Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
What you'd do
The incumbent is a licensed Pharmacist who functions at the highest level of clinical practice and serves as an advanced practice provider in assigned area working independently but collaboratively with prescribing privileges as outlined in the individual's practice area-based scope of practice at VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System.
Major duties
Incumbent duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: Clinical Directly involved in design, implementation and monitoring of therapeutic drug plans to achieve definite outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned areas. Acts as a provider with specialty training and scope of practice (as approved by Medical Center Professional Standards Board} providing expertise to other providers, pharmacists, nursing, and other disciplines as appropriate. Obtains medication histories from patients and summarizes significant findings in electronic health record (EHR} and/or to provider(s) as appropriate. Reviews patient medication regimens for clinical effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, potential drug interactions, and appropriate therapeutic outcomes. Communicates findings with prescribers and provides appropriate alternatives to current treatment plans as needed. Participates in multidisciplinary team rounds and provides drug information, and appropriate recommendations regarding treatment alternatives or additional interventions to maximize patient outcomes taking into consideration choice of therapy, safety, efficacy, formulary, and pharmacoeconomics. Evaluates drug therapy for appropriateness, effectiveness and cost-benefit and communicates with physicians and pharmacy services. Monitors and reports drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues. Applies knowledge of normal laboratory values in evaluation of patient care and recognizes significant abnormalities. Has expertise in principles of clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and is knowledgeable and able to make dose adjustment recommendations based on objective laboratory findings. Reviews and evaluates requests for non-formulary and restricted drugs for appropriateness and compliance with established criteria where applicable. Documents all findings and interventions in EHR in a timely and professional manner as appropriate as per Medical Center policies. Maintains knowledge of VA/DOD clinical practice guidelines, The Joint Commission (TJC) standards, VA performance measures, VA Pharmacy Benefits Management (PBM) initiatives and integrates these standards into practice. Program Management Assists with internal audits, medication use evaluations, adverse drug event reporting, drug regimen reviews, drug monographs and other Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee and quality improvement related activities as assigned. Effectively organizes, directs, and manages all patient care related activities. Ensures services provided meet or exceed professional legal standards and maintain compliance with TJC, Federal/State, OIG, DEA, VHA, VISN and Medical Center requirements, regulations, standards, directives, handbooks, policies, and procedures as applicable. Maintains continuity of care to ensure the provision of prompt and accurate pharmaceutical services. Manages clinical practice within area of expertise, including but not limited to reviewing/adjudicating consults, providing direct patient care, and assuring coverage for outpatient and inpatient services when needed. Strives to optimize operational efficiency and implement new programs in accordance with the mission, vision and goals of Pharmacy Services and the Medical Center. Works actively and collaboratively with multidisciplinary work groups and committees as assigned to develop, implement, and improve services provided. Administrative Actively seeks opportunities for cost savings and implements fiscally responsible interventions based on sound clinical and fiscal practice. Assists Pharmacy Leadership in efficiently managing Medical Center's medication budget while maximizing service. Assists with developing and establishing procedures to maintain compliance with TJC, Federal/State, OIG, DEA, VHA, VISN and Medical Center requirements, regulations, standards, directives, handbooks, policies, and procedures. Develops and maintains a cooperative working relationship with other departments such that the overall activities and scope of pharmacy services are successful and efficient. Effectively communicates, both orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions. Performs required documentation (e.g., patient encounters, progress notes, action reports) in a timely manner and in accordance with Medical Center timeline for completion. Informs pharmacy leadership of administrative problems or episodes of clinical pertinence which may impact pharmacy program effectiveness, or which may enhance staff performance. Performance Measures Education/Training Drug Information Research
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 Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). English Language Proficiency Pharmacy Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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/. TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH APPLICATION 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). YOU MUST SUBMIT A COPY OF FPGEE AND TOEFL WITH YOUR APPLICATION 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. YOU MUST SUBMIT A COPY OF CURRENT LICENSE WITH THE APPLICATION PACKAGE. Creditable Experience: Knowledge of Professional Pharmacy Practices. To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with professional pharmacy practice. Professional practice means paid/non-paid employment as a professional or unlicensed graduate pharmacist as defined by the appropriate licensing board. Residency and Fellowship Training: Residency and fellowship training programs in a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice may be substituted for creditable experience on a year-for-year basis. The pharmacy residency program must be accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). A fellowship program that is not accredited by the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) will need to have comparable standards for experience to be creditable (Professional Standards Board refers to the Deputy Chief Consultant for Professional Practice for the determination). Quality of Experience: Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to pharmacy experience at the next lower level. Experience as a Graduate Pharmacist is creditable provided the candidate was used as a professional pharmacist (under supervision) and subsequently passed the appropriate licensure examination. Part-time Experience: Part-time experience as a professional pharmacist is credited according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a pharmacist employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2-time basis, would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service. GRADE DETERMINATIONS. In addition to the basic requirements for employment stated above, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Preferred Experience: The Acute Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (Acute Care - CPS), must be a licensed pharmacist with current inpatient clinical experience and understanding of the goals, objectives, and performance measures associated with the development, implementation, maintenance, and improvement of clinical pharmacy program. Advanced degree (Pharm D., M.S., MBA, MPH, or equivalent), PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency and/or PGY2 Specialty Residency, board certification (BCPS, BCCCP) are preferred. The Acute Care-CPS is responsible to coordinate national, VISN and local initiatives to meet performance goals and support quality patient care activities. GS-13:Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. 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. e. Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G -28Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.
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