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

The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) in Mental Health functions at the highest level of clinical pharmacy. Under an advanced scope of practice, the CPS works independently at least 25% of the time, providing expertise and direct patient care. FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION Clinical a. Obtains comprehensive health history including but not limited to medication therapy, medical history, laboratory and diagnostic study results, and limited physical assessment. b. Identifies patient-specific medication issues including, but not limited to, drug interactions, adverse effects, efficacy, appropriateness, medication safety concerns and adherence problems. c. Develops customized therapeutic plans utilizing effective, safe, and economical medication treatments that incorporates Veteran's preference and adherence. d. Provides comprehensive medication and disease state management services and prescribing medications and treatments in accordance with their individualized scope of practice and in collaboration with healthcare professionals responsible for the Veterans' care. e. Educates the Veteran and caregivers on disease state management and proper use of prescribed medications. Evaluates patient's ability to understand medication instructions, and provides oral and written counseling on their drug therapy. f. Orders, performs, reviews and/or analyzes appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor and support the Veteran's drug therapy as a member of the treatment team. g. Orders consults (i.e. dietician, social work) as appropriate to maximize positive drug therapy outcomes. h. Communicates actions and recommendations to appropriate individuals and documents relevant findings in the Veteran's medical record. i. Documents patient safety events such as medication errors, adverse events, and near misses appropriately. j. Completes pharmacy consults applying clinical knowledge in accordance with established policies and procedures. k. Assists in the management of medical emergencies and adverse drug reactions. l.Verifies providers orders to be complete and appropriate for dose, route, and frequency to facilitate Veteran care. m. Assists with continuity of care for Veterans during transitions of care. Program Management a. Serves as a resource and expert in drug therapy knowledge and demonstrates skills in utilizing the evidence as it pertains practice area(s). b. Serves as a liaison between the Pharmacy Service and the assigned practice area(s). c. Responsible for managing all clinical pharmacy services within the assigned practice area(s) d. Captures workload, documents clinical activities, and maintains productivity consistent with applicable performance measures and monitors. e. Maintains an expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards pertaining to pharmacy within the assigned practice area(s). f. Assists in the development of policies, guidelines, and protocols in practice area assuring they are consistent with current standards of practice, VHA Guidelines and Directives. g. Complies with VA, Hospital and Pharmacy Service policies and procedures relevant to the assigned practice area(s). h. Represents pharmacy service in team meetings, local, VISN, and national committees, task forces, and workgroups relating to the assigned practice area(s). i. Participates in quality assurance, process improvement activities, and performance monitors. j. Provides expertise to leadership for pharmacy issues including, but not limited to patient safety, drug shortages, adverse drug events. Education and Personal Competence a. Communicates effectively with Veterans, co-workers, hospital staff and pharmacy management. b. Remains current with all required training, e.g. licensure, BLS, TMS, certification. c. Provides pharmacy related education and reference materials to medical staff, nursing staff, residents, students, and other healthcare professionals in the assigned practice area(s). d. Attends and participates in clinical pharmacy activities, e.g., clinical pharmacy staff meetings, staff development, residency conferences, journal club. e. Engages in the training of pharmacy staff, residents, and students. f. Serves as an effective preceptor of residents and students as assigned. Research Supports the organization's research and education mission, including participation in residency research projects and contribution to the medical literature. Work Schedule: 8am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.

Requirements

Qualifications

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 (Transcript Submitted): 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 (Submitted): 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. 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(f)). 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. Grade Determinations: GS-13 Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Assignment: 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: 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/55, Part II, Appendix G15 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (up to 44 pounds); Straight pulling and pushing; reaching above shoulder; walking, kneeling and standing up to 8 hours; repeated bending; Simple grasping up to 4 hours; Sitting up to 8 hours; and Fine manipulation up to 8 hours.

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 James A Haley Veterans Hospital 13000 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard Tampa, FL 33612 US
• Name: Davina Cook
• Phone: 407-631-8616
• Email: [email protected]