Summary

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information - refer to Required Documents below. Knowledgeable and proficient in pharmacy practice including pharmaceutics - pharmacokinetics - pharmacodynamics and pharmacotherapeutics. Applies State - Federal and VA standards. Handles routine medication-related activities in compliance with regulatory bodies.

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 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 - unrestricted - and unexpired 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
• NOTE: Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct - professional incompetence or substandard care - or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the State for professional misconduct - professional incompetence - or substandard care - are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C. 7402(f))
• Effective November 30 - 1999 - this is a requirement for employment
• This requirement does not apply to licensed pharmacists on VA rolls as of that date - provided they maintain continuous appointment and are not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license - registration or certification
• 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)
• Creditable Experience: Knowledge of Professional Pharmacy Practices
• To be creditable - the experience must have demonstrated the use of knowledge - skills - and abilities associated with professional pharmacy practice
• Professional practice means paid/non-paid employment as a professional or unlicensed graduate pharmacist as defined by the appropriate licensing board
• Residency and Fellowship Training
• Residency and fellowship training programs in a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice may be substituted for creditable experience on a year-for- year basis
• The pharmacy residency program must be accredited by the American Society of Health- System Pharmacists (ASHP)
• A fellowship program that is not accredited by the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) will need to have comparable standards for experience to be creditable (Professional Standards Board refers to the Deputy Chief Consultant for Professional Practice for the determination)
• Quality of Experience
• Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to pharmacy experience at the next lower level
• Experience as a Graduate Pharmacist is creditable provided the candidate was used as a professional pharmacist (under supervision) and subsequently passed the appropriate licensure examination
• Grade Determinations: Clinical Pharmacist GS-12 (Full Performance Level): Experience or Education: In addition to the basic requirements - candidates must meet one of the following: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) - or Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program
• Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSA's): Pharmacists assigned to this position must also demonstrate the following KSA's: Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff
• Knowledge of laws - regulations - and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security
• Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies - including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters
• 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
• Preferred Experience: Cerner 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 Physical Requirements: Must be able to distinguish basic colors with ability to distinguish shades of color
• This position may require heavy lifting and carrying - 45 pounds and over
• Requires routine standing - bending - and stooping/squatting
• As needed - pushing - walking - standing - reaching over shoulder - use of fingers - both hands and legs required - walking and standing up to four hours per tour - near vision correctable at 13' to 16' to Jaeer 1 to 4 - far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other - hearing (aid permitted).

Duties

• VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Duties include but are not limited to: Provide appropriate selection of drug therapy based upon the pharmaceutical principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
• monitoring for efficacy - side effects and clinical outcome
• and advises prescribers and nursing staff as appropriate
• Monitor patient's medication profile to include prospective review and intervention in: Therapeutic appropriateness of a patient's drug regimen - Therapeutic duplication in the patient's drug regimen - Appropriateness of the route and method of administration - Degree of patient compliance with the prescribed drug regimen - Drug-drug - drug-food - drug-laboratory - or drug disease interactions - Clinical and pharmacokinetic laboratory data to evaluate the efficacy of drug therapy and to anticipate side effects - toxicity - or adverse effects and physical signs and clinical symptoms relevant to the patient's drug therapy
• Serve as a drug information resource by providing up-to-date drug information to prescribers - other health care professionals - patients and caregivers
• Routinely participate in communication with other health care professionals
• providing interventions and recommendations according to current evidence-based medication practices
• Conduct medical record review - may order and evaluates pertinent laboratory data - drug-drug and drug-nutrient interactions - monitors for adverse drug effects - and screens for allergies
• Manage recalls and medication shortage situations by substituting alternate dosage strengths and instructions of the same medication to equal the prescribed dose and schedule
• Enter supply orders as appropriate for patient care per facility policy
• Extend refills until next scheduled appointment under the provider's name per facility policy or scope of practice
• Process partial prescriptions as needed
• Review all medication orders for appropriateness prior to dispensing
• Patient identification - drug selection - dosage - route of administration and quantity
• Act in a timely manner to clarify medication order with the prescriber
• Review and update patient medication profiles for allergy information - outpatient and or inpatient pharmacy narrative and monitors for compliance or potential abuse
• problems encountered shall be resolved in a timely manner
• Select - compound - dispense and fill a range of drugs including extemporaneous intravenous preparations - special formulations - ophthalmics (subconjunctivals and intravitreal injections) - controlled substances including narcotics - investigational drugs - oral and intravenous oncolytic agents - etc. - in assigned work area
• outpatient or inpatient pharmacy
• May be responsible for preparation of IV preps to include Chemotherapy - unless medically exempt - in compliance with USP - ASHP - OIG and VA guidelines
• Identify - create or significantly contribute to service deliverable improvement project(s) that are cost-effective and/or reduce waste
• Adequately performs housekeeping duties to maintain a clean and clutter-free work area to include offices and VA provided lockers and act to ensure Pharmacy security
• Work Schedule: Various shifts - to include but not limited to - 11:30 pm - 8:00 am - 11:30 am - 8:00 pm - 9:30 am - 6:00 pm - 8:00 am - 11:30 pm - alternating weekends and holidays as needed
• Subject to change based on needs of the service
• Specific tour of duty/duties available to be discussed during interview process
• Telework: Ad-hoc may be authorized by the Supervisor per Agency policy
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 91146-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized