Pharmacist Clinical Specialist
What you'd do
The Battle Creek VA Medical Center is recruiting for a Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner for the Mental Health/Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP). The Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner works independently under the Associate Chief of Clinical Pharmacy Services and Chief of Pharmacy Services.
Major duties
Major duties include, but are not limited to: Provides evidence-based comprehensive medication management for Veterans with psychiatric disorders through direct patient care in face-to-face, video, and telephone encounters. Initiates, modifies, and discontinues medication therapy as a mid-level provider; collaborates with mental health teams to optimize treatment outcomes and ensure safe, cost-effective medication use Orders, interprets, and monitors laboratory tests and diagnostic studies; performs mental status exams and measurement-based care activities. Conducts medication history assessments, monitors for adverse drug events, and refers patients to physicians when care needs fall outside scope of practice Documents all clinical interventions in electronic health record in a timely and professional manner.Identifies patients needing medication management through population reports and team huddles; reviews medication regimens for effectiveness, safety, and adherence. Monitors and reports drug errors, adverse reactions, allergies, and compliance issues; recommends therapy adjustments based on clinical and laboratory findings. Reviews and evaluates non-formulary and restricted drug requests for appropriateness; promotes compliance with national, VISN, and local medication policies. Supports Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee initiatives, medication use evaluations, drug conversions, and shortage management. Serves as the pharmacy service naloxone champion, providing education, outreach, and overdose prevention support. Participates in interdisciplinary committees and collaborates with providers to advance clinical and safety initiatives. Educates pharmacists, technicians, students, residents, and other staff; may serve as a preceptor and contribute to residency program management in accordance with ASHP standards. Provides drug information support using current therapeutic literature and electronic resources Performs administrative and quality improvement activities as assigned; travels to remote sites when needed (valid driver's license required). Demonstrates strong customer service skills, adhering to CARE model expectations for communication, respect, and Veteran-centered support Complies with environmental stewardship requirements under VHA GEMS, supporting safe medication handling, waste reduction, and pollution prevention. Works in healthcare environments with potential exposure to infectious conditions. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 93154-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
What you need to qualify
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. 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.) or 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- 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. English Language Proficiency. Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment in paragraph 2, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-13 - Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. (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. Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. 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: Experience in direct patient care in mental health preferred. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
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