The primary function of a staff pharmacist is to assure the safe and appropriate use of medications through the following: evaluation of the appropriateness of drug therapy based on patient specific factors, individualization of drug therapy, dispensing medications, and providing drug information. The incumbent serves in an acute care, medical and surgical hospital which includes a Nursing Home Care Unit, several Community Based Outreach Clinics, and the Jacobetti State Veterans Home.
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: 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.) 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. NOTE: Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct, professional incompetence or substandard care, or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the State for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C. § 7402(f)). Effective November 30, 1999, this is a requirement for employment. This requirement does not apply to licensed pharmacists on VA rolls as of that date, provided they maintain continuous appointment and are not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license, registration or certification. 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. GS-11 Grade Requirement: Pharmacist (a) Experience, Education, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. GS-12 Grade Requirement: Full Performance Level Experience or Education: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet one of the following: 1 year of experience at or equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11), or Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program. AND Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs): Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff. Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security. Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Considerable periods of sitting, standing, walking, reaching, and pushing or pulling of carts are inherent in the position. Bending, stooping, and lifting of supplies is necessary, mostly under 50 pounds.
The major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following: 1. Assignments involve a wide range of pharmacy services including those of a complex and highly specialized nature. This includes the proper dispensing of both inpatient and outpatient medications along with the compounding of sterile IV preparations, chemotherapy, and hyperalimentations. 2. Ability to render professional advice to physicians, nursing personnel, and other OGJVAMC staff regarding medication dosing, dosage forms, routes of administration, frequency of administration, storage, and preparation. 3. Must be able to communicate effectively with physicians and nurses as well as other pharmacists, technicians, and clerical staff. Incumbent serves as a consultant on pharmaceutical matters to various personnel in all aspects of the operation of pharmacy at this medical center. 4. Completes Performance Improvement activities, including participation in meetings and educational programs. Independently identifies problems and offers solutions when assigned specific team leader functions. Provides on-the-job training to newly hired technicians, pharmacists, students, and residents. Responsible for knowing and applying information gained at meetings, even if not in attendance, by regular review of meeting agendas and minutes. Membership to meetings requires active responsibility to read agendas in advance of the meeting and readiness to discuss items that are complex and need team involvement to result in optimal outcomes. Modes of communication include the departmental morning message containing detailed daily assignments, Outlook messages for information about facility news, policy changes, pharmacy agendas, and meeting minutes. 5. Maintains current knowledge of trends in the practice of pharmacy and demonstrates a knowledge of a variety of drug resources with ability to use appropriate informational databases to assist in patient care. 6. Provides guidance and functions as a roll model to less skilled personnel in attaining increased proficiency. Responsible for checking work of technicians as legally specified and as per policies established by the facility. 7. Participates in educational programs within the medical center and completes required training in stipulated timeframes. 8. Ability to work and function in the medical center in a safe manner, including infection control and the correct operation of equipment. 9. Processing of community care prescriptions (CCNRX) in accordance with policies and regulations governing this process. CLINICAL: a. Provides information to physicians, nursing staff, and patients on the storage, stability, dosing, drug interactions and any other inquiries related to medications. Delivers authoritative professional guidance on pharmaceutical problems of difficult, complex, and unusual nature in addition to routine dispensing duties. b. Documents interventions with providers, as necessary, in the patient chart. c. Provides appropriate selection of drug therapy based upon the pharmaceutical principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, monitoring for efficacy, side effects and clinical outcome. Reviews patient charts and evaluates pertinent laboratory data, patient allergies, and other necessary information needed when processing prescription orders. d. Aseptically prepares IV preparations, chemotherapy, and hyperalimentation using laminar flow hoods and biological safety cabinets by following medical center policies 119-22 and 119-6. This includes accurate compounding using aseptic technique and appropriate personal protective precautions, appropriate labeling, and complete documentation of lot numbers/expirations/manufacturers. Must be proficient at dose calculations, selection of appropriate reconstitution solution and final diluent and concentration, interpretation of the medication order, stop date review, and computer entry. Checks admixtures for particulate matter and is responsible for seeing that solutions ordered are prepared and delivered to the proper areas timely. e. Processes community care prescriptions (CCNRX) in accordance with Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) 119-14. Accurately assesses eligibility, formulary status of medications, and prescription status. Proficient in communicating with patients and providers the status of these prescriptions, entering electronically received and faxed CCNRX prescriptions, and appropriately handling medication renewal requests. f. Performs chart reviews, when required, and makes his/her recommendations in a progress note. Other Duties Assigned Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7AM-3:30PM, 8:30AM - 5PM, or 12PM-8PM rotating weekends and holidays as assigned Telework: Not Suitable Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized