Pharmacist (Facility Program Manager)

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

02Education

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).

03Licensure

Must possess a 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. 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 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.

04Grade Determinations

GS-13 Pharmacist (Facility Program Manager) - In addition to meeting the GS-12 requirements, to qualify for the GS-13, must have at least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower level (GS-12) and fully meet the following KSAs.

GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist (Full Performance Level) Requirements: (a) 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, or Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. Program. (b) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) (must be fully demonstrated in your resume): Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice. Ability to communication 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.

GS-13 Pharmacist (Facility Program Manager) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (must be fully demonstrated in your resume): 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.

05Preferred Experience

GS-13 experience in Pain Management or PMOP, PGY2 Pain Management. 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-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13.

06Physical Requirements

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

The Columbia VAHCS Pain Management, Opioid Safety, and Prescription Drug Monitoring (PMOP) Coordinator will support the Facility Pain Point of Contact (POC) and Clinical Leads in the coordination of pain management, opioid safety, and prescription drug monitoring program (PMOP) related initiatives and implementation of VHA and the Joint Commission standards. Total Rewards: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties include, but not limited to: Directs Clinical Pain Care Delivery.

Collaborates with the VISN PMOP Coordinator, Facility Pain POC, Primary Care (PACT) Pain Champion, Academic Detailers, Pain Management Team/Pain Clinic team members, and other facility stakeholders. Conducts OSI reviews, data-based risk reviews for opioid-exposed patients (including Stratification Tool for Opioid Risk Mitigation [STORM] data-based reviews), and other interdisciplinary pain care forums.

Develops processes/procedures to ensure implementation and compliance with national policy related to pain management, opioid safety, and risk mitigation strategies, Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution (OEND), management of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) initiatives in compliance with national policy, clinical practice guidelines, and regulatory requirements. Collaborates to evaluate acute pain care prescribing and processes at the facility and leading improvement opportunities.

Supports access to tertiary advanced diagnostic and therapeutic intervention pain care modalities. Facilitates completion of reviews of community provider opioid prescribing practices as required by the MISSION Act 131. Partners with Academic Detailing and other stakeholders to monitor and disseminate best clinical practices related to PMOP initiatives.

Facilitates facility responses to formal, sensitive inquiries related to pain and opioid safety per patient reported concerns as presented by Patient Advocacy, Executive Leadership, VISN, Congressional, and others. Prepares responses to formal inquiries from the PMOP office in collaboration with Facility Pain POC, VISN Pain POC and VISN PMOP coordinator.

Supports a highly functioning Pain Committee that includes stakeholders from across the facility, supporting subcommittees, and task forces/workgroups as indicated. Participates in VISN Pain Committee/Community of Practice meetings and other VISN directed activities as appropriate.

Supports and tracks full implementation of the Stepped Care Model for Pain Management (SCM-PM), including a high functioning PMT/Pain Clinic at the facility, and access to tertiary pain center within the VISN including a CARF-accredited interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation program. Facilitates implementation of the OUD stepped care model within the facility, in particular for Step 1 of the Stepped Care for Opioid Use Disorder Train-the-Trainer (SCOUTT) program expansion, e.g., within PMTs/Pain Clinics.

Provides pharmacy related informatics training and development, to promote the learning experience and improve the performance of providers and pharmacy staff. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.

Learn more Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 63757F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized