Summary

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information - refer to Required Documents below.

Qualifications

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 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment in paragraph 2 - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• GS-11 Pharmacist Experience - Education - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• 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
• 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
• GS-13 (Above Performance Level) Experience
• In addition to the GS-12 requirements - must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• Assignments
• Candidates at this grade level are to be in one of the assignments listed below
• 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 by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Facility Program Manager
• Manages all aspects of a distinct program to include policy development - quality resources and specialty functions unique to the program to optimize cost effectiveness (budget) and patient outcomes
• Coordinates a single program area of a complex pharmacy operation - or multiple program areas within a facility to develop - organize - manage - and control complex pharmacy programs
• Develops - organizes - coordinates and manages single or multiple program areas within the medical facility
• The Program Manager title is reserved for those individuals who have one or more of the following: supervisory responsibilities for various sections within Pharmacy Service
• a complex program requiring coordination of multiple locations such as medical center care facilities - Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) - rural health - telemedicine - etc
• specialized areas of a complex nature such as nuclear pharmacy - quality assurance - pharmacy informatics - clinical applications coordinator - Home Based Primary Care - pharmacoeconomist or liaison pharmacist duties requiring the coordination of processes with other medical facilities or VISNs
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: 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
• Preferred Experience: Experience with Fileman - in depth VA Drug File - Procurement - or VA informatics certificate and familiarity with hospital and pharmacy equipment
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Involves long periods of moving - standing and pushing carts about the work unit
• The work requires regular and recurring bending - lifting - stooping - stretching - lifting
• The incumbent must be a mature - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - demonstrating cheerfulness - compassion - courtesy and concern for staff and patients
• Must possesses math skills in order to convert medications to the correct dosing.

Duties

• VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Pharmacist serves a broad and expansive role through out the entire VA SLC Health Care System in the procurement of medications/supplies and updating associated information within the electronic health record (EHR)
• Serves as a Contract Officer Representative (COR) and supports pharmacy systems in equipment maintenance or replacement
• 1
• Provides administrative - technical - analytical and automated data processing (ADP) support to Pharmacy Service
• Participates in Pharmacy Service information management managerial decisions and policy design
• 2
• Evaluates current information management procedures and practices to determine how effectively current goals are being met and how services could be improved through changes in automation
• Analyzes Pharmacy Service hardware and software needs streamlines procedures and processes through information management automation and new technology
• 3
• Ensures that systems are fully integrated - resources are utilized effectively and efficiently - and objectives are met
• 4.Collaborates with Pharmacy Service - IT - Biomed - and informatics personnel to identify computerization needs and is responsible for compiling and submitting information requests
• Works effectively with these individuals and services to develop new programs or modify existing programs to meet Pharmacy Service needs
• Provides detailed formats - documentation - flowcharts - diagrams - and other information necessary to accomplish objectives
• 5
• Creates computerized files - templates and databases to obtain automated clinical and administrative data used by the Pharmacy Service Supervisory staff to produce managerial reports for local - VISN and national VA purposes
• 6
• Develops - coordinates - implements and documents training programs - according to assessed need - for Pharmacy Service staff
• Prepares appropriate instructional materials for training purposes as needed
• 7
• Serves as liaison between Pharmacy Service and informatics/IT
• Identifies and translates Pharmacy Service needs/concerns/problems
• Coordinates hardware and software installations and upgrades
• 8
• Collaborates with VA and community information systems personnel to share information and participate in activities that will increase the quality of patient care through information systems management and automation
• 9
• Gathers and interprets data about Pharmacy Service work processes and design management information systems to capture data about these processes
• This involves assisting the Associate Chief - Pharmacy Operations and Chief of Pharmacy with determining which processes to automate - what equipment to select and how to effectively use and network with existing equipment
• 10
• Coordinates inventory of equipment and associated reporting as directed
• Assists with equipment replacement as needed
• 11
• Supports purchasing - receiving - and reporting functions within pharmacy either in a back-up roll or to support critical operations
• This includes managing shortages - backorders - and recalls of medication or pharmacy provided supplies
• Facility Program Managers will also assist with procurement and inventory control for vaccines and emergency use authorization products
• Works closely with Program Manger for Research - and pharmacy supervisors when needed
• 12
• Assists with budget and inventory processes including preparing reports and forecasting future needs
• Will support cost savings initiatives and proactively identify areas for cost savings
• 13
• Supports formulary management including review of consults and EHR data to determine if patient meets criteria for providing non-formulary and restricted medications
• Supports purchasing and dispensing of medications once approved including through prime vendor - VA and specialty pharmacy sources
• 14
• Manages program for medications held for destruction and/or return credit
• Works closely with the Program Manager for Controlled Substances to ensure the destruction or return is in compliance with OIG - VA and DEA requirements
• 15.Serves as Pharmacy Service representative to relevant committees and represents Pharmacy Service interests and perspectives as assigned by Associate Chief - Pharmacy Operations or designee
• 16
• Serves as a Contract Officer Representative (COR) for the Pharmacy Service - performing duties which include: ensuring that the government organization receives all of the contracted services
• 17
• Complies with all regulations for the use of Government Credit Cards
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm Occasional nights - Weekends and holidays
• Telework: Ad-Hoc as determined by the agency policy
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 56793-O 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