Summary

The Clinical Pharmacist is the primary professional pharmacy staff member - responsible for the daily operation of the pharmacy medication management systems of this affiliated tertiary care - teaching - medical - surgical - and research hospital - and outpatient pharmacy.

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
• 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
• Exception
• Non-licensed pharmacists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment at the entry level as a Graduate Pharmacist not to exceed 2 years at the GS-11 grade level only
• 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)
• IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS LISTED ABOVE - YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING GRADE REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION
• GS 12 Clinical Pharmacist (Full Performance Level) Experience or Education: In addition to the basic requirements - candidates must meet one of the following: 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level - or 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): 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: 1
• The incumbent must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the duties of this position
• 2
• The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion - involving standing for prolonged periods of time - frequent twisting/turning - and bending/stooping
• 3
• The incumbent must be able to perform lifting/carrying - pushing - or pulling different types of equipment such as cabinets - carts or supplies weighing at minimum 50 pounds through various terrains
• 4
• This position routinely prepares medications that requires special handling and documentation including but not limited to hazardous drug medications
• Must be able to wear appropriate respiratory and other personal protective equipment (i.e. - N-95's - PAPRs) as required by policy.

Duties

• CLINICAL Interviews and evaluates patients in acute and ambulatory settings for appropriateness and accuracy of pharmacologic therapy and makes a patient centered care plan for those patients who need pharmaceutical care and will document the medication care plan in the medical record
• Provides care and/or services appropriate to the age of the patients being served
• Assesses data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to their age-specific needs and to provide care needed as described in the services' policies and procedures
• Participate in daily multidisciplinary team rounds (when applicable) and provide drug information - observation on patient response to therapy and appropriate recommendations regarding treatment alternatives or additional interventions to maximize patient care outcomes taking into consideration choice of therapy - safety - efficacy - and pharmacoeconomics
• Designs and/or participates in quality assurance projects/research studies or outcomes research involving drug therapy or clinical pharmacy functions
• Drug Therapy Monitoring Pharmacist Intervention Pharmaceutical Care Communication - The Clinical Pharmacist shall demonstrate knowledge and skills in communication and interpersonal relations
• MEDICATION DISPENSING AND DISTRIBUTION Inpatient/outpatient electronic order assessment to verify patient information - correct medication dose - route - and frequency of administration
• Identifies - interprets - and resolves prescribing and dispensing issues - including pharmacotherapeutics and the formulary
• Documents interventions as necessary
• Does not verify - check - or release any prescription/medication order that they prescribed
• EDUCATION Serves as a preceptor for students - PGY-1 and PGY-2 residents at the Hines VA Hospital Interfaces with other health-care providers and administrators to ensure compliance with established pharmacy and medical center policies and procedures
• Submits presentations or posters for state and/or national professional organizations
• Recognizes and prepares case studies suitable for presentation or publication
• ADMINISTRATIVE/SUPERVISORY The Clinical Pharmacist is responsible for having a working knowledge of the basic operational procedures involving the automated data processing equipment The Clinical Pharmacist shall be knowledgeable of the hospital and Service performance improvement programs and cost-savings initiatives
• Accurately completes all assignments (VATAS/TMS/BLS) in a timely manner as defined by the Supervisor
• RESEARCH Clinical Pharmacists are encouraged to increase their involvement in pharmaceutical - clinical or institutional pharmacy research activities - and are responsible for following the protocols - randomization - preparations - and record keeping regulations
• CUSTOMER SERVICE Routinely identifies the customer's/patient's situation properly and performs the tasks required to resolve the customer's/patient's problem accurately and in a timely manner
• Follows-up - as necessary - to ensure a satisfactory resolution
• Listens to all customer/patient feedback - positive and negative - acts to resolve complaints within his or her control - and reports feedback to management (or supervisor) in a timely manner
• INFORMATION SECURITY AND CONFIDENTIALITY Confidentiality of Information: Consistently limits personal access to all sensitive information and records - including patient medical records - other patient-specific information - personnel records - and employee health medical records - to those instances in which there is a specific job-related purpose
• OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH Follow safe work practices and procedures - including use of required personal protective equipment (PPE)Recognize and report unsafe or unhealthy conditions/practices to supervisory personnel
• Report work-related injuries or illness to supervisory personnel
• AGE - DEVELOPMENTAL - & CULTURAL NEEDS OF PATIENTS The primary age of patients treated and cared for are normally at the geriatric level - i.e
• 60 years of age or older - although occasionally there may be younger patients between the ages of 18-60 years of age that require care
• Takes into consideration age-related differences of the various Veteran populations served
• Work Schedule: 06:00AM-2:30PM and 7:30AM-4:00PM
• Rotating weekends and holidays
• The position primarily is weekdays but requires the incumbent to be able to work any day of the week - including weekends and holidays
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws