Pharmacist(Clinical Specialist)

01Basic Requirements

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: (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 Test (TOEFL iBT).

02Licensure

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. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.

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: (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. (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.

GS-13 Experience: In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. The clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) functions at the highest level of clinical practice, works independently under their scope of practice as defined by the individual medical center to directly care for patients.

A CPS plays a defined role in budgetary execution and serves as a mid-level provider who functions to initiate, modify or discontinue medication therapy and as a consultant for intensive medication therapy management services. Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs: a. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions. b. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area. c.

Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise. d. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy. e. Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.

03Physical Requirements

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSABILITIES: Clinical: Evaluates and monitors medications for appropriateness of therapy and patient's response to therapy based on relevant therapeutic endpoints by means of patient interviews, physical and functional assessment, and diagnostic tests. Coordinates and manages consultative therapeutic drug monitoring services as requested by providers on selected drug therapies.

Evaluates drug therapy through direct patient care involvement, with clinical assessment and objective findings relating to patient's responses to drug therapy and communicating and documenting those findings, interventions, and recommendations to appropriate providers and in appropriate records. Monitors formulary management protocols and programs approved by the Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee in the limitation or restriction of medication use.

Assists in the management of medical emergencies, adverse drug reactions, and acute and chronic disease states.

04Education

• Maintains professional competency on drug therapies and innovations in pharmacy practice pertinent to the care provided in this health care system. 2.
• Provides medication counseling to patients and/or caregivers.
• Assists in the development, coordination and provision of drug therapy in service programs, staff development programs, patient education programs, and other system- wide drug information programs.
• Maintains active and current appointments at university affiliated programs.

Serves as preceptor for pharmacy clerkship students and pharmacy residents. Administrative Support/Program Management: Performs proper recordkeeping and maintains proper documentation when required or appropriate for all clinical activity and patient interventions. Ensure sensitive data for patient files, both printed and electronic, remain confidential. Ensures ADP systems for pharmacy practice and patient care are utilized for official duties and remain secure.

Actively participates in various quality management and performance improvement activities such as drug utilization evaluations, drug class reviews, adverse drug reaction monitoring, new drug request reviews, prior approval/non-formulary drug reviews, ongoing drug monitors, and a variety of other activities associated with the provision of pharmaceutical care. Serves as a member of various pharmacy and health care system clinical care committees and workgroups.

Research: May sign and/or participate in research studies under FDA guidelines that have undergone review and approval by the Research & Development Committee and the Investigational Review Board. SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: The Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner reports to the Associate Chief, Clinical Pharmacy Services or Chief of Pharmacy. Delegated medical care functions are reviewed and supervised by the collaborating physician.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 1630pm Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. 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.

Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.

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: Available Functional Statement #: 0000