Pharmacist - Geriatric Clinical Pharmacy Specialist

Full Job Description

The clinical pharmacy specialist is a member of the pharmacy department with a primary assignment to the Community Living Center (CLC) and Geriatrics and Extended Care Service.

The incumbent is responsible for providing clinical and distributive pharmacy services at this VA Medical Center.

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: 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 website at: ACPE.

(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: 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.

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(/)). 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.

Exception. Non-licensed pharmacists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment at the entry level as a Graduate Pharmacist under the authority of 38 U.S.C.

§ 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed 2 years for a pharmacist that provides care under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist.

For grade levels above the GS-11, the candidate must be licensed. Failure to Obtain License.

In all cases, pharmacists must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for Iicensure starting from the date of their appointment.

At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the unlicensed pharmacist with the written requirement to obtain licensure, the date by which the license must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline.

Failure to become licensed within 2 years from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0660 Pharmacist series and may result in termination of employment.

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).

Grandfathering Provision.

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: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist GS-13 Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Assignment.

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.

Pharmacists assigned to this position 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: > 1 year of experience in geriatrics Completion of PGY1 ASHP accredited residency Board Certification in pharmacotherapy or geriatrics Experience as a mid-level practitioner with scope of practice Extensive knowledge of IV admixtures, TPN/PPN, and pharmacokinetics Knowledge of experience with VA formulary 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 are located in the Additional Information section. Major Duties:

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Duties: Serves as an independent practitioner in the CLC setting requiring the highest level of pharmacist clinical privileges with minimal supervision.

Principal responsibilities include pharmacotherapy management, provision of drug information services, and the development and supervision of pharmacy programs in the CLC.

Responsible for the coordination of all clinical pharmacy functions for CLC and works diplomatically with Nursing Service and other team members and MAS personnel in solving all drug related problems.

Responsible for CLC residents and must work independently and effectively to assure appropriate, accurate drug reviews, and interprets prescriptions and/or physician orders for accuracy, eligibility, availability, and cost effectiveness and therapeutic appropriateness; reviews patient medication profiles, contacts physicians and makes authorized changes in orders or prescriptions as required.

Orders, performs, reviews, and analyzes appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor and support the patient's drug therapy.

Prescribes medications and supplies within the Comprehensive Medication Management Scope of Practice to include: initiation, continuation, discontinuation, monitoring, and altering therapy, based upon the VA formulary and collaborative team-based care.

Functions independently in day-to-day clinical and administrative duties associated with the position, consulting with higher level supervisors only when required.

In general, uses a high degree of appropriate professional judgment to solve complex problems which routinely arise throughout the work day.

Demonstrates recognized expertise in the area of Geriatrics and the CLC Pharmacy program. S/He has assumed extra responsibility in the area.

S/He interacts with physicians and other health care professionals as demonstrated by regular attendance at CLC multidisciplinary rounds (as assigned), medication review rounds, and other meetings for the purpose of providing consultation in all Pharmacy related matters.

Works closely with physicians and nurses to monitor patient response to medications, including efficacy, safety, and outcome, with special attention to polypharmacy problems in the elderly.

S/He submits summary data or documents a significant impact of interventions on pharmaceutical care, costs, patient compliance, reduction in numbers of medications, etc.

Demonstrates advanced knowledge of pharmaceutics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacotherapeutics as determined by clinical specialist staff review.

Demonstrates skill in monitoring and assessing drug therapy outcomes, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.

Provides verbal and written medication information to patients or families on request and appropriate discharge counseling when necessary.

Demonstrates knowledge of the design, conduct, and interpretation of controlled clinical drug trials or other research related to health care.

Serves as consultant on enteral nutrition as relates to enteral formulations and preparation. Knowledgeable in the various aspects of nutrition, particularly as it relates to the geriatric patient.

Evaluates Non-formulary medication requests from assigned providers.

Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to adult and geriatric patients in his or her assigned unit, area or department.

Demonstrates the knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possession of the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his or her age-specific needs, end of life symptoms, and to provide the care needed as described in the unit's/area's/department's policies and procedures.

Responsible for timely Medication Assessment Progress Notes as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm; weekends/holidays possible Functional Statement #: 0000/ Pharmacist - Geriatric Clinical Pharmacy Specialist Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized