The Clinical Pharmacist (CP) in this assignment manages routine medication-related activities in accordance with VHA, DEA, FDA, Joint Commission, VISN, VAMHCS and other governing regulations, standards and policies and will represent Pharmacy Service on VAMHCS/VISN-level committees.
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 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. 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. English Language Proficiency. Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). Grandfathering Provision. 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). 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: (1)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. (2)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. (3)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 Determinations: GS-11 Pharmacist Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist (Full Performance Level) 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. GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist (Full Performance Level) Knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs): 1. Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice. 2. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff. 3. Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security. 4. Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. Preferred Experience: Two or more years of combines experience in retail (outpatient) and hospital (inpatient) pharmacy Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is required if the Clinical Pharmacist is involved in direct patient care, administration of immunizations or as required by clinical position. 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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-12. Physical Requirements: Physical demands of the position require regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing for prolonged periods of time, lifting/carrying of pharmaceutical supplies weighing up to 40 pounds, pushing and pulling of large carts. The job may include significant time at a computer terminal.
VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Major Duties include but are not limited to: Inpatient Activities: Centralized Intravenous Admixture Program: Reconstitutes, prepares and compounds commercial, non-routine and/or special formulation parenteral admixtures Ensures that preparations are unaltered therapeutically by incompatible or interacting drugs Antineoplastic preparations (Chemo) and total parenteral nutritional solutions (TPNs) will be prepared only by those clinical pharmacists who have had training Reviews and evaluates laboratory data (e.g. electrolytes) and medical charts of patients on TPN Responsible for checking IV admixtures Conducts weekly inventory of controlled substances stored in the IV room Automated Dispensing Cabinet (ADC) Centralized Unit Dose Program: Reviews the prescriber's medication order and patient's drug regimens Consults with the prescriber to correct or resolve potential medication problems Provides information to physicians, nurses, dietitians and other allied health care professionals on drugs, their characteristics, contraindications, dosages, adverse reactions, and availability Conducts discharge counseling of patients Conducts initial and/or monthly patient drug regimen reviews for all Long-Term Care (LTC) patients when assigned Provides support for ADCs by helping reset passwords, stocking medications and inventory control as needed Outpatient Activities Order Processing/Counseling Window: Positively identifies the patient presenting to the pharmacy for prescription processing according to VAMHCS policy Ensures that the Patient Rx Status corresponds to their eligibility Reviews, interprets and verifies all outpatient medications orders to assure appropriateness Reviews out-patient medication profile to ensure that the medications are prescribed appropriately, at the correct dosage, and free of potential drug interactions or incompatibilities Ensures that there are no significant or critical interactions (without intervention documentation) with other drugs that the patient is currently taking Ensures allergy assessment information is documented/reviewed before finishing any medication orders Reviews the patient's narrative field to verify approval for non-formulary medications Consults with patients, providing information and answering questions regarding their drug regimen Obtains information from patient regarding the use of any non-VA provided medications or herbal products, documenting information into CPRS Reviews and discontinues any non-VA provided entries that duplicate any VA provided medication(s). Order Processing Pending File: Processes pending file prescriptions for all divisions and community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) within VAMHCS Ensures that the Patient Rx Status corresponds to their eligibility Ensures that there are no significant or critical interactions (without intervention documentation) with other drugs that the patient is currently taking Order Processing General: Verifies that a medication use evaluation (MUE) has been completed and that a Non-Formulary Consult/Prior Authorization Drug Request has been approved, prior to dispensing Reviews and evaluates changes in therapy Prescription Dispensing: Checks prescriptions filled by technicians for accuracy Dispenses drugs and supplies to ambulatory patients Determines the proper routing of the prescription Opioid Addiction Treatment Program: Must be proficient in all aspects of the Opioid Addiction Treatment Program Controlled Substances: Responsible for assuring secure, accurate and accountable distribution of DEA Schedule II through V controlled substances Fills all inpatient and outpatient controlled substances prescriptions Conducts the required 72-hour inventory Checks in all controlled substances in the presence of Supply Chain staff Processes controlled substances for destruction Participates in monthly controlled substance inspection of the vault Reviews all controlled substances dispensed to the ADCs through use of CSM Maintains accurate records as per policy Work Schedule: To be determined by management/service need basis Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 0000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact visn5edrpcoordinators@va.gov , the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized