Summary

The 2-page Resume requirement does NOT apply to this occupational series. For more information - refer to Required Documents below. This Clinical Pharmacist position is located within Pharmacy Service at the Dayton VA Medical Center - Dayton - Ohio and supports the distribution and monitoring of medication within this facility.

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:

• a
• Citizenship
• Citizen of the United States
• (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g - this part.) b
• 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 Based Test (TOEFL iBT)
• c
• 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
• 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
• d
• Grandfathering Provision
• All licensed pharmacists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: 3 (1) 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
• (2) 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
• (3) 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
• e
• Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• f
• English Language Proficiency
• Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)
• Grade Determination 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 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: Inpatient pharmacy experience preferred - but not required References: VA Qualification Standards: https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12 Physical Requirements: Some of the work involves extended periods of time standing - sitting or doing computer work
• Duties regularly involve lifting/carrying of pharmaceutical supplies weighing up to 40 pounds - lifting to stock shelves - bending/stooping - and walking to various parts of the Dayton VA Medical Center grounds which may involve some minor exertion
• Endurance of very stressful periods may be required due to uncontrollable workload demands
• This position requires average agility and dexterity
• Professional appearances per Pharmacy dress code - attitude and demeanor are required.

Duties

• Duties Evaluates physician's orders and appropriateness based on medication profiles and known facts
• inputs information into the computer system if assigned
• dispenses medication in accordance with dosage requirements and fully capable of functioning in various dispensing activities such as Unit Dose - JV Admixtures - Outpatient - and Narcotic vault
• Provides quality control analysis for dispensing activities of automated dispensing equipment or pharmacy technicians
• Takes appropriate action on all medication orders including non-formulary - compounds - and out of stock items
• Takes responsibility for assisting technicians under his/her control or guidance
• Performs quality control checks for dispensing activities of automated dispensing equipment and pharmacy technicians
• Shares information with other pharmacy staff - necessary to assure smooth operations of the pharmacy
• Assures that prescriptions/orders for controlled substances - I.V
• admixtures - Unit Dose - and investigational drugs are filled in a accurate - thorough - and timely manner - in accordance with Service policy and procedures
• Provides advanced pharmacology and therapeutics consultation to all medical center staff
• Evaluates non-formulary drug requests through in-depth evaluation of patient condition and recommends alternatives when indicated
• Provides formal and informal drug information services to all Medical Center staff
• Obtains medication histories from patients - when appropriate - and summarize the significant findings
• These findings are documented in the computerized patient record
• Identifies any drug-induced problems - including adverse drug reactions - which may be affecting the patient or contributing to the need for hospitalization and acts to achieve their resolution
• All adverse drug events are reported in accordance with Medical Center Policies
• Recommends to providers optimal management of drug induced problems either verbally and/or in writing
• Weighs the risk to benefit ratio of various therapeutic alternatives - develops a therapeutic plan utilizing the most efficacious - least toxic and most economical pharmacological treatment modalities available - and communicates it to the patient's primary provider
• Develops individualized dosing regimens - based on the pharmacokinetics of the drug(s) employed and available lab data to make appropriate recommendations to the patient's provider
• Analyzes the patient's medication regimen for drug interactions and determines the potential and significance of each interaction
• Acts to achieve optimal management of drug interaction problems
• Analyzes the patient's medication regimen and laboratory test data for drug interference with laboratory tests and acts to achieve resolution of the problem
• Develops rational alternative treatment plans in cases where the initially selected plan fails to achieve the desired therapeutic result or problems with drug toxicity or other complications occur and communicates this information to the patient's physician
• Interviews patients to determine medication history for potential drug interactions - therapeutic duplications - efficacy of current medication regimens - compliance patterns and/or drug reactions and acts to resolve any problems
• Recommends changes to the current medication regimen as appropriate to optimize the cost/benefit ratio of the regimen and documents these recommendations in the computerized patient record
• Ensures that all Federal Laws and Regulations are met regarding the storing - dispensing - and documentation of Controlled Substances
• Provides consultation to Physicians - nurses and other health care professionals concerning drug therapy
• Evaluates patients' medication and the patients' ability to understand medication instructions - while providing oral and written counseling to clarify or reinforce the patients understanding
• Monitors dosages of medication and intended therapy utilizing information and facts available
• Responsible for all pharmacy-related aspects of assigned QA activities
• Provides recommendations to prescribers on alternative therapies identified in the medication profile review process
• Tracks the types of problems identified and trends prescribers' responses to these recommendations via Event Capture
• Work Schedule: 3rd Shift Compressed Tour - 7 days on/7 days off
• rotating weekends & holidays Functional Statement #: 91491-0