Clinical Pharmacist
What you'd do
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.
Major duties
The incumbent is responsible for analyzing real and potential drug-related problems and implementing corrective action to ensure that patients receive optimal drug therapy. The clinical pharmacist also applies standards relating to all aspects of the distribution and manages both controlled and non-controlled drugs. The primary function of a clinical pharmacist is to assure the safe and appropriate use of medications, and to be an advocate of rational drug therapy through the following: Assessing the appropriateness of drug therapy. Individualizing drug therapy based on patient specific factors. Dispensing medication and providing drug information. A pharmacist in this assignment handles routine medication-related activities in accordance with all applicable local, state, federal and Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) rules and regulations. This includes, but is not limited to: 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 which ensures safe and effective care. Reviewing the patient's medications, allergies, laboratory results, and other pertinent information from the medical record to identify and solve medication-related problems by contacting providers as appropriate. Documenting recommendations and interventions. Providing refill extensions and partial medication supplies. Taking health and medication histories. Performing medication reconciliation. Assisting in formulary management including therapeutic substitutions, non-formulary 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 preparation and distribution. The clinical pharmacist provides appropriate drug selection based upon the principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, monitors for efficacy, side effects and clinical outcome, and advises prescribers as appropriate. The clinical pharmacist provides patient-specific therapeutic drug monitoring and communicates both orally and in writing relevant findings and/or recommendations. Monitoring will include prospective review and intervention in: Therapeutic appropriateness of a patient's drug regimen. Any therapeutic duplication in the patient's drug regimen. Appropriateness of the route and method of administration. Extent of patient compliance with the prescribed drug regimen. Drug-drug, drug-food, drug-laboratory, or drug-disease interactions. Clinical and pharmacokinetic laboratory data to evaluate the efficacy of drug therapy and to anticipate side effects, toxicities, or other adverse effects. Physical signs and clinical symptoms relevant to the patient's drug therapy. The clinical pharmacist participates in patient care rounds, chart reviews, evaluates pertinent laboratory data, drug-drug and drug-nutrient interactions, monitors for adverse drug effects, and screens for allergies and performs medication reconciliation at all transitions of care, including updating the medication profile to reflect an accurate, active list of VA and non-VA medications and assesses drug safety and efficacy, including evaluation of physical symptoms, participates in the medical center medication utilization evaluation (MUE) program and in medical emergencies including code teams (if BLS or ACLS certified) and emergency preparedness activities. The clinical pharmacist provides pharmacokinetic consultation including dosing vancomycin and aminoglycosides in accordance with Harbor policy. The clinical pharmacist manages recalls and medication shortage situations by substituting alternate dosage strengths or suggesting alternative drugs and extends refills until the next scheduled appointment under the provider's name per Harbor policy. The clinical pharmacist serves as a role model and preceptor to pharmacy students and residents. The clinical pharmacist assumes an active role in staff development and provides educational in-services to nursing, medical staff and other ancillary services. The clinical pharmacist is responsible for maintaining professional competency by keeping abreast of current medical and pharmaceutical literature, new drugs and therapies, and applying this knowledge in daily duties. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8AM-4:30PM Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 21M50A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws
What you need to qualify
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: 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). 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. 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. 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-12 Clinical Pharmacist (Full Performance Level) 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. 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, but are not limited to: 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. 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. Preferred Experience: PGY 2 with Geriatric experience, Geriatric Board Certification Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is a 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.
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