The Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) will be responsible for planning, implementing and operating the clinical pharmacy program he/she is assigned to cover in the primary care or any of the specialized areas of pharmacy for the Myrtle Beach Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Myrtle Beach, SC, a subsidiary of the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System in Charleston, SC.
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. Language: 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.) OR 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). NOTE: If you are using education to qualify for this position, you must supply a copy of your transcripts with your application package for verification, or you may be disqualified from consideration. 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. 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. GS13 GRADE REQUIREMENTS: Experience: In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. GS12 Requirements: 1. 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, or 2. Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program. Knowledge, Skill, and Ability Requirements: 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: Completion of an ASHP accredited pharmacy residency program in ambulatory care or five years experience as a primary care CPS. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary in nature and is performed in a well-lit, temperature controlled office environment.
VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws The CPS plays a defined role in budgetary execution and serves as a mid-level provider to initiate, modify, or discontinue medication therapy, except for controlled substances, and as a consultant for medication services by the providers of the medical center. The CPS accepts a shared responsibility for the overall management of clinic, including but not limited to developing & maintaining clinic grids, sustaining clinic utilization, managing missed opportunities, coordinating clinic cancellations, and restructuring as necessary to effectively maintain patient care in response to staffing needs. Duties include but are not limited to: Designing, implementing, assessing, monitoring and documenting therapeutic plans utilizing the most effective, safest, and most economical medication treatments. Assisting with positive patient-centric outcomes and providing clinical pharmacy expertise through direct and indirect interactions with patients, providers, and interdisciplinary teams in assigned areas. Performing physical measurements and objective assessments necessary to ensure the patients appropriate clinical responses to drug therapy. Ordering, subsequent review, and action on appropriate laboratory and other tests to assist in determining efficacy and toxicity in medication therapy. Taking independent corrective action for identified drug-induced problems. Ordering consults (i.e., dietician, social work, specialty provider), as appropriate, to maximize positive drug therapy outcomes. Developing and reviewing policies and operating procedures specific to the clinical practice area. Providing clinical coverage in the pharmacist-run clinics in Primary Care and other clinics as assigned. Participates in the process of medication reconciliation including updating the medication profile to reflect an accurate, active list of VA and non-VA medications, and discontinuing duplicate medications or medications that the patient is not taking. Reports adverse drug events, near misses and medication errors. Precepts pharmacy students, PGY-1 and PGY-2 pharmacy residents including providing constructive feedback regarding quality of educational experience and preceptor interaction/involvement. Ensure integrity of medications stored in CBOCs based on manufacturer stability data Performs other necessary duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 am -4:30 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 58151F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: None EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized