CareerPharm®

Summary

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information - refer to Required Documents below. The Clinical Pharmacist handles routine medication­ related activities to include - but not limited to: reviewing - interpreting - and verifying medication orders for appropriateness - processing and filling medication orders - interacting with and making recommendations to other clinical staff regarding medication therapy ordered to ensure safe and effective care.

Qualifications

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 appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - this part
• 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.) 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
• 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
• 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)
• 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
• Grade Determinations: 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 - Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program
• Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs): 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
• Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies - including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters
• Preferred Experience: Inpatient experience preferred but not required
• Past or present HPTs will be considered for this position
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Pharmacist Qualification Standard The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• Pharmacy Program Management: The Clinical Pharmacist will work in conjunction with Clinical Pharmacists - Clinical Pharmacy Specialists (CPS) - and other health care professionals to form an organized team approach to the delivery of pharmaceutical care
• Activities shall include: Maintains workflow patterns that assure timely deliver of pharmacy services - ensures accurate dispensing and record keeping - and oversees technical and nonprofessional staff in the ambulatory care - acute care - or CLC pharmacy setting
• Participates in quality improvement activities - pharmacoeconomic initiatives (e.g. - drug conversions) - committees - and workgroups in support of the pharmacy service strategic plan
• Provides patient care utilizing an advanced in-depth knowledge of ambulatory care - acute care - and/or CLC specialized areas of pharmacy practice
• Oversees day to day maintenance and operation of pharmacy equipment and automation - such as Scriptpro - Pyxis - Parata - and BD Cato
• Assists in assuring that pharmacy programs are compliant with all regulatory and accrediting body requirements (i.e. - Joint Commission - FDA - ASHP - OIG - etc.)
• Distributive: Review pharmacy orders to include patient information - dose and route - frequency of administration - patient allergies - drug interactions - incompatibilities - duplication - and priority
• Resolves prescribing and dispensing issues - including pharmacotherapeutic and formulary issues
• Documents interventions as necessary
• Finish - input and/or verify information and orders in the computer system and dispense medication in accordance with dosage form requirements (outpatient - unit dose - and IV admixture)
• Identify actual and potential drug-related problems prospectively - thereby eliminating duplication efforts - reducing medication errors - and increasing patient satisfaction
• Dispenses controlled substances according to current policies - procedures - and standards established by DEA - FDA - VA - and Joint Commission
• Clinical Program Management: The Clinical Pharmacist shall provide and support clinical pharmacy services - pharmacoeconomic activities - and is directly responsible for monitoring and managing medication therapy for assigned patients
• Activities shall include: Responsible for ambulatory care - acute care - or CLC pharmacy activities involving highly innovative methods of health care delivery
• Participates in a patient-focused - team-based multidisciplinary model of patient centered care to promote positive patient outcomes through direct and indirect interaction with patients and providers
• Evaluates appropriateness of pharmacologic therapy at clinic visits or during hospitalizations and as the level of care changes
• Makes appropriate therapeutic recommendations and monitoring plans and documents the activities in the medical record via electronic progress notes
• Provides drug information - observations on patient response to therapy - and develops appropriate recommendations regarding treatment alternatives or additional interventions to maximize patient care outcomes taking into consideration choice of therapy - safety - efficacy - and pharmacoeconomics
• Provides medication reconciliation and patient medication counseling verifying and documenting patient understanding of the medication - proper medication use - expected outcomes - how to obtain refills of the medication - along with how the current prescription will be processed
• Reports actual and/or potential medication errors or adverse events and participates in quality improvement initiatives that promote patient safety
• Actively participates in the VA Adverse Drug Reaction (VA ADERS) reporting program
• Education: Collaborates with the Pharmacy Management Team on pharmacy training and development - to promote the learning experience and improve the performance of pharmacists - pharmacy technicians - pharmacy residents - and students Participates in clinical pertinence review process to confirm the quality of care delivered to veterans - ensure patient safety - and identify areas for additional education and/or process improvement
• Participates in the development and implementation of formal and informal drug education/clinical consultation to medical - surgical - nursing - and pharmacy staff in the form of in-services and continuing education programs
• Interfaces with other health care providers and administers to ensure compliance with established pharmacy policies and procedures
• Work Schedule: Overnights
• 2000-0730
• 7 days on - 7 days off Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized