The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) is a health care team member delivering evidence-based, comprehensive medication management (CMM) in Pain and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) management practice areas, including the initiation, modification and discontinuation of medication therapy, through interaction with both patients and fellow health care team members. This position is located within the VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT. Applicants must be fully qualified by the closing date of this announcement. 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: (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.) OR (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. Grade Determinations: GS- 13 Clinical Pharmacy Specialist Experience: In addition to the GS-12 requirements, candidates must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Sills and Abilities (KSAs): 1. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions. 2. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area. 3. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise. 4. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy. 5. Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. Additionally Pharmacist assigned to this position should demonstrate the following Full performance level (GS-12) 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 Assignment. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G15, Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Standard dated June 7, 2012. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds); straight pulling (1 hour); pushing (1 hour) reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking (2 hours); standing (2 hours); repeated bending (2 hours); both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; ability to distinguish basic colors; ability to distinguish shades of colors; hearing (aid permitted). ["VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist functions as an advanced practice provider with a scope of practice to provide comprehensive medication management as part of the interdisciplinary team to provide CMM for Pain and/or SUD management. Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Execute therapeutic plans utilizing the safest and most cost-effective medication treatments. Orders, monitors, and interprets toxicology screens and other pertinent labs and implements appropriate follow-up on treatment actions. Perform the physical measurements and objective assessments necessary to ensure the patient's appropriate clinical responses to therapy. Order, review and act on appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor, support and modify the patient's drug therapy. Order consults and referrals, as appropriate to maximize positive drug therapy outcomes. Perform rating scale on pain control, symptoms and functional status. Queries and documents PDMP finding as appropriate Provides overdose education and prescribes naloxone when needed. Obtain and document informed consent for treatments and procedures the require consent. Reviews patient medication regimens for clinical effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, potential drug interaction, pharmacokinetic impact and therapeutic outcomes as required. Promotes and monitors compliance for established drug therapy policies. Identifies patients who may benefit form CMM through population management, team meetings, and/or huddles. Reports and documents drug errors, adverse drug reactions and allergies according to policy. Conducts drug utilization reviews, quality assurance activities and utilization review as required. Works with health care team members to ensure compliance with national, VISN and local initiatives. Service as an authority on drug usage, interactions, over-dosages, and compliance. Instructs patients and family members effectively in the appropriate use of medications and medical devices. Work Schedule: Full Time Monday - Friday 8am - 4:30pm\nTelework: Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 689-F04685\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]