This is a hybrid role covering the duties of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) manager and the responsibilities of the Infectious Disease (ID) Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner (CPP). The CPP serves as an advanced practice provider and delivers evidence-based comprehensive medication management (CMM) through direct patient care, as part of the interdisciplinary team providing infectious disease management.
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 (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 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 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. 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. 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 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 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: CPPs should possess skills outlined above with specific experience in infection control and infectious disease management. CPP should have experience in current or recent previous job (including residency training) that includes direct patient care and comprehensive medication management responsibilities. Optimal experience includes an advanced pharmacy degree (PharmD), board certification (BPS), PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency and PGY2 in Infectious Disease, or equivalent experience, certification and/or mentorship. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws The CPP functions at the highest level of clinical practice and top of licensure and serves as an advanced practice provider working independently with prescribing privileges as outlined in the individual's practice area-based scope of practice. The CPP delivers evidence-based comprehensive medication management (CMM) through direct patient care and as part of the interdisciplinary team providing infectious disease management. 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 (e.g., establishing and progressing towards individualized function-related goals, improving quality of life, minimizing theoretical risk of drug-related harm) through direct and indirect interactions with patients, providers, and interdisciplinary teams in assigned areas; performing physical assessments; implementing risk mitigation strategies and ordering laboratory and other tests to help determine efficacy and toxicity of medication therapy. The CPP manages medication therapy by initiating, modifying and discontinuing medication both independently and in collaboration with other practitioners when needed. The CPP follows patients in direct care settings to achieve therapeutic goals and make referrals as needed to optimize patient outcomes and treatment success. The CPP refers patients to the appropriate level of care when needed and is responsible for providing and documenting care of assigned patients. The CPP has knowledge of VA/DOD clinical practice guidelines, The Joint Commission (TJC) standards, Veterans Affairs (VA) performance measures, VA Pharmacy Benefits Management (PBM) initiatives and integrates these standards into practice. The ID CPP will participate as a subject matter expert on committees at the local facility (e.g., Infection Control committee), national and VISN levels. The ID CPP is expected to participate in indirect patient care activities including teaching/mentoring trainees, staff education and consultation, quality assurance and quality improvement projects, and supporting research projects related to infectious disease. The ID CPP will perform their duties within the VA Central Ohio Healthcare System clinics or may work virtually using telehealth technologies as approved by pharmacy leadership and when the team requirements do not necessitate a full time CPP be physically present. The ID CPP will be given appropriate resources and physical space (i.e., treatment room) for the direct care of their patients. The Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) manager is a highly trained medication management expert in addition to serving as an ID CPP. The ASP Manager typically serves as the site's Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacy Champion under VHA Directive 1031. In this role, the ASP Manager is a champion for efforts that measure and improve the use of antimicrobials based on current clinical knowledge and policies and guidelines established at the national, VISN, and local levels. Work Schedule: Full Time, 8AM to 4:30PM Telework: Ad-Hoc (Per Agency Need.) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 92892-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized