Clinical Pharmacist - Center for Rehabilitation and Extended Care

Full Job Description

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, a student loan payment reimbursement program.

You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment.

Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application.

Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Basic Requirements: 1.

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 2.

English Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). 3.

Education: 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.) 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).

4. 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.

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: 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.

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.

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.

Grade Determinations: GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist 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.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): 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.

Preferred Experience: One year inpatient, long term care (LTC) or equivalency (Residency) 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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Major Duties:

Major Duties include but are not limited to the following: Clinical: In collaboration with other geriatric team members, is responsible for the development of a therapeutic plan which is intended to achieve definite drug therapy outcomes that improve the patient's quality of life.

Pharmacist engages in a systematic and comprehensive process to accomplish three primary functions:

identification of patient's actual and potential drug-related problems,

resolution of patient's actual drug-related problems, and

prevention of patient's potential drug-related problems. Utilizes good time management skills in properly managing clinical work along with drug-related problems.

Provides formal monthly medication regimen review for each CLC/CREC patient. The review is focused on identification of potential and actual drug-related problems.

Makes formal and informal presentations on geriatric-related topics.

Conducts medication use evaluations (MUE's) jointly with physicians to monitor appropriateness of usage and adverse effects of drug therapy in the geriatric population in collaboration with MUE activities of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee.

Distributive Functions: Screen medication orders and dispense medications, including oral medications, small and large column parenteral with additives, controlled substances, investigational drugs, and chemotherapeutic agents based on the knowledge of current pharmacy practice and standards.

Supervise, coordinate, and check work performed by pharmacy technicians, students, and volunteers, and provide back-up for technical staff when necessary.

Utilize a broad base of computer knowledge for drug order and prescription entry, as well as retrieval of laboratory results and other patient related data in VA computer systems.

Coordinate the patient discharge process with regard to medication, to ensure that the necessary medications are supplied in adequate amounts.

Educational: Provides patient education on the appropriate use of medications. Supervises and precepts pharmacy residents, students and technician trainees as assigned.

Interacts with students, house staff, and attendings from various clinical services with regard to medication usage in the elderly.

Presents lectures and conferences to medical, surgical, nursing, and pharmacy staff and students concerning drug therapy in the elderly.

Research: Designs and/or participates in research studies and publications involving drug therapy in the elderly.

Work Schedule: Full-time; Monday-Friday, Variable Schedule 7:00am to 7:00pm (Tour of duty will be established within these hours based on service needs.) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 09573-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact V21CCOEEDRP@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized