The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) serves as a mid-level provider with prescribing privileges as outlined in the individual's Scope of Practice. The CPS functions at the highest level of clinical pharmacy practice to provide evidence-based pharmaceutical care to patients. The incumbent serves as a key member of HBPC, partnering with other healthcare professionals to provide healthcare that is patient-centered, data-driven, team-based, and continuously improving.

Duties

Duties include but are not limited to: Provides an extensive range of CPS services to patients in Home Based Primary Care (HBPC). Works as a member of an assigned HBPC team and monitors patients for a variety of disease states including diabetes, hypertension, etc. as designated under the individual's scope of practice. Designs, implements, assesses, monitors, and documents therapeutic plans using the most effective, least toxic, and most economical medications. Offers additional interventions to maximize patient care outcomes, taking into consideration choice of therapy, safety, efficacy, and cost. Works as an active member of the inter-professional team. Performs activities such as physical assessment, ordering appropriate tests/consults, making referrals, etc., in an effort to achieve desired outcomes. Identifies and documents drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues per facility procedures. Takes specific corrective action per protocol or as permitted by approved scope of practice. Documents and ensures timely completion of alerts, encounters, notes, clinical interventions, consults, etc. in patient record and/or other data collection tools per local policy. Identifies areas in which improvements in clinical services can be made and completes at least one project a year (e.g., quality/performance improvement, implementation of new service, enhancement of existing service, etc.). Monitors patients' anticoagulation therapy if necessary through telephone consultations or clinic visits at intervals determined by the pharmacist. At each follow-up encounter, reviews lab results and evaluates patients for any changes related to their anticoagulation therapy. As needed, makes dose changes or other changes to patients' anticoagulation therapy. Documents any medication changes and therapeutic plan in electronic medical records. Provides medication counseling/education to patients, caregivers, etc. Provides clinical pharmacy consultations and drug information to professional staff on the pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics of pharmaceutical products. Recognizes suicide risk factors and understands facility policies regarding suicide prevention, support systems, and referral resources. Reviews, evaluates, adjudicates, and documents requests for non-formulary and restricted drugs for appropriateness and compliance with established criteria, where applicable, per facility/department policy. Promotes and monitors compliance with established drug therapy policies. Works with providers to ensure compliance with national, VISN, and local initiatives. Recommends therapeutic alternatives based upon patient care assessment and desired outcome, drug safety, efficacy, Pharmacy Benefits Management (PBM) initiatives, formulary management, and cost to optimize drug product selection. Actively participates in Hospital Emergency Response drills and is knowledgeable for Pharmacy Emergency Preparedness procedures. Designs, conducts, and participates in studies, audits, and evaluations under the auspices of committees responsible for formulation and review of drug use policies and quality assurance committees. Actively identifies and contributes to the development of a new ambulatory care pharmacy service or to the enhancement of an existing service. Establishes and maintains good work flow patterns to ensure efficient clinic management. Assists in the implementation of therapeutic recommendations for selected disease states that have VHA and/or GLA published clinical practice guidelines. Adhere to all VHA, medical center and departmental policies, procedures, and regulations. Assists in the operations of the other areas of the pharmacy service including distribution and clinical work in other areas (e.g. medication order review and verification, relief help in other clinics or pharmacies), as needed. Responsible for establishing and reviewing pharmacy policies concerning ambulatory care and HBPC. Trains pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and other relevant staff. Participates in all aspects of training such as conducting on-the-job training and monitoring performance. Assists in new employee orientation and training, as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday from 8:00am-4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 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. 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. 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). All licensed pharmacists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of June 7, 2012 are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. 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. AND Applicant must meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below 1. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions. 2. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area. 3. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise. 4. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy. 5. 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:

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 Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System 11301 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90073 US
• Name: Hugo Lopez
• Phone: (858) 552-8585 X7748
• Email: [email protected]