeutic drug plans to achieve definite outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned area. Oversees and adjusts dosing based on lab reports for narrow therapeutic index medications. Participates in patient care rounds, review charts, evaluates pertinent laboratory data, drug-drug and drug-nutrient interactions, monitors for adverse drug effects, and screens for allergies Assesses drug safety and efficacy, including evaluation of physical symptoms as reported, with recommendations provided to the healthcare provider in charge of the patient Monitors drug therapy for purposes of assuring intended response and avoiding side effects or interactions Monitors laboratory results for therapeutic response and side effects Provides discharge counseling and education for appropriate patients discharged from Inpatient Acute Care Units as outlined in the Pharmacist Competency Assessment; discharge notification provided to all required parties (i.e. PCP, anticoagulation provider, etc.) Monitors for and reports drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues - documents findings per facility procedures Reviews and evaluates requests for non-formulary and restricted drugs for appropriateness and compliance with established criteria where applicable 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 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 Dispensing Reviews all medication orders for appropriateness, drug selection, dosage, route of administration and the amount, prior to dispensing. Performs review of the patient's allergy history, drug-drug, drug-nutrient, drug-laboratory and drug-disease state interactions with assessment for clinical relevance performed and addressed appropriately Selects, compounds, dispenses and fills a range of drugs including extemporaneous preparations, special formulations, ophthalmic preparations (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 Education Assists patients on the proper use and care of their medications Provides pertinent drug information to physicians and allied health personnel through the use of seminars, formal and informal consultations, conferences, and lectures Leads or assist with precepting PGY1 General Pharmacy Residents and Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) and Advanced Pharmacy Practice experience students (APPE) when on rotation. Program management Leads systems redesign changes to support pharmacy strategic plan Participates in pharmacy medication management tracers to ensure high compliance in Inpatient Units with all JCAHO MM standards Oversight of clinical intervention monitoring and reporting program to demonstrate value of CPS services Administrative Completes as assigned, or pursues active participation in the following administrative processes: Policy/procedure review and revision Quality Assurance evaluations, reporting or results CQI activities relative to area of expertise Safety initiatives Medication Use Evaluations Assumes an active role in the overall pharmacy-training program consisting of students, externs, interns, residents, and professional and nonprofessional staff members Work Schedule: Telework: Ad Hoc Only Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized