This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Learn more 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. Physical Requirements: Pre-employment physical is required. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English. 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: GS-13 a) Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Examples of GS-12 level equivalent experience are but not limited to: 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; and skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. 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. In addition to meeting the GS-12 KSA the Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs at the GS-13: a. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions. b. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area. c. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise. d. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy. e. Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. References: VA Handbook 5005/55, Part II, Appendix G15 dated June 7, 2012. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 lbs. Significant computer work/typing, prescription order entry and processing, contact of patients. Certain tasks are repetitive in nature and require multiple steps performed in succession for success. Incumbent must be able to stand or sit in one place for considerable time during completion of complex tasks. Complexity of mental processes involved is extensive, demanding, and challenging. ["The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) acts as a representative of the Pharmacy Service, in a variety of positions throughout the Healthcare System. The CPS functions at the highest level of clinical pharmacy practice and works independently under a scope of practice in practice area(s) based on their knowledge, competencies, clinical experience, and skills. The practice for the CPS consists of direct and indirect patient care, drug therapy monitoring, prescriptive authority, etc. Clinical Practice\n- Functions independently under an individual scope of practice as defined by the health care system for chronic disease states with comprehensive medication management to provide pharmaceutical care to patients. This includes but is not limited to the design, implementation, and monitoring of therapeutic drug plans to achieve positive, definite outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned areas.\n- Obtains medication histories from patients and summarizes significant findings in the medical record.\n- Reviews patient medication regimens for clinical effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, potential drug interactions, and therapeutic outcomes as required and communicates findings with other relevant staff when applicable.\n- Monitors for and reports drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and medication adherence issues. Documents findings per facility procedures.\n- Applies knowledge of normal laboratory values in the evaluation of patient care; recognizes and takes necessary and appropriate action on significant abnormalities.\n- Has expertise in the principles of clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and is knowledgeable and able to make dose adjustments and/or recommendations based on objective laboratory findings. Education and Research\n- Maintains a general knowledge of VHA, DEA and Joint Commission regulations.\n- Is responsible for maintaining and improving professional competency by keeping current with information on new medications, therapies, and innovations in Pharmacy practice. The incumbent continually applies up-to-date drug information and program techniques in their daily practice.\n- Is responsible for maintaining all continuing education required for licensure, as well as all competency and training specific to area of practice.\n- Responsible for keeping abreast of changes within Pharmacy Service (i.e., formulary additions and deletions, interdepartmental memoranda, relevant station memoranda, policies and procedures).\n- Participates in the training and in-servicing of Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Pharmacy Students/Residents, and other medical center personnel as required. Includes development of educational material.\n- Effectively instructs patients and family members in the appropriate use of medications and medical devices. Is able to adjust communication and tracking methods based on age and developmental considerations. Is able to accurately assess and document patient comprehension. When needed, is able to refer patients to educational programs provided at the medical center by multidisciplinary teams.\n- Is skilled at using both written and verbal communication techniques in teaching others. Quality Assurance and Improvement\n- Assists with the QA program within Pharmacy Service as it relates to clinical practice. Is responsible for maintaining QA data for their clinical practice focus.\nIs an active participant in all facets of the PPE program as designated by Associate Chief, Clinical Pharmacy Programs or designee.\n- Participates in interdisciplinary care teams and committees to improve the quality of patient care.\n- Participates in the MUE process through proactive identification of problem areas, criteria development, analysis of findings, and recommendation of follow up actions (e.g. education) that are deemed necessary.\n- Documents adverse drug events in electronic medical record and assists with updating VA Adverse Drug Event Reporting System (VA ADERS).\n- Analyzes data and completes reports, including clinical care reviews (peer reviews) in accordance with established facility policy. Prepares, submits, and presents reports for P&T Committee and other reports as assigned in a proactive, timely and accurate manner when called upon.\nWork Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]