This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Clinical Practice Area: The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) will be assigned to Mental Health with a focus on Inpatient and Residential Rehabilitation Treatment. The primary responsibility of the CPP is the provision of evidence-based pharmaceutical care services through direct care with patients and consultation with other providers on their team. Duties include but are not limited to: General Description of Position: The CPS functions at the highest level of clinical practice and works independently under their individual scope of practice to directly care for patients. A CPS functions as a member of their assigned team(s) and serves under a scope of practice 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. This position will have clinical pharmacy duties in developing, organizing, and managing the Clinical Pharmacist Specialty Program for the Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP) and inpatient Mental Health units. The incumbent will be assigned to the Pharmacy Department but will work jointly with the Mental Health Service to serve as a pharmacy expert regarding psychotropic prescribing. They will provide coverage/support for clinical areas in the Pharmacy Department as needed. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F05994 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. EDRP Authorized: Contact Amy Haley at [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) 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.)(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. 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. 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-13 Clinical Pharmacy Specialist 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. Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. Functions include but are not limited to: Customer Service Treats patient, team members, other facility employees and visitors with respect. Responds to the needs of the Veteran and staff in a courteous and timely manner. Demonstrates appropriate and proactive interpersonal skills to achieve the goals of the service. Acts as a team member and is supportive of group efforts at all times. Demonstrates an ability to work under a variety of circumstances to maximize group productivity and quality. Clinical Functions under a scope of practice to design, implement, and monitor therapeutic drug plans to achieve definite outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned areas. Orders, performs, reviews, and analyzes appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor and support the patient's drug therapy. Follows-up with patients on lab or test results to discuss the plan of care, i.e., changes in medication therapy, monitoring, and additional testing requirements. Determines if a referral to a higher level of care is necessary for disease progression or adverse drug events require treatment interventions outside of the CPS scope of practice. Maintain clinical practice as outlined in MH Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program Handbook 1162.02 or newest version of this document. Authorized to initiate, renew, or discontinue medications and supplies reasonably applicable to psychiatric care of the patient as granted by scope of practice. Subject to professional practice evaluations as dictated by Medical Center Policy. Documents all encounters in the patient's electronic medical record. Education and Research Participates in the training and in-servicing of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy students, and other staff on assigned teams. Is skilled at using both written and verbal communication techniques in teaching others. Serves as preceptor for pharmacy students and residents in accordance with established policies as required. Assists in new employee orientation, competency assessments, and mentoring as required. Drug Information Serves as an authority on drug usage, interactions, over-dosages, and compliance, to medical staff, nursing staff, technicians, and students. Uses appropriate references to research drug information. Has a good working knowledge of information resources, both written and electronic. Maintains a current knowledge of therapeutics and disease management. Provides timely and accurate responses to drug information inquiries from all customers. Effectively instructs patients and family members in the appropriate use of medications and medical devices. Is able to adjust communication and tracking methods based on age and developmental considerations. Is able to accurately assess and document patient comprehension. Is able to refer patients to educational programs provided at the medical center by multidisciplinary teams. Program Management Serves on medical center and/or VISN committees as requested. Adheres to all medical center and department policies and regulations. Manages information security within areas of responsibility to assure that computer system security and confidentiality of sensitive information is maintained, and that employee access to sensitive information is limited only to that which the employee requires to perform their duties. Takes action as necessary to report and address violations of information security. Preferred Experience: Candidates for the Mental Health CPS position should possess the skills outlined above with specific experience in the area of Mental Health. Candidates should have recent experience in a current or previous job (including residency training) that includes direct patient care and comprehensive medication management responsibilities. Preferred candidates will have an advanced pharmacy degree (PharmD), board certification (BPS), PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency and PGY2 residency in Mental Health Board Certification in Mental Health References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G15, Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Standard) dated June 7, 2012. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds); straight pulling (1 hour); pushing (1 hour) reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking (2 hours); standing (2 hours); repeated bending (2 hours); both legs required; 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 and to 20/40 in the other; ability to distinguish basic colors; ability to distinguish shades of colors; hearing (aid permitted).

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Northampton VA Medical Center 421 North Main Street Leeds, MA 01053 US
• Name: Heather Volpe
• Email: [email protected]