Chief of Pharmacy

Full Job Description

The Chief of Pharmacy has full, delegated authority and responsibility for the management and operation of the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center's (VAMC) Pharmacy Service.

The incumbent is recognized as a fully functioning peer among service chiefs and has the responsibility for the effective and efficient management of pharmacy programs and services.

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.

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).

Grade Determinations: GS 15 Grade Level. (a) Experience. In addition to the GS-14 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

Experience at the GS-14 level include: 1. Skill in persuading others and gaining cooperation to accomplish goals; 2.

Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing regarding complex clinical and technical issues; 3.

Skill in utilizing regulatory and quality standards to develop and implement operational programs; 4. Skill in managing multiple people or programs; 5.

Skill in utilizing available resources to support the mission and goals of the organization; and 6. Ability to plan, organize and direct the functions of the pharmacy staff. (b) Grade Level Criteria.

At the GS-15 level, Chiefs of Pharmacy must meet the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs): (1) Manages a complex medical center based pharmacy program that is defined as having multiple practice settings (e.g.

hospital ambulatory care, long-term care, behavior health care) that require Joint Commission review as separate standards.

(2) In addition to the medical center pharmacy, has responsibility for pharmacy services at one or more of the following: CBOCs, Rural Health Program, domiciliary, or provides dispensing and/or clinical services to State Veterans Home.

(3) Presence of advanced clinical pharmacy programs that include pharmacist(s) that have approved scopes of practice with prescriptive privileges.

(4) Pharmacy provides clinical pharmacist services to three (3) or more specialty areas such as, but not limited to, hemodialysis, oncology, operating room or an emergency department.

Preferred Experience: 1. Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D) degree or equivalent. 2. Advanced training or certification in pharmacy leadership, health systems management, or related fields. 3.

Leadership, clinical expertise, and administrative skills. 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-15.

Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position.

May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing.

May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated.

However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations. Major Duties:

The duties of the Chief of Pharmacy include, but are not limited to: Administrative/Supervision The Chief, Pharmacy Service will have prime responsibility for providing operational pharmaceutical services to the veteran patients served by this level 1C medical center and for the professional and administrative activities supporting these services.

Provides comprehensive and accurate interpretation and implementation of service, station and VA policies and procedures within the mission and core values of the Veterans Health Administration.

Originates, adapts, and implements effective, efficient policies and procedures which assures that veterans, patients and other eligible beneficiaries are furnished quality medications, medical supplies, and services to ensure appropriate treatment consonant with applicable regulations.

Responsible for the supervision of the approximately 100 Pharmacy Service staff.

Supervises activities of all clinical, operational, and program management pharmacy staff including managers, clinical pharmacists, clinical pharmacy specialists, technicians and administrators.

Staff are assigned to inpatient and outpatient pharmacies as well as institutional support functions such as logistics and institutional committee secretariat.

Clinical Responsible for the selection of drugs, chemicals, supplies, biologicals and all other pharmaceutical preparations used in the treatment and/or diagnosis of patients.

Responsible for specifications for both quality and source of procurement.

Maintains responsibility for determining, establishing and maintaining stock levels, taking into consideration market fluctuations, seasonal variations, quantity discount, etc.

Manages the Drug Information Center for the medical center with the most current literature pieces, textbooks, journals, abstracts, etc.

Disseminates pertinent drug information to the professional staff via personal contacts, memoranda, bulletins, etc.

Education The incumbent must understand both formal and informal group dynamics with their associated organizational structures.

The ability to analyze implications of these dynamics on the operation, management and productivity of patient care programs is vital.

Issues for resolution may require considerable fact gathering under conditions in which conflicting points of view and incomplete information exist.

Incumbent must influence people from a variety of educational backgrounds to accept changes, which are necessary to meet overall program objectives and goals.

Develops and strengthens formal educational affiliations with schools of Pharmacy.

Develop continuing education programs for operations staff to provide knowledge and skills necessary to maintain and improve their performance.

Encourages and promotes staff to participate in available continuing education programs. Ensure all staff members complete mandatory training and competency assessment.

Research Provides opportunities for research conducted by the Pharmacy Service in connection with improvement of work operations, drug use, clinical services, and patient outcomes.

Oversee the conduct of pharmaceutical research related to improving usefulness of preparations; improving taste, developing new dosage forms to meet varied demands of clinical investigators, or other members of the professional staff.

Program Management The incumbent is responsible for establishing and promoting an atmosphere of employee unity through cooperation and the integration of clinical and administrative roles.

Expectations for impact include a high level of productivity with veteran and staff satisfaction. Facilitates strong communication channels between the service lines.

Evaluates new patient care programs to ensure quality of care, optimum reimbursement to the medical center, and enhancement of educational and research activities without compromising VA missions and goals.

The incumbent must ensure that accountability for documentation of workload and special services is accomplished. Work Schedule: 7:30am - 4:00pm, Monday - Friday.

Subject to change based on the needs of the facility. Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 586-02135F.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be paid to a Highly Qualified candidate. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.