Summary

The clinical pharmacist is a licensed professional with knowledge and proficiency in pharmacy practice including pharmaceutics - pharmacokinetics - pharmacodynamics and pharmacotherapeutics. The incumbent is responsible for adjudicating Prior Authorization Drug Requests (PADRs) in an effective and efficient manner for patients of the Aleda E Lutz VA Medical Center.

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 (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 2 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 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)
• 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 Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment GS-11 Pharmacist (a) Experience - Education - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist (Full Performance Level) (a) 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
• (b) Assignment
• A pharmacist in this assignment handles routine medication-related activities in accordance with local - Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) - and national policies and regulations
• These include - but are not limited to: reviewing - interpreting - and verifying medication orders for appropriateness
• processing and filling medication orders
• interacting with and making recommendations to other clinical staff regarding medication therapy ordered to ensure safe and effective care
• reviewing the patient's medications - allergies - labs - and other pertinent information from the medical record to identify and solve medication-related problems
• contacting providers as appropriate
• documenting recommendations and interventions
• providing refill extensions and partial medication supplies
• taking health and medication histories
• performing medication reconciliation
• providing drug information
• assisting in formulary management including therapeutic substitutions - nonformulary reviews and medication usage evaluations
• documenting and assessing adverse drug events (ADEs)
• assisting in medical emergencies
• providing oversight of technical staff in all aspects of medication distribution
• 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 Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is 12
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 11 to 12
• Physical Requirements: Must be able to distinguish basic colors with the ability to distinguish shades of color
• This position may require heavy lifting and carrying - 45 pounds or more - routine standing - bending - stooping - or squatting
• It may also require pushing - walking - standing - reaching over shoulder - use of fingers - walking and standing up to four hours per tour
• Near vision correctable at 13' to 16' - far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other - hearing (aid permitted)
• The work environment is primarily inside a pharmacy or other office space as designated
• There may be extremes of temperature - distractions - noise from equipment or patient care activities
• The need to handle frozen or refrigerated products may occur
• Exposure to negative and positive air pressure rooms is possible
• Repeated twisting - shaking - and grasping of bottles - and vials or syringes may be required
• Must be able to don and work with protective garments and equipment as necessary.

Duties

• 1
• Critically reviews all PADRs - facility wide [internal and Care In The Community (CITC)] - for appropriateness
• a) Implements and applies the VA formulary - guidelines - and restrictions to all PADRs being adjudicated
• b) Understands - reviews - and applies criteria for use for each requested drug - if available
• c) Reviews - analyzes - and applies the available published medical literature as it pertains to PADRs and their adjudication
• 2) Seeks to provide patients with the best medication therapy possible while balancing drug availability - clinical applicability - and cost
• 3) Engages and communicates with providers - pharmacists - procurement and other staff - as needed - providing input and feedback for requested drugs
• 4) Coordinates with Non-VA Community Care Approved Provider Offices - Care Navigation Services - clinical pharmacists - or other staff when adjudicating CITC PADRs
• 5) Acts as a reference to pharmacists and providers in answering questions about the formulary status and approval requirements for obtaining nonformulary medications
• 6) Actively participates in formulary discussions to promote evidence-based - cost effective drug therapy
• 7) Promotes compliance with the VHA National Formulary and clinical guidelines
• 8) Provides consistent oversight of PADRs allowing for equal care amongst patients seen at the facility as well as via CITC
• 9) Document completion of PADR in electronic health record - including whether approved - disapproved - and possible alternative - if appropriate
• 10) Performs other duties required
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 92841A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized