Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - PACT

Full Job Description

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), 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.

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-Transcripts Required 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 or on track to complete advanced degree from an accredited program by the time of hire.

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).

Licensure-Documentation Required. 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.

Grade Determinations: The clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) 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.

A CPS plays a defined 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, but is not limited to, 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.

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

Experience at this level includes: 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.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

In addition to the 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level listed above, Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions.

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

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

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

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

Preferred Experience: Completion of PGY1 Pharmacy Residency or equivalent Completion of PGY2 Pharmacy Residency in Ambulatory Care Board Certification (BCPS, BCACP, BCGP) Experience working with a Comprehensive Medication Management Scope of Practice in the Ambulatory Care Setting Experience working in the PACT setting Completion of training in Lean Six Sigma (yellow, green, black belt) 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.

Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work includes: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; light lifting, under 15 pounds; moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; pushing up to 4 hours; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers, good dexterity (both hands required); walking, up to 4 hours; standing, 6 hours prolonged; kneeling; repeated bending; climbing, use of legs and arms; operation of vehicle; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20; specific visual requirement, ability to read fine print on labels; depth perception; ability to distinguish basic colors; ability to distinguish shades of colors; hearing (aid permitted); clear speech; and emotional stability.

Major Duties:

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) serves as a provider with prescribing privileges as outlined in the individual's Scope of Practice for Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) on the Patient Aligned Care Team.

The primary responsibility of the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist is the provision of evidence-based pharmaceutical care services through both direct and indirect interaction with patients and providers.

This pharmacist promotes and manages drug therapy based on current clinical knowledge that is consistent with policies established at the national, VISN, and local levels.

The CPS functions as part of the PACT and is most effective when assigned to a panel of patients, to support continuity of care.

The duties of the PACT Clinical Pharmacy Specialist include, but are not limited to the following: Promotes a patient-focused, team-based multi-disciplinary model of pharmaceutical care through drug prescribing, medication monitoring, physical assessment and drug laboratory review that assures positive outcomes from medication use.

Enhances current pharmacy system to place pharmacists into an environment of direct patient and prescriber contact, where pharmacists also have unrestricted access to clinical information (including documentation as well as ordering/discontinuing medications and laboratory studies).

Works to develop and maintain a system that aids pharmacists in identifying actual or potential drug-related problems at the front end of the order thereby eliminating duplication of efforts reducing medication errors and increasing patient satisfaction.

Assures that pharmacists provide patient medication counseling by verifying patient understanding of the medication, proper medication use, expected outcomes, how to obtain refills of medication and how the current prescription will be processed.

Applies knowledge of normal laboratory values in the evaluation of patient care and recognizes significant abnormalities.

Documents clinical interventions and therapeutic plans accurately in CPRS in a timely and professional manner.

Works collaboratively with clinic providers to provide pharmaceutical care to selected patients as outlined by best evidence, VHA and BPVAHCS clinical practice guidelines.

Assists in the training of pharmacy students during four-to-eight-week ambulatory care rotations.

Responsible for coordinating and supervising the activities of postgraduate residents in ambulatory care in the capacity as preceptor throughout the academic year.

Provides therapeutic lectures to pharmacy students and residents in cooperation with the Associate Chief, Clinical Pharmacy Services and clinical pharmacy supervisor.

The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist is considered a content expert on Primary Care topics. Responsible for the daily operation status of the various aspects of the pharmacy programs.

Prioritizes work and make administrative decisions when supervisory pharmacists are not available or in instances where immediate decisions are required.

Provides supervision of Pharmacy support staff in the conduct of distributive functions.

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

Work Schedule: Anticipate an 8 hour shift between 7:00am and 7:00pm, primarily Monday through Friday. May be required to work various tours of duty including evenings, weekends and holidays.

Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 20224F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact VISN8CCoE@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized