Summary

The Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner (CPP) functions at the highest level of clinical practice - works independently under their individual scope of practice to directly care for patients. The CPP will mainly cover the acute care cardiology team - but at times will be asked to cross cover other acute care teams.

Qualifications

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
• 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
• 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:GS-13 Pharmacist Experience: In addition to the GS-12 requirements - must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• Assignments
• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher level duties must consist of significant scope - administrative independence - complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed at least 25% of the time
• Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
• 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
• This includes - but is not limited to - the following: designing - implementing - assessing - monitoring and documenting therapeutic plans utilizing the most effective - least toxic and most economical medication treatments
• helping achieve positive patient centric outcomes through direct and indirect interactions with patients - providers - and interdisciplinary teams in assigned areas
• performing physical assessments
• and ordering laboratory and other tests to help determine efficacy and toxicity of medication therapy
• GS-13 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: a
• Completion of a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency (Pharmacy Practice) and PGY2 Residency in Cardiology or Internal Medicine
• OR b
• Completion of a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency (Pharmacy Practice) with experience in acute care cardiology
• OR c
• Has worked as a clinical pharmacist in acute care cardiology or medicine for > 3 years
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be able to perform all activities of the position without restriction
• This position involves: Must be in overall good health
• The work requires standing - walking - moderate lifting and carrying of items
• The work also requires the use of fingers - the ability to read without strain (far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other) - and the ability to hear (aid permitted).

Duties

• Performs daily comprehensive medication management on the patients admitted to the Inpatient Cardiology Team
• Performs and documents admission and discharge medication reconciliation on patients on the Cardiology Team
• Utilizes existing protocols for approval of restricted antimicrobials - prospective audit and feedback of broad-spectrum antimicrobials and optimizing use of antimicrobial treatments
• Maintains current unit medication protocols and guidelines and look for opportunities to create new protocols/guidelines to guide improved pharmacotherapy
• Participates in departmental and interdisciplinary committees to improve patient safety - therapeutic outcomes - and cost savings
• Is responsible for the care of patients as well as the development of effective - professional relationships within the multidisciplinary team
• Designs and provides effective in-service education for physicians - nurses - pharmacy technicians
• 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 including changes in medication therapy - referral to primary care or specialty provider
• Adjusts medication regimens based upon pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data
• Interviews and/or evaluates patients upon admission and daily during hospital stay for appropriateness of pharmacological therapy and makes a pharmaceutical care plan for each patient that will be documented in the pharmacy initial assessment or progress note
• Participates in daily rounds with the cardiology team and provides drug information - observations on patient response to therapy - and appropriate recommendations regarding treatment alternatives or additional interventions to maximize patient outcomes taking into consideration choice of therapy - safety - efficacy - and formulary issues
• Exercises antibiotic stewardship
• 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
• Assesses need for prophylactic therapies including DVT prophylaxis and immunizations
• Reviews 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
• Performs medication reconciliation upon admission - transfer and discharge and informs healthcare providers of any discrepancies noted
• Monitors and reports drug errors - adverse drug reactions - allergies - and patient compliance issues
• Documents findings per facility procedures
• Actively participates in the VAADERS Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) reporting system
• Documents clinical interventions in CPRS in a timely and professional manner as appropriate
• Applies 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 and as assigned
• Supports effective drug usage criteria approved by the national VHA Pharmacy Benefits Management (PBM) - VISN PBM and local Pharmacy & Therapeutic (P & T) which help to ensure quality patient care in a cost-effective manner
• Ensures appropriate utilization of the VHA formulary by health care providers
• Documents clinical interventions in CPRS in a timely and professional manner as appropriate
• Works to develop - upgrade - and disseminate acceptable criteria for use of formulary and non-formulary medications and other high-cost items directed at employed cost effectiveness with compromising the quality of patient care
• Dissemination of information may occur in a setting requiring speaking in front of a large group of providers
• Work Schedule: M-F 6:30am-3:00pm rotating weekends Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 57230-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized