The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) is responsible for providing clinical pharmacy services throughout VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System (VATXVCBHS) to include all its Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) and contracted community medical facilities to directly care for patients transitioning from inpatient to outpatient care and any additionally assigned specialty clinical setting. 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. 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. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 English Language Proficiency. Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). 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: 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: 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. Preferred Experience: PGY-2 Primary Care Residency (preferred) or PGY-1 Pharmacy PracticeResidency (Preferred) Board Certification (Minimum) Comprehensive knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy such as quality assurance/utilization review, informatics systems, drug information, etc. This level of knowledge is usually characterized by at least 1 year of experience in a specialized clinical area or advanced training/certification. Comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacoeconomic, and pharmacotherapeutics. This level of knowledge is characterized by at least 1 year of experience in a specialized clinical area or advanced training/certification. Extensive skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. Comprehensive knowledge of evidence-based VA treatment and supported guidelines published in medical literature. Extensive documentation and clinical progress note writing are required. This level of knowledge is characterized by at least 1 year of experience in a specialized clinical area or advanced training/certification. Demonstrates recognized expertise in the area of transitional care of patients and assigned associated specialty areas including, but not limited to Anticoagulation, Hepatitis C, and Pain Management. References: VA Handbook 5005/55 Part II Appendix G15 dated June 7, 2012. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Light lifting/carrying (under 15 pounds); straight pulling/pushing (1 hour); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking/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; depth perception; ability to determine basic colors; ability to distinguish shades of colors; hearing (aid may be permitted). ["VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Clinical Specialty Practice-Transitions of Care duties include but not limited to: Administrative: Concurrently reviews medication usage as part of the overall quality assurance program and specifically focuses on medications continued or prescribed at hospital discharge to reconcile active medications in the medical chart. May be required to perform administrative duties required for performance measures or improvement activities, compliance with accrediting organizations, or other duties as assigned. Performs other administrative duties as assigned by the Chief, Associate Chief for Clinical Pharmacy Service, and the Chief Medical Officer. Attends professional meetings as required or as time allows. May be required to participate in emergency preparedness activities as a result of national health disasters. Clinical: Coordinates clinical pharmacy functions for patients transitioning care from various inpatient facilities to outpatient care. Contact assigned/scheduled patients in a timely manner to ensure that medications regimens have been reviewed, that the patients are adhering to regimens as prescribed ad identifies and acts on any barriers to medication adherence. Works in assigned clinical areas to help achieve positive patient centric outcomes through direct and indirect interactions with patients, providers, and interdisciplinary teams. Performs initial medication assessment of patients' medication therapy, monitors as needed, and makes recommendations or changes within scope of clinical privileges as necessary. Works independently and effectively to assure appropriate, accurate drug reviews, and interprets prescriptions and/or physician orders for accuracy, eligibility, availability, and cost effectiveness and therapeutic appropriateness; reviews patient medication profiles, contact physicians and makes authorized changes in orders or prescriptions as required. Uses a high degree of appropriate professional judgment to solve complex problems which routinely arise throughout the workday. Demonstrates recognized expertise in the area of transitional care of patients and assigned associated specialty areas including, but not limited to Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (ACSC) and non-ACSC conditions. Monitors and assesses the outcome of drug therapies with advanced skill and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic procedures. Works closely with physicians and nurses to monitor patients response to medications. Demonstrates advanced knowledge of pharmaceutics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacotherapeutics as determined by peer review. Provides verbal and written medication information to patients or families on request and appropriate post-hospital discharge counseling when necessary. Supervises pharmacy trainees and residents assigned, as time allows. Education and Training: If registered and as time allows, serves as preceptor to students of Affiliated Schools of Pharmacy and pharmacy residents. Assists in the training of new pharmacy staff. Implements the clinical education and training for the multidisciplinary team, other clinical pharmacy specialists, or outpatient pharmacists. Provides highly specialized education and training to other professional services in the area of advanced pharmacotherapeutics as time allows. Performs in-service training. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM CST Telework: May be available for highly qualified candidates. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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