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.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS English Language Proficiency - Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). Citizenship - Citizen of the United States. (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) 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, 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. 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. 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. Grandfathering Provision - All licensed pharmacists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Employees grandfathered into the GS-660 occupational series may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration, that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. If a licensed pharmacist who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. GRADE-LEVEL DETERMINANTS : GS-13 Clinical Pharmacy Specialist In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria MUST be met when determining the grade of candidates Experience - In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Assignments - Candidates at this grade level are to be in one of the assignments listed below. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. 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: 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: ICU Experience, PGY1 Residency Physical Requirements: The work may require sitting for long periods of time (4-8 hours) with occasional stooping or kneeling, walking, and standing for long periods of time. The principle duties require repetitive use of hands and fingers (i.e., typing, writing). The incumbent must be physically capable of operating various types of equipment used for the job (i.e. computer, telephone).
The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (Critical Care) serves as a physician extender with a comprehensive Scope of Practice which includes prescriptive authority, monitoring drug therapy, ordering of laboratory tests, and other specified clinical functions. The incumbent will be responsible for the professional and administrative management of the Critical Care services provided by the Pharmacy Service. Duties of the position include, but are not limited to the following: Conducts comprehensive appraisals of patients' health status by taking health histories, drug histories and performing physical examinations. Document relevant findings in the patient's medical record. Evaluates drug therapy through direct patient care involvement, with clinical assessment and objective findings relating to patient's responses to drug therapy and communicating and documenting those findings and recommendations to appropriate individuals and in appropriate records (i.e., patient's medical record) Acts as a provider within a scope of practice provided by privileges accorded by the Pharmacy Professional Standards Board. Order, perform, review and/or analyze appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor and support the patient's drug therapy. Prescribe medications, devices and supplies to include initiation, continuation, discontinuation, monitoring and altering therapy, based upon established formulary or protocols. Perform physical measurements necessary to assure the patients responses to drug therapy. Assist in the management of medical emergencies, adverse drug reactions, and acute and chronic disease states. Evaluates and processes physicians' orders for Critical Care patients, clarifying unclear orders with the provider when necessary. Provides lead pharmacist staffing assistance in the Inpatient Pharmacy as scheduled by supervisor. Prescribed drug therapy is evaluated and communicated daily to physicians/pharmacists for appropriateness, effectiveness, cost-benefit, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and disease states. Reviews patient medications ensuring medications have appropriate diagnosis if indicated by provider, dose, route, interval and have no significant drug interactions, incompatibilities, or duplications in therapy. Recommends appropriate drug therapy changes based on review and on standards of care and patient response. Practice formulary management, ensuring the most cost effective and therapeutically appropriate medications are utilized based on individual patient needs. Ensures non-formulary medication usage is appropriate according to VA policies and standards of care. All patients' interviews and assessment notes are completed appropriately in a manner consistent with the current quality assurance policies. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00 am - 3:30 pm, Some weekends and holidays Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 30917-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact Betsy Quinn, betsy.quinn@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.