Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship
• Citizen of the United States
• (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S. Code 7407)
• 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)
• 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
• (1) Exception
• Non-licensed pharmacists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment at the entry level as a Graduate Pharmacist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B)
• The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed 2 years for a pharmacist that provides care under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist
• For grade levels above the GS-11 - the candidate must be licensed
• (2) Failure to Obtain License
• In all cases - pharmacists must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure starting from the date of their appointment
• At the time of appointment - the supervisor will provide the unlicensed pharmacist with the written requirement to obtain licensure - the date by which the license must be acquired - and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline
• Failure to become licensed within 2 years from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0660 Pharmacist series and may result in termination of employment
• GRADE DETERMINATIONS
• GS-11 Pharmacist Experience - Education - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• (NOTE: See exception to licensure requirement above.) Assignment
• Pharmacists at this grade level serve in a developmental capacity
• GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist (Full Performance Level) Experience or Education
• In addition to the basic requirements - candidates must meet one of the following: 1
• 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level - or 2
• Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program
• Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs): 1
• Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice
• 2
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff
• 3
• Knowledge of laws - regulations - and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security
• 4
• Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies - including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters
• Preferred Experience: Seeking a highly qualified clinical pharmacist with two or more years of recent inpatient experience in a hospital setting
• Candidates must hold an active U.S. state pharmacist license
• Strong clinical judgment - effective decision-making skills - and experience calculating complex medication infusions is essential to this position
• The ideal candidate will have inpatient pharmacy experience at a Medical Center hospital with an advanced inpatient pharmacy automation system (Pyxis or Omnicell) - experience in critical care or emergency medication infusions - and a working knowledge of the USP 797 and USP 800 sterile compounding standards
• 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 in the range of GS-11 to GS-12
• Physical Requirements: The work requires heavy lifting (over 45 pounds)
• moderate carrying (15-44 pounds)
• reaching above the shoulder
• use of fingers
• both hands required
• walking (up to 8 hours)
• standing (up to 6 hours)
• repeated bending (up to 2 hours)
• near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to4
• far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other
• depth perception
• ability to distinguish basic colors
• ability to distinguish shades of colors
• hearing (aid may be permitted)
• and mental and emotional security
• Environmental Factors: There may exposure to constant noise
• dust
• extensive keyboard and mouse use
• protracted hours of work
• and you must be able to work alone and closely with others.

Duties

• The pharmacist integrates knowledge and skills of pharmacists and technicians into the distributive and clinical processes to provide outcome­ driven pharmaceutical care to Veterans - ensuring all local - VHA - DEA - and other regulatory body policies and regulations are adhered to
• The incumbent will review and monitor drug therapy
• provide professional advice and consultative services
• educate peers - patients - and families
• document care in the medical record according to standard operating procedures
• and continually integrate new knowledge and technology to improve the quality of pharmaceutical care provided to Veterans
• Duties and Responsibilities: Clinical Promote pharmaceutical care service to Veterans in medical center clinics and on inpatient wards
• Provide prescription dispensing and controlled substance and high-cost drug accountability
• Review - interpret - and verify medication orders for clinical appropriateness
• collaborate with providers at the front end of the prescription order process to improve patient outcomes
• review patient medications - allergies - labs - and other pertinent information from the medical record for appropriate drug selection - dosing - contraindications - and potential interactions
• contact providers as appropriate
• Proactively collaborate with providers regarding medication therapy including anticoagulation management - renal dose adjustment - pharmacokinetic monitoring and dose adjustment - pain management - electrolyte and glycemic management - parenteral nutrition management - IV to PO conversions - sedation/analgesia management - and antimicrobial stewardship
• Document clinical pharmacy activities in the electronic health record (EHR) including therapeutic changes and recommendations with appropriate encounter information according to pharmacy standard operating procedure
• Complete medication reconciliation upon admission - transfer - and discharge - ensure the patient's medication profile is updated - and document appropriate transitions in care
• Ensure pending inpatient - clinic - and outpatient prescriptions and other distributive workload activities are triaged - prioritized - and processed in a timely manner
• Promote cost effective utilization of formulary medications and supplies and participate in cost savings initiatives
• Critically evaluate and complete non-formulary medication requests by using evidence-based decision making
• Participate in quality improvement and patient safety programs including patient incident and adverse event reporting - medication use evaluations - drug alerts - drug recalls - drug shortage mitigation - pharmacy related clinical performance measures - and other projects related to patient outcomes
• Maintain knowledge and practice to help ensure full compliance with medical center accreditation standards and other regulatory requirements
• Discontinue duplicate prescription(s) received at other VA sites and notify other VA sites when appropriate (due to prescription duplication)
• Assist in medical emergencies by participating in code blue events
• Education Train - educate - and precept pharmacy residents and/or pharmacy students
• Educate coworkers - medical students - residents - attending staff - nursing - and other professional staff
• Educate patients - family members - and caregivers on issues relating to drug therapy
• Distribute and communicate drug information to peers and other health care providers
• Administrative Provide support to and oversight of technical staff in aspects of medication distribution
• When assigned - serve as Pharmacist-in-Charge in the absence of a supervisor to ensure continuity of patient care and pharmacy operations
• Assist with the development of quality and safety improvement initiatives and the collection and analysis of data
• Examples include but are not limited to order sets - MUE's - protocols - monographs - and participation in committees or task groups
• Assist with the development of policies and procedures that help streamline drug distribution processes
• Research Assist with the development and implementation of pharmacy-based - patient-focused research studies
• Dispense and maintain accountability records for investigational drugs as needed
• Provide investigational drug information to medical - nursing - and other professional staff
• Conduct investigational drug patient counseling when appropriate
• Work Schedule: Mon-Fri - 7:00am to 3:30pm with occasional weekends - evenings - nights - and holidays
• Telework: Not Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.