Pharmacist(Clinical Specialist)

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.

01Basic Requirements

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

02Education

(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 Tect (TOEFL iBT).

03Licensure

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. English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).

04Grade Determinations

GS-13. The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

05Experience

In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12) and demonstrate the following KSAs: 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.

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.

06Preferred Experience

Doctor of Pharmacy degree plus (1), (2), or (3), below: 1) Completion of an ASHP accredited PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice residency and Three (3) years of practice with substantial component of patient care activities acting as a mid-level provider in the specialty area of primary care.

1. Completion of BOTH an ASHP accredited PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice and a PGY-2 Ambulatory Care Residency with focus in chronic disease state management and three additional years of practice with a substantial component of patient care activities serving as a mid-level provider in specialty area of primary care.
2. Completion of BOTH an ASHP accredited PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency and a AHSP PGY-2 Specialty Ambulatory Care Residency with a substantial component of patient care activities during the residency, serving as a mid-level provider in specialty area of primary care. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13.

07Physical Requirements

This position requires some regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time, typing, walking distances within the medical center, lifting/carrying (up to 40 pounds) of pharmaceutical supplies, and bending/stooping/stretching. Mental and emotional stability, working closely with others, normal ranges of hearing and vision (corrected, or with use of aids) ability to effectively communicate, and the ability to distinguish between basic colors and shades of color are required.

The Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner (CPP), Primary Care, utilizes specialized expertise in the area of Primary Care aligning with the goals and objectives of medicine and specialty services to optimize patient care. The CPP is responsible for oversight of all clinical pharmacy activities and consultations in Primary Care settings for patients in whom they are assigned.

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Attends and participates in team meetings, conferences, and other meetings as required for the purpose of making recommendations and providing consultation in all Pharmacy-related matters to Primary Care for the Pharmacy service line. Directly assists other providers in rational medication selection by providing written and/or verbal consultation.

Responsible for planning, developing, and maintaining effective clinical pharmacy programs by implementing rational cost-effective drug therapy to improve patient outcomes within medicine and specialty services. Provides medication information to medicine and specialty team members as required. Participates in developing criteria for drug utilization evaluations, data collection, trending reports, and other quality assurance activities as required to ensure appropriate and safe drug utilization.

Assists in initiation of medication use improvement strategies including development of quick order sets, clinical reminders, patient/provider education handouts, and development and implementation of pharmacotherapy protocols. Ensures the safety and efficacy of the medication use process in the area assigned by reporting adverse drug effects, medication errors, and other quality issues. Performs data analysis to measure performance, trend changes, and implement quality improvement strategies.

Serves as liaison to pharmacy service for Primary Care services, serving as the local VAMC subject matter expert in Primary Care. Reports directly to and requires minimal supervision by the Primary Care/Outpatient Clinical Pharmacy Programs Supervisor. Evaluates the drug literature by analysis of experimental design and methodology, in order to compare and contrast therapeutic regimens and roles for new drugs, with a special emphasis on medications used in Primary Care.

Work Schedule: Full-Time, Based on the needs of the service. Telework: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 70849-F 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