CareerPharm®

Summary

The clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) functions at the highest level of clinical practice - works independently under their individual scope of practice to directly care for patients. A CPS functions as a member of their assigned team(s) and serves as an advanced practice provider to initiate - modify or discontinue medication therapy and as a consultant for intensive medication therapy management services.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship
• Citizen of the United States
• (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g - 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
• 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: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - GS-13
• Experience
• In addition to the GS-12 requirements - must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: 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 Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13
• Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds)
• Light lifting and carrying (under 15 pounds)
• Reaching above shoulder
• Use of fingers
• Both hands required
• Standing
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4
• Environment Factors: Dry atmospheric conditions
• Constant noise
• Working closely with others
• Working alone.

Duties

• The CPS will be assigned to Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT) in the primary care clinics
• Functions of the position include: Customer Service Treats patient - team members - other facility employees and visitors with respect
• Responds to the needs of the Veteran and staff in a courteous and timely manner
• Demonstrates appropriate and proactive interpersonal skills to achieve the goals of the service
• Acts as a team member and is supportive of the group's efforts at all times
• Demonstrates an ability to work under a variety of circumstances to maximize group productivity and quality
• Clinical - Direct Patient Care Activities Core functions include face-to-face and telephone encounters with referred patients - for comprehensive medication management in practice areas identified in their individual scope of practice
• Functions as a mid-level provider to design - implement - and monitor therapeutic drug plans to achieve definite outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned areas
• Orders - performs - reviews - and analyzes appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor and support the patient's drug therapy
• Follows-up with patients on lab or test results to discuss the plan of therapy - i.e
• changes in medication therapy - monitoring - and additional testing requirements
• Clinical pharmacy specialists will determine if a referral to the physician is necessary when disease progression occurs or adverse drug events require treatment interventions outside of the CPS scope of practice
• Clinical - Indirect Patient Care Activities Identify patients who may benefit from comprehensive Medication management through population management reports and during team huddles
• Review patient medication regimens for clinical effectiveness - drug selection - dosing - contraindications - side effects - potential drug interactions - and therapeutic outcomes as required
• Communicates findings with prescribers and provides appropriate alternatives to current treatment plans as needed
• Monitor and report drug errors - adverse drug reactions - allergies - and patient compliance issues
• Documents findings per facility procedures
• Apply knowledge of normal laboratory values in the evaluation of patient care - recognizes significant abnormalities - and makes dose adjustment recommendations based on objective laboratory findings
• Reviews and evaluates requests for non-formulary and restricted drugs for appropriateness and compliance with established criteria where applicable
• Assists Pharmacy and Therapeutics committee with medication use evaluations and other safety initiatives
• Promotes and monitors compliance for established drug therapy policies
• Works with providers to ensure compliance with national - VISN - and local initiatives
• Education and Research Participates in the training and in-servicing of pharmacists - pharmacy technicians - pharmacy students - pharmacy residents - and other staff on assigned teams
• Is skilled at using both written and verbal communication techniques in teaching others
• Serves as preceptor for pharmacy students and pharmacy residents in accordance with established policies
• Assists in new employee orientation - competency assessments - and mentoring as required
• Drug Information Serves as an authority on drug usage - interactions - over-dosages - and compliance - to medical staff - nursing staff - technicians and students
• Uses appropriate references to research drug information
• Has a good working knowledge of information resources - both written and electronic
• Maintains a current knowledge of therapeutics and disease management
• Provides timely and accurate responses to drug information inquiries from all customers
• 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
• Is able to refer patients to educational programs provided at the medical center by multidisciplinary teams
• Program Management Serves on medical center and/or VISN committees as requested
• Adheres to all medical center and department policies and regulations
• Manages information security within areas of responsibility to assure that computer system security and confidentiality of sensitive information is maintained - and that employee access to sensitive information is limited only to that which the employee requires to perform their duties
• Takes action as necessary to report and address violations of information security
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized