Summary

The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Hematology/Oncology. This position plans and provides Clinical Pharmacist care in Oncology/Hematology; works with other pharmacist and practitioners to provide comprehensive clinical and educational services - precepts residents and students on clinical rotation for inpatient/and or outpatient Oncology/Hematology - prepares chemotherapy; coordinates handling of investigational drugs.

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: 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: Pharmacist - GS13 Qualified applicants must have one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level - GS-12 - and examples of performed duties include: 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): Ability to effectively supervise subordinate staff
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions
• Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards pertaining to pharmacy
• Skill in managing people or programs
• References: VA Handbook 5005 - Part 2 - Appendix G15
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13
• Physical Requirements: : The incumbent must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the duties of the position
• The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion - involving standing for prolonged periods of time - lifting/carrying of pharmaceutical supplies weighing at least 50 lbs. - and bending/stooping
• Grandfathering Provision: 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)
• 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: 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

Duties

• If selected for the Kent position - there may be instances in which this position will be required to support Cleveland operations and physically report to the Cleveland VAMC
• Conversely - if selected for the Cleveland position - there may be instances in which this position will be required to support Kent operations and physically report to Kent
• This will be dependent on need in order to maintain minimum staffing levels to support the physical operations at each of the respective sites
• VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Plans and provides patient related clinical pharmacy and drug information services inpatient and outpatient oncology/hematology areas and takes responsible and appropriate actions to promote optimum - most effective - drug therapy
• Provides clinical pharmacy services to staff in the outpatient oncology/hematology clinics
• Assists providers with pharmacotherapy issues for patients cared for by oncology/hematology specialists and trainees
• Functions under a scope of practice consistent with skills - training - and education - and consistent with the pharmaceutical care needs in oncology/hematology
• Documents and reports the occurrence of adverse drug events occurring in oncology/hematology patients
• Provides pharmacotherapy related evaluations and recommendations in multidisciplinary outpatient oncology/hematology visits
• Completes order entry in computer system
• Precepts Pharmacy residents and students as assigned
• Communicates in an effective and professional manner to provide off-tour instructions to maintain a patient's continuity of care
• Develops performance improvement plan
• Works independently under minimal supervisory controls
• Checks technician/trainee prepared doses - IV admixtures - and a variety of outpatient prescription fills for filling accuracy
• Work Schedule: Mondays-Fridays - alternate 7:00am-3:30pm/8:00am-4:30pm - with weekends and holidays Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 92025-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized