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.
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 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: Clinical Pharmacist GS-11 Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Clinical Pharmacist GS-12 Experience or Education. In addition to the basic requirements, 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. Assignments: A pharmacist in this assignment handles routine medication-related activities in accordance with local, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and national policies and regulations. These include, but are 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. 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. Preferred Experience: Inpatient pharmacy experience preferred 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-12. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work are generally minor. The work is primarily sedentary in nature and usually occurs within climate controlled clinical and administrative settings. Use of fingers may be required to operate computers. There may be occasional light lifting/carrying (15 pounds or less) requirements to relocate boxed materials from one area to another, equipment and room set-up, and ambulation related to physical inspections of the facilities.
The Clinical Pharmacist is a licensed health care professional with knowledge and proficiency in clinical pharmacy practice, including pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacotherapeutics. The primary functions of the clinical pharmacist are to (1) assure the safe, effective, and appropriate use of medications, (2) advocate for and deliver individualized, patient-centric therapeutic drug oversight and monitoring, and (3) serve as a medication expert and drug information resource. The incumbent for this position also possesses the expertise and skills necessary to support the diverse operational pharmacy processes, systems, and regulatory requirements unique to the inpatient and ambulatory procedural health care settings. Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Provides the core clinical pharmacist skills required to ensure delivery of safe, effective, and patient-specific therapeutic drug monitoring and clinical interventions. Serves as a medication expert to support medical providers with drug information and pharmacotherapy related evaluations, interventions, and recommendations including pharmacokinetic and patient specific drug dosing regimens (ex., vancomycin, weight-based, renal adjustments, etc.) Evaluates for and escalates as appropriate to other health care team members any clinical concerns related to drug therapy (ex., adverse reactions/events, near misses, medication errors, signs of toxicity, missing labs, concomitant orders, weights, vitals, etc.) and documents accordingly (ex., CPRS drug allergy or note, JPSR, VADERs, etc.). Evaluates medication orders prior to dispensing to ensure safety, efficacy, and appropriateness of therapy as prescribed. Verifies medications orders timely, accurately, and efficiently consistent with the electronic health records systems and any contingency operational procedures. Reviews patient profiles for appropriateness, duplication, interactions, contraindications, allergies, or other drug related problems. Contacts providers when necessary for order clarification or recommendations to ensure optimized patient specific health outcomes and adherence with medical center and/or regulatory standards (ex., titration order parameters, PRN order indications for use, therapeutic drug duplications, allergy assessments, drug/food interactions, renal/hepatic dose reductions, routes of administration). Correctly interprets physician orders to ensure appropriate selection and preparation of medications required for compounding and/or dispensing. Ensures the quality and accuracy of prepared and dispensed medications to include visual inspection, proper packaging and labeling, pharmacist product verification, and safety double-checks or protocols. Demonstrates safe and proficient use of equipment required for compounding and dispensing, including ability to triage, troubleshoot and escalate any issues. Prepares and dispenses in accordance with regulatory and facility procedures related to Compounding Sterile Preparations (USP <797>), Handling of Hazardous Drugs (USP <800>), Controlled Substances, and other appropriate practice standards Work Schedule: Inpatient pharmacy is a 24 hour service, shifts can be variable and rotating including days, evenings, overnight, weekends, and holidays. Tours may be adjusted to meet medical center and patient care needs. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact Veronica.richardson3@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized