Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Home-Based Primary Care

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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

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. 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.

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).

All licensed pharmacists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard (6/7/2012) 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: (1) 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; (2) 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; and (3) 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-13: Must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-12.

Examples of experience include: 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; reviewing the patient's medications, allergies, labs, and other pertinent information from the medical record to identify and solve medication-related problems; providing refill extensions and partial medication supplies; performing medication reconciliation; providing drug information; assisting in formulary management including therapeutic substitutions, nonformulary reviews and medication usage evaluations; and documenting and assessing adverse drug events (ADEs).

In addition, you must have experience which demonstrates 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.

Preferred Experience

Completion of an ASHP-accredited pharmacy residency program with >/=50% of practice in ambulatory care setting or current/previous experience providing direct patient care under a primary care scope of practice. Previous or current experience in home-based primary care. 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

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Drivers License Requirement: A valid, unrestricted, state-issued drivers license is required. Must provide a clean driving record report from the DMV during onboarding.

Typical duties include but are not limited to: Program Management Responsible for developing, organizing, coordinating, and managing all aspects of clinical pharmacy functions for their assigned teams, attends and participates in multidisciplinary rounds, team meetings, conferences, and other meetings as required for the purpose of making recommendations and providing consultation in all Pharmacy-related matters Accepts a shared responsibility for the overall management of clinic, including but not limited to developing & maintaining clinic grids, sustaining clinic utilization, managing missed opportunities, coordinating clinic cancellations, and restructuring as necessary to effectively maintain patient care in response to staffing needs.

Clinical Functions Provides coverage for the assigned HBPC interdisciplinary team and region assigned as well as clinical coverage in the pharmacist-run clinics in the Patient-Aligned Care Team (PACT) and other clinics as assigned. Operates independently under a defined scope of practice to initiate, change, and discontinue prescription and OTC medications, devices, and supplies in an outpatient clinical pharmacy practice setting as outlined in relevant service line agreements and/or policies.

In collaboration with the appropriate provider, provides additional advanced medication services outside of defined clinical scope without need for provider co-signature and excluding controlled substances. Distributive Functions Verifies computer prescriptions (with provider order entry) for patients in his/her assigned clinic area or other areas as assigned. Directs pharmacy technician support, where applicable. Coordinate medication orders with central pharmacy or CMOP when necessary.

For non-emergent medications, prescriptions will be entered for mail-out from CMOP (90-daysupplies will be encouraged for maintenance medications) Educational Functions Acquisition and maintenance of the clinical knowledge necessary to provide clinical pharmacy services to the HBPC program and PACT Teams.

Administrative Functions Assumes an ownership role for administrative activities related to advanced practice setting, including reviewing consults in a timely manner, accurately completing and closing encounters, independently resolving provider and patient care issues, and assuring appropriate coverage for clinical services. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4pm or 8am - 4:30pm. Work schedule is subject to change based on agency needs. Telework (ad hoc): Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 60655F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.