Clinical Pharmacist Specialist - Oncology

Full Job Description

The Oncology Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner (CPP) serves as an advanced practice provider.

The individual functions at the highest level of clinical pharmacy practice to provide comprehensive medication management (CMM) in the Hematology and Oncology Specialty Clinics.

The incumbent is responsible for oncology pharmacy care activities and other specialty care clinics where Oncological products are utilized.

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.

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).

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 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[1]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. e. Physical Requirements.

Requires long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Lifting/carrying 45 lbs.

or more; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing whispered voice (with or without aid); Emotional/mental stability; Walking on slippery or uneven walking surfaces; Working with hands in water; 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 Determinations: GS-13 (a) Experience.

In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

GS-12 Requirements 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. (b) 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, 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; 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): 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. GS-13 (a) Experience.

In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (b) Assignments.

Candidates at this grade level are to be in one of the assignments listed below.

For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

1. Clinical Pharmacy Specialist.

The clinical pharmacy specialist functions at the highest level of clinical practice, works independently under their scope of practice as defined by the individual medical center to directly care for patients.

Plays a role in budgetary execution and serves as a mid-level provider who functions to initiate, modify or discontinue medication therapy and as a consultant for intensive medication therapy management services.

This includes, the following: designing, implementing, assessing, monitoring and documenting therapeutic plans utilizing the most effective, least toxic and most economical medication treatments; helping achieve positive patient centric outcomes through direct and indirect interactions with patients, providers, and interdisciplinary teams in assigned areas; performing physical assessments; and ordering laboratory and other tests to help determine efficacy and toxicity of medication therapy.

Pharmacists must demonstrate the following KSAs: a. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions. b.

Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area. c.

Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise. d.

Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy. e.

Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.

Preferred Experience: Oncology Pharmacy 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-13. Major Duties:

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Clinical Practice: -Acts as an independent practitioner, with specialty training in Oncology with a scope of practice, providing expertise to other providers, pharmacists, nursing, and other disciplines as appropriate.

- Obtains medication history from each new patient and summarizes the significant findings. - Prescribed drug therapy is evaluated and communicated daily to physicians/pharmacist.

Program Management: - Develops, implements, and manages programs to decrease drug therapy costs.- Plans and coordinates the overall drug conversion process for each mandated drug class, ensuring rapid and safe conversion.

- Works with pharmacy staff members, patients, and providers to achieve drug conversion to contract agents efficiently and smoothly, with as little trauma and confusion for patients as possible.

Education and Training: - Provides highly specialized education and training support to other professional services in advanced pharmacotherapy in Oncology and Hematology.

- Collaborates with other clinical services in the provision of specialized training programs and assists in the development of innovative training concepts aimed at improving the knowledge and quality of pharmacy and other clinical service staff.

- Serves a clinical supervisor/preceptor for pharmacy students and for pharmacy residents - Contributes to the marketing and advancement of the pharmacy team through active involvement in facility-based programs designed to support veteran care and healthcare education/communication.

- Provides drug information and drug literature evaluations as requested by the professional staff.

Administration: - Responsible for the daily operation status of various aspects of the pharmacy programs.

- Interfaces with other health care providers and administrators to ensure compliance with established pharmacy and medical center policies and procedures.

- Actively involved in facility-wide committees, work groups, or other interdisciplinary groups of the like as required by the pharmacy department.

- Participates in the Pharmacy Professional Practice Evaluation Program and/or peer review Program.

Medication Dispensing and Distribution: - Responsible for participating in the entire medication use process to include ensuring the safe, appropriate, and timely distribution of medication.

- Consults with patients and healthcare system staff whenever there is a question concerning therapeutic or policy matters regarding outpatient and/or inpatient provider orders.

Research: - Serves as preceptor of PGY-1 residents' research projects as assigned Work Schedule: Monday to Friday - 07:30am - 04:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized